A Film for Cinema Buffs and Tarantino Fans Alike

Rating: 10/10 (26 December 2015)

For those confused about what all the major publications are saying about Quentin Tarantino's latest flick: don't pay attention to anything they say.
Tarantino is known to stir the pot with his films and this might be his most bold film to date. There is graphic violence, albeit not immediately so be patient and don't complain that someone's head doesn't get blown off in the first 30 minutes. The "n" word and "b" word are both used a lot, so if you can't handle that don't even bother watching it. As a black man and someone who hates misogyny, I found this film not offensive. All the language and bad treatment towards women was contextual and expand your mind if you don't see it the same way.
No matter what you think about the film's content, everyone will probably admit that the cinematography is flawless. Tarantino didn't make this using 70mm for nothing and even at points where the film moves slow, it's still a delight to look at.
I'm not going to go into detail about the plot because you probably already know it and it's best to go into this film without much insight into what possibly might happen. It's basically 8 strangers staying in a cabin together, all criminals in some way who don't trust each other. Tarantino builds tension throughout and even though there's not violence every 10 minutes at any moment you feel like something serious could go down. The storyline is pretty crazy, there's enough twists and unpredictability to keep a cinema buff or Tarantino fan at the edge of their seat.
The acting is great. Jackson is great as usual, Tarantino vets Kurt Russell, Tim Roth, and Michael Madsen are solid. Walton Goggins was the breakout performer to me as a lot of the dark humor comes from his lines, I hope to see him get some award recognition for his role. Jennifer Jason Leigh, who I don't think I knew from anything besides Fast Times prior to this film deserves her Golden Globe nod. You genuinely hate her character, but you still understand her motivations and it doesn't prevent you from enjoying her great acting skills. Channing Tatum was solid in his first film role as a villain and fellow newcomer Demian Bichir was a surprise (loved him on FX's The Bridge!).
Things do get really ugly, really fast but the film's 2 hour and 47 min run time (3 hours for the Roadshow version!) does require patience. There are a few moments where the dialogue gets a little dull, but Tarantino is a wise man who knows how to keep his audience wrapped in his film. Just go in expecting a Tarantino film and an excellent Tarantino film you'll receive. As of now it's my favorite film of the year.