You Just Never Know Who Might Be The One

Rating: 9/10 (14 July 2016)

Quentin Tarantino is a man who knows how to put together a good yarn. He can bring originality to what from the surface seems to have been done a million times. Unlike that other unbelievable tale set in the frozen forests, this one has a collection of despicable human beings who might or not be who they claim to be. For three hours he treats us to biting exchanges, full of sarcasm, insight, clever lines, and some situations that because of their ugliness shouldn't be funny, but we can't help laughing at human flaws.
Helped by a brilliant cast, including Jackson, Roth, Jason-Leigh, Madsen, and more, he keeps us glued to the screen, not wanting to miss any of the "chapters", the clues, the red herrings, the constant barrage of insults, and of course, the twist at the end, and a visual feast that will surprise even those who are accustomed to his usual display of violence.
One prisoner is being taken to Red Rock where she will be tried and hung. Along the way people join that party, and they eventually find their way to an outpost where things are to become more complicated. Set right after the Civil War, we find people are still affected by the political and civil wounds of the country. Jackson is a man who has never held back, and what is truly enjoyable in this tale is that there are no weak links, no matter how small the part is. There is no doubt: everyone is dangerous and not to be trusted. Unlike "Force" we don't stop to think whether it was the casting that ruined the part, or if the part was written that way. There is no ambiguity here. There are bad people, and there are really rotten ones. There are those who will stop at nothing to get what they want, and there are still plenty of surprises in a story that shines for its unity and consistency. Even moments of unspeakable beauty while horses pull their carriages speak of coming danger. It's pretty, but it's not safe. With the help of expert cinematographer Robert Richardson, and a killer score by the always sublime Morricone, everything in this film just works marvelously.
No moment in its three hours is wasted. We fear the cold, the dark corner in the room, and we later find out that no spot is safe here. No metaphysics here, no unbelievable shots of super strength, just damaged goods from the beginning. People come up with the more twisted reasons for doing what they need or want. However, there is also the need to survive, to learn, and hopefully to move forward. We don't get long takes for us to know how miserable the surroundings are in and outside any dwellings. We see fully developed human beings, who tell us their life stories with snappy dialog or a wink of an eye. Smiles, smirks, laughs all have meaning. People cry, shout, yell, slowly deliver a powerful message to their adversaries or to us. The film has acting, lines, and technical elements of first quality that impress us because they are good not because they might be hiding weak spots. The package is loaded with snakes, and you'd better watch your hands, your backs, or in some cases, your head.
This film ranks among Tarantino's best, and we are grateful that he continues to deliver some of the best cinema can offer. We can tell he loves movies, he loves writing movies, and we love him for that.