The Hateful Eight: A Reservoir Dogs Western

Say what you will about Quentin Tarantino... self-indulgent, a complete ass-hat, or one of this generation's most brilliant filmmakers... the dude loves movies.  And he loves giving his fans/viewers the ultimate movie experience just as he had when he was a lad. I remember back in 2007 I went and saw Grindhouse in theaters, twice, on the same day.  It was some of the most fun I'd ever had watching a couple of movies in theaters.  There were fake concession ads, fake trailers, two hilariously bloody movies separated by a few amazing fake trailers.  It's what I can imagine going to the movies to see a terrible horror double feature was like back in the 70s.  Since I wasn't alive to experience it, I was able to enjoy something entertaining and new. For The Hateful Eight I made it down to Hollywood to experience the Roadshow tour of the film shown in 70MM with a five minute overture and a twelve minute intermission.  Tarantino set it up this way so that viewers today could have the benefit of seeing the film like he viewed the inspirations for this one: John Carpenter's The Thing and Tarantino's own Reservoir Dogs.  It was also a blast, not just because of the nostalgia of seeing a movie via film roll instead of digital, but because it wasn't just watching a movie, it was experiencing one. The overture was set to a red silhouetted OVERTURE title card where the audience just sat back listening to western music conducted by genius Ennio Morricone.  This actually made the film feel a little bit more like a live stage performance than a movie.  Then came the first hour and forty minutes of the film until the intermission which gave fans the chance to discuss what they'd seen, take a bathroom break, and get a refill on their popcorn and soda without missing any of the actual film to do so.  The film itself, the score, the 70MM viewing, and the entire trip made The Hateful Eight that much more of a fantastic time.  Oh, and at the end we were even given a program.

So, how about the film itself? At a little bit over three hours, The Hateful Eight plays out like classic Tarantino.  I know many of us were a little bit surprised with Django Unchained that the narrative was told chronologically and didn't bounce around like most of his other films.  However, The Hateful Eight goes back to his roots.  We first meet Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson) trapped in the snow and asking for a ride from a stagecoach with passengers John "The Hangman" Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his prisoner Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh). They also pick up rascally and very racist Sheriff Chris Mannix (Justified's Walton Goggins).  A blizzard prevents the bunch from continuing their journey as they have to stop and seek shelter at a Haberdashery.  Inside, also done braving the storm is Bob (Demian Bichir), Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth), Joe Gage (Michael Madsen), and Confederate General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern).  From there the movie plays out like a western version of Reservoir Dogs.  They're all bastards with terrible motivations and they're not all who they say they are.  The mystery unfolds and so does the bloodshed in perfect Tarantino fashion.

Yes, the movie is a tad overlong and a bit self-indulgent with most of the first half containing that classic Tarantino dialogue and back-and-forths.  It winds up, in certain scenes, seeming a mite tedious, but by the end it's realized it was all for a purpose. The first half does kind of slog along slowly, but it's that slow burn and build that leads to an all too satisfying ending that we've come to know and love from a Tarantino film. We're essentially following the first wagon with Warren, Ruth, Domergue and Mannix for most of the film, but towards the end, after a lot of blood has been shed, we get insight into the characters that were already holed up in the Haberdashery to see their side of the story and, man is it rewarding. Finally, we come back to see the conclusion and it's some of Tarantino's best work.  While the film itself isn't Tarantino's best collectively, there are scenes in the film that show him at his finest as a director.

Above all, it's a very fun movie. Even when it's just a couple of characters talking about their past, it's enjoyable.  That's especially hard to do with just a handful of people and a very limited setting, but we know it's in Tarantino's blood to be able to handle a film like this.  It's funny, releasing a western film starring Samuel L. Jackson and Kurt Russell wouldn't turn many heads.  They're not really bankable leading actors any longer (we know this because one of my favorite movies of the entire year, Bone Tomahawk, was a western with Kurt Russell, and it didn't even get widely released).  However, you slap on Quentin's name to the film and you've got yourself a hit.  And it's a shame they're not bankable leads any longer because they are all capable of leading a film, especially one like this.  Kurt Russell hams it up to western perfection.  Jackson is always stunning when involved in a Tarantino film.  Goggins gives a wonderful performance as well as the lovable, yet dumb/racist renegade sheriff who is too stupid to realize he's accidentally playing devil's advocate to, well... everyone. It's Jennifer Jason Leigh as the captured murderer Daisy Domergue who steals the show.  She's a maniac and certifiably insane, but she's captured the character with pizzazz.  There will probably be an Oscar nom headed her way for this.

The direction is perfect, the script is decently crisp, the soundtrack is remarkable, and the acting is top notch making for another Tarantino classic.  It's a film that immediately elicits conversation and talks of wanting to see another viewing of the film as soon as possible. If you're a Tarantino fan, you will love it.  If you're a movie fan in general, this is one to absolutely experience.  Yes, it's a niche film for true fans, and to be honest, even if you don't enjoy his work, there's something you'll take away from and enjoy in The Hateful Eight (if you can get past the slow pace of the beginning).  For all the rest of us who have thoroughly enjoyed and played out Tarantino's collection this is a welcome entry into a great director's legacy.

B+

And just for good measure, a ranking of Tarantino's films from best to least best:
Pulp Fiction
Inglourious Basterds
Reservoir Dogs
Django Unchained
Kill Bill: Vol 1
The Hateful Eight
Jackie Brown
Kill Bill: Vol 2
Grindhouse: Death Proof