Directed by Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction; Reservoir Dog; Django Unchained; Inglourious Basterds) and starring Samuel L. Jackson (Pulp Fiction; Django Unchained; Captain America: The Winter Soldier; Kingsman: The Secret Service), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Road to Perdition; Welcome to Me; The Machinist; The Hudsucker Proxy), Kurt Russell (Silkwood; Stargate; Fast & Furious 7; Vanilla Sky; Escape from L.A.).
Black comedy western; 168 mins, 16+
Quentin Tarantino's latest film - his 10th in total - takes from some of his previous films: the cooked-up cabin-fever ("chamber drama") from Reservoir Dogs, the blood and guts (LOTS of blood and guts) from Pulp Fiction, and the western setting from Django Unchained. So The Hateful Eight is based on a successful formula; the counter argument is that it has lost its originality which has been one of Tarantino's trademarks. But The Hateful Eight is comically very funny indeed.
The film is set in Wyoming shortly after the US Civil War; the opening scene features a stagecoach hurtling through the winter countryside, trying to stay ahead of a snowstorm. Inside is bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) who has Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), black eye and all, handcuffed to him so he can claim his reward when they arrive at Red Rock. Along the way they pick up two individuals, including Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) and they end up sheltering at Minnie's Haberdashery where they expect to be for a few days until the storm passes. Minnie is nowhere to be seen and has apparently left her premises in charge of a Mexican.
So, there are eight people holded up in this cabin in the middle of nowhere, and John Ruth believes that one or more will try to claim Daisy as their own bounty...
The opening cinematography and soundtrack give the impression that the film will be an epic. At nearly three hours long, it almost is, in that sense. But this black comedy uses issues such as racial conflict and violence against women, to name but two, as well as gratuitous violence, to provide much of the film's entertainment. But it does this very, very well.
The characters are developed very well, with the strong narrative and dialogue revealing their past through stories and anecdotes, some of which may indeed be true.
Not to be missed!
