The Hateful Eight (2015)
Certified: 18
Duration: 168 minutes
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, James Parks, Channing Tatum, Dana Gourrier, Zoë Bell, Lee Horsley, Gene Jones
KRS Releasing Ltd

Quentin Tarantino had a tough time to release his eighth film, The Hateful Eight. The script was leaked and the director swore that the movie would not be made. But after a group reading he was inspired to carry out his plan.

His decision to shoot in 70mm made for a very arduous shoot for the cast who also faced incessant cold. His participation in a Black Lives Matter rally ended up with him being labelled as a cop hater with police forces around the US issuing requests to boycott Tarantino’s picture. Thankfully enough, The Hateful Eight made it to the big screen.

It is a gloriously self-indulgent picture, in the way Tarantino’s movies are, and bears all his signature trademarks: brilliant acting, to-the-point and self-referential dialogue and an eye for cinematic grandstanding. It is also brilliantly scored by Ennio Morricone, who won a Golden Globe last Sunday for his first score for a Western film in 40 years.

The Hateful Eight is set in the years after the Civil War, where on the snowy trail of Wyoming, a stagecoach is en route to Red Rock. On board is John Ruth (Kurt Russell), aka The Hangman, and Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), a murderess who has a $10,000 price tag on her head.

On the way they meet Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), an ex-Union cavalry soldier, who has no horse but a pile of bodies around him. Ruth knows the Major is also a bounty hunter and lets him on board the stagecoach as he declares he has no interest in Daisy.

As the blizzard harshens, they meet Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), who says his horse is hurt and that he is the next Red Rock sheriff. Along the way, he raises suspicions due to his family’s Confederate background and their treatment of black people.

The destination is Minnie’s Haberdashery, an outpost owned by Minnie Mink (Dane Gourrier) and Sweet Dave (Gene Jones). However, they find that others have got there before them and things may get a little hairy. On the scene are: General Sanford Smithers aka Sandy (Bruce Dern), Jody (Channing Tatum), Bob (Demian Bichir), Joe Gage (Michael Madsen) and Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth). With all these people gathered in such close quarters, it will be just a matter of time before someone either frees Daisy or kills her and all the rest to get the bounty money.

The Hateful Eight marks Taraninto’s return to the style of Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, especially in its non-linear structure. The film’s appeal also lies in its colourful personalities and when they are brought altogether in a tight space, the cocktail mix is heady.

Tarantino is never one to do things lightly: he builds up the ante, lets us get to know the characters at a languid pace and when he wants, places urgency in situations.

The dialogue is filled with a sense of tension and makes the characters come alive, making the film’s script one of the best he has ever delivered. Robert Richardson’s cinematography is a glorious feast for the eyes, be it the snowy landscapes or the interiors of the cabin where all the characters end up.

The performances range from good to excellent with perennial Tarantino collaborator Jackson being by far the show stealer. Surprisingly enough, Tatum’s performance is a joy to watch and I wished he had more screen time.

As a Tarantino fan I ended up lapping every minute of The Hateful Eight and although I am still undecided where I will fit it in the echelon of Tarantino’s top movies, this will surely not be at the bottom of my list. I reserve that place for Jackie Brown which, however, is still far ahead of the best films other directors can deliver, which in itself says a lot about the Hateful Eight.