The Next Jackie Brown

Rating: 6/10 (23 December 2015)

Quentin Tarantino's eighth feature film includes a terrific cast of experienced QT veterans (with the addition of Jennifer Jason Leigh and Channing Tatum) who all come come together to put on a theatrical performance filled with classic Tarantino gags (blood, guns, exploding heads). The story is told in six chapters, divided by an intermission halfway through the film. Tarantino's insistence with making the movie an "event" (i.e. the inclusion of an overture and the intermission itself), are pretty much the only things this movie had going for it. It was neat to sit through the film as theater-goers back in the day would have, but once the movie began, it never really picked up.
The story itself is not particularly engaging; it's essentially an ultra-violent "who- done-it" flick. The vulgarity lacked purpose and purely existed for the sake of maintaining and keeping with the director's violent reputation. It's not a special or even interesting film, but it does contain, during some parts, his unique cinematic style.
Visually, it's nice to watch. The ultra-wide format allowed for some awesome exterior shots, but once we get inside the cabin, where 70% of the film takes place, the ultra-wide serves no purpose. This lead to a surplus of unmotivated lighting, especially once nightfall hit.
Production value was off the charts, the set decoration and wardrobe are perfect and the acting is decent, but the characters portrayed are neither likable nor hatable. It was difficult to root for any of them, which took out any inkling of suspense. Since I didn't care who died, I was just waiting for the next person to get shot. None of the characters possessed charm, making each of them just as dreadful as the next. As a die-hard QT fan, I don't regret seeing it, but if this was any other director, I'd suggest waiting for the DVD. 6 out of 10.