Review of The Hateful Eight (2015) by Foxgrove — 14 Jan 2016

The opening credits of ‘The Hateful Eight’ rather egotistically state that this is the eighth film by Quentin Tarantino. Presented in 70mm and complete with an overture and intermission, this can be seen as either a vanity undertaking by its director or as a passion project by someone who loves cinema and the old traditions it stood for.

The story outline is a mere strand and it is overblown to epic proportions (a staggering 187 minutes) that it cannot possibly hope to sustain. Things start promisingly enough with Kurt Russell’s bounty hunter escorting Jennifer Jason Leigh’s Daisy, by stagecoach in a raging blizzard, to her date with destiny on the gallows.

En-route they meet up with Samuel L Jackson and Walton Goggins before holing up with the rest of the titular number in a cabin which is the home of ‘Minnie’s Haberdashery’. The torturous corkscrewing of the plot plays out from here, but interest is lost after a while due to the overly talky first half.

The intermission when it comes is almost a relief. Things pick up considerably after the break and the screenplay introduces flashbacks, narration and a plot twist that livens things up no end. These devices are, in fact, Tarantino’s forte.

This second half also lets rip in the blood letting department and anyone who has seen a Tarantino film before will know exactly what to expect. The cast have a lot of fun, with the best performances coming from Samuel L Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and, especially, an unknown Walton Goggins.

The film is technically proficient, although when the actors are competing with both Ennio Morricone’s forceful score and the sound effects of the raging blizzard, much dialogue is lost as a result.

The 70 mm presentation is stunning and Robert Richardson’s cinematography of both interiors and exteriors is ravishingly beautiful. It may not be vintage Tarantino, but despite the flaws it somehow manages to stay with you long after you have left the cinema.