Director: Quentin Tarantino
Writer: Quentin Tarantino
Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh
A stagecoach travels through the wintry landscape. John Ruth (Russell) is a Bounty Hunter and his ‘Bounty” Daisy Domergue (Jason Leigh) are heading to the town of Red Rock, where Ruth will bring Daisy to justice (Death by Hanging). They meet Major Marquis Warren (Jackson) who is also a Bounty Hunter and on their travels they bump into Chris Mannix, who claims to be Red Rock’s new sheriff played by Walton Goggins (Django Unchained, The Bourne Identity)
Lost in a snow blizzard, the group seeks refuge at a stop off named “Minnie’s Haberdashery.” When they arrive they are greeted by unfamiliar faces named Bob (Demian Bichir), who claims to be looking after things while Minnie is gone; Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), christened the hangman of Red Rock, Joe Gage (Michael Madsen), a cow puncher and Confederate General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern)……but enough of that. The Hateful Eight is exactly what it is. A bunch of nasty individuals (8 to be precise) isolated in a cabin and you are left wondering when they will begin to turn on each other.
Now one of the elements I have always enjoyed in Tarantino’s catalogue is the long scenes (normally shot with one camera and in one take with excellent dialogue with some classic and memorable line) The bottom line is the dialogue isn’t that great in comparison to his previous films. It does help a lot that we do get a great cast (Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russell and Jennifer Jason Leigh) because without them I feel the movie would fall apart rather quickly.
Another element I noticed (Well Tarantino actually makes sure you know by including in the opening credits that the film was shot on 70mm widescreen and to be fair the landscape shots look great but there isn’t enough of these shots to justify the use of this film as most of the “action” takes place in a consumed cabin.
The music in any of Quentin Tarantino’s films has always been excellent and memorable. But don’t get your hopes up as there is little music (although the Daisy Domergue on the guitar is actually quite fitting and a nice little number sung by Jennifer Jason Leigh )The Score on the other hand did win Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score Ennio Morricone) and I can see why (or should that be I can hear why?)
I wouldn’t advise anyone not to give it a go if you haven’t watched “Quentin Tarantino’s 8th Film” I just don’t think it holds up to his “other 7” I can see inspiration from The Thing and even Quentin’s Resevoir Dogs in The Hateful Eight but I don’t feel I would revisit this movie in the near future.
Movie Burner Entertainment 