The Hateful Eight, a stunning new film shot in, as the trailers advertised, GLORIOUS 70mm is about as beautiful as those ads say. Of course, leave it to Quentin Tarantino to revision how we watch movies in cinemas today. Hopefully, his new tactic worked, but new tactic I mean bringing back the wonders of film prints to movie theaters across the nation. An argument can be made for both sides (Digital V Film) but most agree that (on film) the image itself is just crisper, the colors pop with wonder, and it helps make the for a wholly immersive movie going experience. As far as the movie goes? well it’s damn good. A bloody pulpy homage that, in part, pays respects to those tongue in cheek rootin-tootin shoot-em up flicks of the 1960s while still giving major cinephiles something to talk about. Casual moviegoers may ride this one out, likely due to the fact this film is 90% dialogue and 10% action (you have been warned). Still, when the action heats up and the body count starts to rise, The Hateful Eight becomes a very in-depth look at the logistics of some lone strangers isolated in a cabin where not everything is at seems. ​

Tarantino is quick to put his signature mark on his work, opening with about sixteen dozen different shots of mountain tops, and snow guzzling down in a terrain of blurry whiteness. It’s in this setting where we meet Kurt Russell as John “The Hangman” Ruth transporting the notorious gang leader Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to Red Rock, a town where she will be later hanged for her crimes.

Along the way John picks up a few stragglers..one by the name of Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) a former union soldier who is equal parts bounty hunter like John. We also meet Red Rock’s newly minted sheriff, Chris Mannix (Walter Goggins) a self-pretentious, loud mouth racists who fought for the South in the Civil War.

This set up alone is enough to make for an enticing next couple of hours – but the fun doesn’t stop there. With a blizzard fast approaching these newfound companions need to seek shelter, which they do at a stagecoach stop called Minnie’s Haberdashery. This is where meet the rest of the quartet that makes up the Hateful Eight. A cowhand named Bob “The Mexican” (Demian Bichir) – General. Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern) a crotchety older gentlemen who does not have a fondness for people of color. Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth) which just so happens to be Red Rock’s new hangman and FINALLY, a recluse, collected lad by the name of Joe Gage (Michael Madsen).
I know it’s a-lot to ingest.

Once everyone is all settled in is where Tarantino’s script begins to take over as a slow build into mutiny, in fact at one point Oswaldo suggests splitting up the cabin into sections as to not cause chaos. Obviously everyone in this cabin has a motive, which is eventually revealed (hardly a spoiler to suggest that a Tarantino film has a body county AND motive). Channing Tatum even shows up for a nice little extended role late in the game, and while he does feel a bit under casted for the role, his character still has a purpose.

When you have an ensemble that is as talented as this one, you need to make sure EACH get’s their respective moment to shine..which, for the most part, they do. Jackson, Russell, Leigh, and Goggins..immediately come to mind. Jackson is probably given the best speech in probably the whole movie (which comes right before intermission too) it’s a speech filled with lewd imagery, and a sadistic undertone that will leave the audience to wonder “is this true?”. Russell (where has he been?) is just a blast to watch, as he plays “The Hangman” fueled with the grunt of a power hungry mercenary out for blood. His beard perfectly matches the character. It’s a fun role, and I was so thrilled to see Russell having discoveries with the script.

Then there is the topic of Leigh’s character Daisy who, for most of the movie, takes relentless lashings..all from men. Still, before I get warranted for female brutality, I do ‘somewhat’ condone the way she was treated in the film, because it made her feel like one of the guys. The fact that she could take these beatings and still stand tough is where I feel more female parts need to be written. Daisy is NOT a likeable character, but she is, by FAR, the strongest in the entire film. I could see her securing a Best Supporting Actress nomination … and winning.

Even though The Hateful Eight, which could have easily been trimmed by about twenty minutes, and lacks the same gritty tenacious attitude that Django Unchained had begs that if you can sit for the better half of three hours, with minimal action and character driven speeches, then this film is a heaping pile of fresh goodness. Then again if you need more action with hardly any dialogue why  are you purchasing a ticket to a Quentin Tarantino film in the first place? B