If film were one 'giant epic,' Oscar prospects better, he says

Quentin Tarantino has just one regret about splitting his "Kill Bill" vengeance saga into two movies: The move may have undermined its Academy Awards prospects, particularly for star Uma Thurman. "I think the only thing that might have been lost in that decision is we could have gotten considerably more awards play if the film had been one big, giant epic," Tarantino, 41, told The Associated Press. "As one big movie, Uma would have gotten a best-actress nomination, for sure. "I'm still hoping we're going to do good at the Oscars this year" for "Kill Bill -- Vol. 2," which came out on home video Tuesday. "Kill Bill -- Vol. 1" was shut out in the last Oscar nominations. Film honors aside, breaking "Kill Bill" into last fall's "Vol. 1" and spring's "Vol. 2" worked well financially and artistically, Tarantino said. Distributor Miramax set itself up for a double dose of theatrical, home-video and television revenue for the two installments, which cost a combined $65 million and grossed a total of $136 million domestically.