The Hateful Eight Review

       

As a young aspiring film maker in the 21st century Quentin Tarantino has definitely left an impression on how I see films, as he is one of the most outspoken film makers of the past twenty five years. I have always loved his films, however I had never seen a Tarantino film in the cinema as I was too young. So I had never had the full experience of one of his movies. The Hateful Eight was my first Tarantino film in the cinema and it was a wonderful time. I really wanted to see it in 70mm, but no cinema near where I lived showed it in that format. Even on a digital screen I found the film to be great and it blew me away. The Hateful Eight isn't a perfect film as it does have a lot of flaws, including that of the character Bob. Who's Mexican accent is similar to that of a Looney Tunes character from the 1950's. And some scenes went on maybe a little too long. Even though the film isn't perfect it is a significant film, and I reckon it will get more popular as the years go on. 

The way in which the film deals with race relations during post Civil War America contrasts sadly with a lot of violence in America going on today with police brutality and constant gun violence. Instead of overtly making a film about modern day America, Tarantino chooses to be creative and implement it into his western. Maybe it could have been done with some subtlety but Tarantino isn't famous for subtlety.  

Hateful Eight deals with a lot of it's dark subject matter through dark gallows humor. Tarantino makes the audience laugh in some horrible circumstances. A lot of the violence is played for laughs too, as characters painfully suffer a lot of it is very funny. One of the darkest scenes in the movie is meant to be divisive being on the very fine line of funny and not so funny, yet when Major Warren monologues to the Confederate General about the fate of his son it works. It is nasty, vile, hilarious and one of Tarantino's best speeches. 

The actors do a fantastic job in the film. All working off of each other flawlessly. Which must be a hard task because two and a half hours of this three hour movie are set in a haberdashery. So in that time you have to grow attached to these characters, know their motivations and so forth despite how despicable they are. I will say a major flaw was that when some characters bit the dust it had no impact on me emotionally which maybe was the point, but when watching a three hour movie when some characters die and there is no impact it isn't a good thing. That isn't necessarily the actors fault, it's just how some of the more violent scenes were directed. The gore effects were outstanding but there wasn't an emotional impact to pack a big enough punch of shock.

Overall The Hateful Eight isn't Tarantino's best film, yet it is an extremely poignant and funny film.