The Hateful Eight (2015)

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Genre: Western

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Running time: 167 minutes

Sometime after the Civil War, Bounty hunter John Ruth is bringing fugitive Daisy Domergue to Red Rock by stagecoach so she can hang. Along the way, they cross the path of another bounty hunter, Major Marquis Warren, who is dragging three dead outlaws he is looking to collect on. Warren is accepted on board, and they travel along. Further down the road, they pick up Chris Mannix, a former military man who claims to be traveling to Red Rock to become the town’s new sheriff. He manages to join the clan, who is soon forced to stop at Minnie’s Haberdashery to take refuge from a blizzard that is hitting the area. Other men are there; who are they really and what are their motives?

Quentin Tarantino, who wrote and directed this film, is known for movies filled with violence, comedy, twisted situations and incredible dialogues, and he delivered more of the same with The Hateful Eight. That being said, while the main ingredients are the same, it remains fresh. The famed director has a true knack for creating interesting characters and finding the right actors and actresses to carry the ball to the finish line.

Once again, the combination of Tarantino’s words and Samuel L. Jackson’s acting chops makes for great cinema. So many great lines delivered with pure brilliance; it truly has to be seen to be understood. These two make a great team. Jennifer Jason Leigh was also great as female outlaw Daisy Domergue. She gives us a foul-mouthed, rough-around-the-edges-and-down-to-the-core, ruthless and conniving criminal who can take a pounding and keep on coming. Her transformation is great here.

Tarantino always manages to pull off a few nice surprises, and the presence of Bruce Dern and Channing Tatum were two really good ones in The Hateful Hate. The veteran actor and the young sex symbol both did a solid job in their respective roles. It was also nice to see Michael Madsen back in a Tarantino film. Now, I feel like seeing Reservoir Dogs again.

Many people will probably scoff at the abundant use of the n-word in this movie. Racist characters will use racist language. Same goes for the violence against the female character. Tarantino movies are parallel universes where anything goes, sensibilities need to be checked at the door. Otherwise, it is better to stay out. Buyers beware, he has now made eight films, and he has stuck to his guns, so it should be no surprise to anyone. Making omelets leads to broken eggs, 

I love the feel of The Hateful Eight. It has the looks of an old western film, with many modern elements. Once again, Tarantino uses his many influences as a cinephile to tell an original story and deliver a film that has his distinct signature. The movie starts slow and pulls you in a bit a time. By the end, I was fully engrossed by the characters and their fate. I want more.

Rating: «««««