The Hateful Eight
Visionary Director Quentin Tarantino’s eighth film shows no signs of diminishing returns in the creator’s lexicon. Despite the never ending setbacks The Hateful Eight is a strong film that Tarantino can proudly add to his resume.
Bounty Hunter Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L Jackson) is found on a snowy mountain side with a pile of dead bodies. After a long and very Tarantino discussion he joins John “Hangman” Ruth (Kurt Russell) in his wagon with Ruth’s own bounty, the very much alive Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh). The wagon must make a stop at a well known cabin full of less than savory characters, almost all played by Tarantino mainstays, due to a bad storm brewing. The eclectic group inside don’t waste anytime making their dislike and distrust for each other very clear. Ruth lays down his own version of the law while trying to make sure Domergue survives, in his custody, until the storm passes so he may collect the hefty bounty on her head.
The plot sounds incredibly simple when boiled down. The Hateful Eight has often been referred to has a Western Reservoir Dogs. This comparison was only done leading up to the movie and should disappear when the film comes out. There are so many more character rabbit holes, hidden intentions, and interesting twists packed into The Hateful Eight. The trailers were all fun in their own dark way but did a great job on not spoiling the movie. This is something that sadly needs to be pointed out in today’s movie world.
Where the spoilers come in is in the drama surrounding the production. Just to give a quick recap, for those who may not know, first the script in its entirety leaked online. Tarantino said he was betrayed (he was) and that he would never make the movie (luckily he did). The next big blow came after the movie was done. Tarantino showed up to a protest and made a speech. Personal politics aside, his words were skewed and a lot of people believed the news outlet’s slander instead of listening to the actual remarks. This story finally blew over and the threats made against the man weren’t followed through on. Mere weeks before the release the movie, along with many other, were leaked online.
It’s important to point all this out because despite everything being out in the world, the movie is absolutely worth the cost of admission. The film, and if you see the version Tarantino wants you to see; ‘film’ is used accurately, starts slow but ramps up and holds onto some very palpable tension for the entire staggering run time. The run time is the film’s only real weakness. There is nothing wrong with a long movie, if it has a reason to be long. There are easily twenty or more minutes in the beginning that could be shaved down to get the characters into the core story faster. I found myself checking the run time before the forty five minute mark. Luckily there was no further watch checking once the movie got going.
The acting and dialogue, basically what Tarantino is known for, is top notch. Almost every actor is firing on all cylinders. Samuel L Jackson commands most of the screen time. Granted he does play his standard persona a bit more than the other actors he does a good job. Kurt Russell also delivers a very Kurt Russell esque performance. Michael Madsen follows suit as the quiet and gruff Joe Gage. This is not meant as a slight, actors are cast for a reason and they do what they’re best at. Jennifer Jason Leigh is the stand out performance of the film. She is subtle but even when she is just sitting in the background she steals the scene. She does so many subtle things that define her character and really give her shape. Bruce Dern, James Parks, and Walton Goggins all deliver exceptional performances. The only performance that doesn’t really work is Tim Roth’s Oswaldo Mobray essentially doing an impression of Christoph Waltz. Maybe the role was written for Waltz but no screenwriter writes subtle mannerisms into a script unless they’re story crucial. It seemed so hammed up it was verging on insulting for the actor to have to play another actor, playing a role. Especially since Roth has worked with Tarantino before.
The camera work really stands out in a film with such close quarters for the majority of the story. Shooting in 70mm, Tarantino knows how to make the most out of the large format movie presentation. While no 70mm print was playing near me, sadly, seeing the film on a large screen is still a spectacle. The spectacle is almost more impressive in the weeks trailing after Star Wars since The Hateful Eight is far from an action movie. Some amazing squib work and cool gun play pops up but this is a movie on conversation, hidden intentions, and acting. Every scene is a still frame worthy of being printed onto a poster. Nothing happens by accident, nothing is in the background just to fill in space. This movie wasn’t made, it was crafted by a true fan of cinema.
The Hateful Eight is another fantastic Tarantino film. The camera work, editing, and acting all show that Tarantino is a visionary director who’s still honing his craft. It’s not the best movie in his library but it’s a solid option with some outstanding performances.
