Quentin Tarantino returns to form with his latest film.

Rating: 9/10 (1 January 2016)

I'll admit - Tarantino was one of the very first filmmakers to inspire me to start taking movies a little more seriously. I've enjoyed almost everything that he has worked on. I have seen every film that he has directed - and 'The Hateful Eight' is the latest one.
However, putting my fandom aside, I will try to review Tarantino's latest film with as little bias as possible. Before I dive in, I have to say that this film is not as action-oriented as 'Inglorious Basterds' or 'Django Unchained', nor as game-changing as 'Pulp Fiction'; if anything, 'The Hateful Eight' falls more in line with Tarantino's first film, 'Reservoir Dogs'.
Although this is by far my favourite film of the year, I do not consider it to be the best.
All the main actors are delightfully despicable. They are the main reason why I stuck around for the entire 2 hrs. and 48 mins. of this film's runtime. Not only do they bring a great deal of enthusiasm and energy to their characters (trust me, every actor seemed like they had fun with his/her role), but they also managed to create this undeniable chemistry for them. There are no interactions that feel awkward or forced - everyone just kind of works naturally off of each other. Jennifer Jason Leigh is the standout here; without giving away too much, her performance as Daisy Domergue will more than likely make your skin crawl - she is scary good in the role. Samuel L. Jackson also gives his best performance in recent years. There are scenes where his delivery can either get a crowd cheering or laughing their guts out (all because of how unexpected he can be).
The score by Ennio Morricone might possibly be the most memorable of this year's. It's a dark and creepy vibe mixed with Morricone's signature western vibe - and it sets the mood perfectly for what's to come.
The story is unlike anything I've seen on the big screen before. This isn't a traditional story of good guys vs. bad guys - it's a story about morally ambiguous characters who couldn't trust each other less. It is both suspenseful and unpredictable - something that a lot of films these days aren't. I personally had a lot of fun trying to figure out what would happen next based on the clues left by Tarantino. Yes, the film does feel incredibly slow at times (especially during the middle), but Tarantino makes up for it by making each payoff more shocking and rewarding than the previous one. The final climax is a fantastic surprise - perhaps one of Tarantino's finest.
The cinematography is breathtakingly beautiful. Every time there's a wide shot of the stagecoach galloping across the snowy terrain, my eyes can't help but go wide. Unfortunately, most of the film takes place inside, so there aren't that many shots of the surrounding natural environment. However, that's not to say that the indoor shots aren't also great to feast your eyes upon. Even though the film is shot with 65mm film (and projected to 70mm), Tarantino and Richardson (D.P.) still managed to make the most of showing off the film's wonderfully designed haberdashery.
Tarantino's daring direction and bold decisions not only make 'The Hateful Eight' one of this year's most unique cinematic experiences but also one of this year's more problematic films. As mentioned, the film is LONG - and one can really feel it drag on at certain points. The pacing will throw off those expecting a lot more violence (don't worry, there's some good bloody violence in this film as well). Finally, a lot of what happens in this film doesn't contribute to the main plot, but to character development instead (and to great effect).
In reality, if I weren't a fan of Tarantino, I would give 'The Hateful Eight' a 7/10. For an average viewer, the film will seem like a long and boring journey. For a true film fan, it won't be something you'll want to miss.