A review by Brooks Rich
I was so excited to see The Hateful Eight. It should be obvious by now but I am a huge fan of Tarantino and I think every time he releases a film is an event. The fact that he might be only making one more film after Once Upon a Time In Hollywood is a tragedy I can’t begin to think about. So instead…we’re going to focus on his follow up to Django Unchained. The epic length western The Hateful Eight, shot in 70mm was released in two forms, a standard theatrical release and a traveling roadshow version released before the wide release of December 25th, 2015. The film had some controversy surrounding it already as the script was released online and Tarantino had decided to move on from it. But after overwhelming praise from a live reading he and the cast did, he decided to continue with production. I admire the man for sticking with the film and, of course, for shooting in 70mm. The film is gorgeous at times, the opening scenes are epic, especially accompanied by the amazing score by legendary composer Ennio Morricone. All the pieces for a classic film are here. I just wish I liked this film more.
Bounty hunter Major Marquis Warren, played by Samuel L. Jackson, stranded in Wyoming, flags down a carriage traveling to the town of Red Rocks which is where bounty hunter John “The Hangman” Ruth, played by Kurt Russell, is taking Daisy Domergue, an Oscar-nominated Jennifer Jason Leigh, to her hanging. Along the way they pick up a former Confederate mercenary, Walton Goggins, who claims to be the new sheriff of Red Rocks. They arrive at Minnie’s Haberdashery, an oasis in the middle of a frozen wasteland with a blizzard coming. But something seems off about the whole situation.
I don’t want to spoil your viewing of this film. It’s an interesting set up to be sure…and the scenes in the first act in the stagecoach are fantastic. But something just doesn’t work for me here. The film doesn’t come together as a whole. Without spoilers, there’s an extended puking scene that seems excessive and the film drags once the blizzard traps the eight characters inside the Haberdashery. The four characters waiting at the Haberdashery just seem shallow compared to the other characters we have met so far. This is all opinion and I imagine some people might like The Hateful Eight. I don’t dislike this film, but I found myself wishing for more. A film where Tarantino shoots on 70mm and has Ennio Morricone composing a score should have left me way more excited when the file ended than I was when I first sat down.
I was so excited to see The Hateful Eight. It should be obvious by now but I am a huge fan of Tarantino and I think every time he releases a film is an event. The fact that he might be only making one more film after Once Upon a Time In Hollywood is a tragedy I can’t begin to think about. So instead…we’re going to focus on his follow up to Django Unchained. The epic length western The Hateful Eight, shot in 70mm was released in two forms, a standard theatrical release and a traveling roadshow version released before the wide release of December 25th, 2015. The film had some controversy surrounding it already as the script was released online and Tarantino had decided to move on from it. But after overwhelming praise from a live reading he and the cast did, he decided to continue with production. I admire the man for sticking with the film and, of course, for shooting in 70mm. The film is gorgeous at times, the opening scenes are epic, especially accompanied by the amazing score by legendary composer Ennio Morricone. All the pieces for a classic film are here. I just wish I liked this film more.
Bounty hunter Major Marquis Warren, played by Samuel L. Jackson, stranded in Wyoming, flags down a carriage traveling to the town of Red Rocks which is where bounty hunter John “The Hangman” Ruth, played by Kurt Russell, is taking Daisy Domergue, an Oscar-nominated Jennifer Jason Leigh, to her hanging. Along the way they pick up a former Confederate mercenary, Walton Goggins, who claims to be the new sheriff of Red Rocks. They arrive at Minnie’s Haberdashery, an oasis in the middle of a frozen wasteland with a blizzard coming. But something seems off about the whole situation.
I don’t want to spoil your viewing of this film. It’s an interesting set up to be sure…and the scenes in the first act in the stagecoach are fantastic. But something just doesn’t work for me here. The film doesn’t come together as a whole. Without spoilers, there’s an extended puking scene that seems excessive and the film drags once the blizzard traps the eight characters inside the Haberdashery. The four characters waiting at the Haberdashery just seem shallow compared to the other characters we have met so far. This is all opinion and I imagine some people might like The Hateful Eight. I don’t dislike this film, but I found myself wishing for more. A film where Tarantino shoots on 70mm and has Ennio Morricone composing a score should have left me way more excited when the file ended than I was when I first sat down.
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