Rating of
3.5/4
Indulge in Tarantino
Unknown - wrote on 01/17/16
'The Hateful Eight' is Tarantino's latest film. His specifics are all over this one, to the point where some people would consider most of it to be self-indulgent. I do see some of that present. I don't think the close to three hour runtime is needed given the circumstances of the film itself. The story is almost entirely driven by his trademark dialogue. I can't fault that area, as I've always enjoyed his intricate wordplay. It actually works to the strength of the entire movie, because it does feel like a stage play. His characters, and their words, drive almost every bit of the plot. Everyone is hiding secrets. We peel back layers of the entire group as the night progresses. Tension and paranoia arise out of the many exchanges. Alliances are formed and deformed between multiple sets. It's once we find out who the real evil-doers are that I started to have a problem. I didn't guess the secret schemer(s). However, their reveal made me question their reasoning for waiting so long. Things could've ended a whole lot sooner once we know everything. This didn't bother me enough to ruin the film or bring my score down, but it did make for an overlong conclusion. I was still invested from beginning to end and found much to enjoy. The technical aspects provided immersion through visuals. I also loved the musical score. One of the most memorable I've heard all year.
