It's a Tarantino Western... Hooray!

Rating: 7/10 (18 January 2016)

I'm a fairly big fan of Tarantino. I think the guy has a real knack for making good movies and writing GREAT scripts. None of his movies really push creative boundaries in plot or execution, but he's a wonderful craftsman who knows how to tell fantastic, often nonlinear stories. I like some of his movies more than others but he's never done anything I didn't enjoy. I'm pleased to say he continues this trend.
This picture is full of smart and engaging dialogue, memorable performances, and interesting characters. There's plenty of room for imagination and it works to keep the audience immersed in the movie. Plus, considering it's three hours long, good writing is vital.
This is likely Tarantino's most ambitious film. It has elements that are similar to his previous work such as Kill Bill or Pulp Fiction, but he takes a risk in having 95% of the movie take place in a single room. That being said, the tedious scenery works perfectly. It adds a feeling of claustrophobia and forces the diversified characters, all acted extremely well, to interact with one another in fascinating ways. There are also moments of touching acceptance and camaraderie between two conflicting parties which adds a nice dash of humanity.
My only gripe with this movie is how self-indulgent it felt. It was as if the director didn't even have to make a concerted effort to produce a solid film and everything fell into place. This is fine, and frequently less can be more, but I can't help but feel this movie falls into the shadow of Django Unchained. The final act is really macabre and excessive, but it's a fun venture in filmmaking even if it has considerably less substance than any other Tarantino material. The characters are good, as expected, but the plot isn't very strong and the motivations seem relatively weak. Quentin clearly has the ability to make compelling movies with somewhat predictable plot lines, but he didn't quite go as far as he could have with moving things forward or surprising the audience.
Overall, this is Tarantino doing what he loves: making very effective movies. There's a lot of the tension and it never gets boring. Kurt Russell did a great job and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing him on the big screen again. If you enjoy Quentin's work and what he tends to do, then you'll have a real good time with this one! However, for the love of God, keep the younger kids at home. The first act might lead you to believe this movie is far more subdued than it actually is.