The Hateful Eight Review
RYAN: Quentin Tarantino’s eighth film is appropriately titled The Hateful Eight. His films, together, make for a veritable anthology. They all share the same tone with different stories and characters. But like M. Night Shyamalan, Tarantino has become very predictable. Instead of waiting for a twist in his movies, you just wait for it all to hit the fan.
CAROLINE: I hear you. And you’re right. He’s really great at what he does and he has created his own brand of movie.
RYAN: I love all his films and this one is no exception. But the original components he added to this feature – the Roadhouse version – just lengthen the movie-going experience. There’s a useless overture – whose score is uninspired and lacks a great melody. And it’s a missed opportunity to update the concept of the overture – show something. We just sat and watched a single shot the whole time.
CAROLINE: That’s annoying.
RYAN: Plus there’s an intermission – 12 minutes. I used that time to run to the mens and pick up some popcorn, but again, I’d rather just see a regularly-timed film. Unless, of course, it’s Harry Potter; then it can be three and a half hours.
CAROLINE: Ok, complaints aside, how is this movie?
RYAN: It’s excellent! He really is a phenomenal storyteller and visual artist. His shots and characters work together so well.
CAROLINE: How’s the cast?
RYAN: They’re all excellent. I love Kurt Russell in this. He’s brilliant and Jennifer Jason Leigh unlike you’ve ever seen her. It’s a gritty film with some disturbing violence as is typical in Tarantino-land. But the one actor who just chewed the scenery was Tim Roth. He was so over the top as a character, compared to everyone else, it was like he was in a different movie.
CAROLINE: That’s so odd. I wonder if that was all his choice or if Quentin pushed for it.
RYAN: Me too. It’s a big movie but has a great, intimate quality to it because much of it takes place in one room – almost like you’re watching a play. And these stars are all so great. Sam Jackson is also a winner in this. I love him and Tarantino has given him, again, some fabulous moments to play with.
CAROLINE: They do collaborate well together.
RYAN: Not only is the violence rough, but the language is also not for the faint of heart – there’s a lot of racism in this, considering it takes place in post-Civil War Wyoming.
CAROLINE: I can only imagine.
RYAN: Channing Tatum shows up late in the show and it’s cool seeing him in there too.
CAROLINE: But overall, you got what you expected?
RYAN: Delightfully, yes. It’s violent, bloody, disturbing, edgy and suspenseful. I love Tarantino – check out the roadshow version on 70mm film if you’d like, but I think I’d have preferred the shorter, standard version.
