Mediocre Tarantino Film = Good Film

Rating: 7/10 (22 March 2016)

The Hateful Eight is Quentin Tarantino's eight film (actually it's his 9th but either he doesn't count Death Proof or Kill Bill is now 1 film, I'm not sure) and suffice to say it is not among his best. But even a mediocre Tarantino film is still a heck of a lot better than most movies put out these days.
The story is that while delivering a fugitive, bounty hunter John 'The Hangman' Ruth (played by Kurt Russell) encounters another bounty hunter, Major Marquis Warren (played by Samuel L. Jackson) and Sheriff Chris Mannix (played by Walter Goggins.) He's untrustworthy of these people but soon a large blizzard forces him to take these people with him into a cabin filled with even more unsavory characters and from there a mystery emerges
Once again Tarantino manages to bring out some truly great performances. All the actors in this film simply own their characters, bringing them to life in such an authentic way. John 'The Hangman' Ruth is my favorite out of all the characters. Having an incredible mustache probably has something to do with it.
An interesting element of this film is that none of the characters in particular are people you'd want to root for. They all have some dark secret about them that utterly wrecks their moral abilities and causes us to see them in a different light. This could of course be a negative to some people as it would make it hard to sympathize with the characters.
And the way the film creates suspense is done through Tarantino's signature dialogue and the simply MASTERFUL soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. It is a work of art that looms like a specter in some scenes, brilliantly creation tension. It is most definitely worth buying.
However the film has its good share of cons.
Much has been made about the movie being filmed in 70mm and in the first few scenes set in the wilderness of Wyoming it looks fantastic! It rivals the backdrops and scenic views scene in the Revenant. But unfortunately it is then wasted. I don't understand why Tarantino would film the entire movie in 70mm and then stick us in a cabin for 2/3rds of the entire film. Some say it helps you get into the film more because it feels like you're really there but I say that it's a waste.
And everyone mentions the whole 'mystery aspect' of the film in their reviews and synopses. Some even say that this movie is a Western version of The Thing but that's simply not true. The mystery aspect of this film starts off great! You're really into it and piecing things together and trying to figure out this mystery alongside with the characters but then BAM! The mystery is solved and taken care of in about 10 minutes flat. It just feels like it goes by too quick and the movie would have been far more interesting if it had just started with this mystery.
And that is ultimately my major complaint about The Hateful Eight. The movie is simply way, way, way, way too long. It runs for about 3 hours and that's simply too long for a movie like this. Perhaps if more happened in the film then those 3 hours would fly by. Django Unchained is almost 3 hours and no one complains. But this movie doesn't have a lot to fill up those 3 hours. The dialogue would help, but the dialogue in this movie doesn't capture your attention like it did in other Tarantino films. I really feel as though many scenes could be shortened or even cut out.
As I left the theater I felt a strange sense of familiarity with this film, as though I had already seen it before. Then I realized I have, and it was a movie by the same director! That movie is Reservoir Dogs and it shares many similarities with this film but the difference is that Reservoir Dogs isn't 3 HOURS LONG!
Overall The Hateful Eight isn't a bad movie but it's certainly not Tarantino's best. If Tarantino is being true about only making 2 more films then retirement then I hope that his last 2 are outstanding.
I'm going to give The Hateful Eight a C+