FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Hateful Eight
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Runtime: 2 hrs 48 mins (with intermission)

What It Is: When John “The Hangman” Ruth (Russell) catches himself a criminal in Daisy Domergue (Jason Leigh) he intends to see that she pay for her crimes, and in the meantime get him paid. When he meets up with fellow hitman Major Marquis Warren (Jackson) on the way into the nearest town to claim his $10,000 bounty. Before that, however, a stop at Minnie’s Haberdashery is needed to get out of the impending snowstorm. All is not what it seems however when they arrive at Minnie’s.

What We Think: Tarantino has once again crafted an interesting story that takes place in a world that’s close to the one we live in except it isn’t. First of all the one actor who stands out above the rest here is Walton Goggins. He without a doubt is the standout performance here. Sam Jackson is his best since Pulp Fiction. Overall it is a raucous, violent good time. Tarantino thrives off of just this sort of picture. It is so old-Hollywood with its overture and intermission. Said intermission features previously unused music from legendary spaghetti western composer Ennio Morricone. These unused tracks are from John Carpenters The Thing which just so happens to also star Kurt Russell. 70mm just looks too good. From the opening establishing shots this tableau of post civil war Wyoming looks like David Lean shot a Sergio Leone flick. It is equal parts, Lawrence of Arabia and Django Unchained.

Our Grade: A, Man did I appreciate this film. Little known fact Tarantino is my favorite director. I go into each of his films with a certain level of necessary objectivity. If I didn’t I would just fanboy out. Having said that this film checks off almost all the boxes. It has six acts and the fifth for me was super weak and held this film back. There is one actor in this film who I really disliked. I won’t go into why or who so as to retain the films integrity. I am obviously going to recommend this film. It is business as usual for QT and his legacy continues into this his 8th film.