Another Self Indulgent Disappointment From Tarantino

Rating: 5/10 (21 December 2015)

After seeing INGLORIOUS BASTERDS by Tarantino I'd almost given up on the director then he comes back with DJANGO UNCHAINED which is a modern reworking of BLAZING SADDLES which had me laughing out loud and squirming in my seat at the same time . Tarantino says he's making another Western starring Samuel L Jackson lasting three hours ? Oh count me in please . This will be worth waiting for
Except it's not . The premise of a handful of strangers being snowed in at a location and at least one of them is a murderous crook has already been done in Western shows from the 1970s . If I remember correctly an episode of ALIAS SMITH AND JONES did something similar but an episode of that show lasted 50 minutes not three hours as seen here
Make no mistake this is where the film falls down - it's far too long by at least a hour and the lack of brevity damages the movie greatly . Some people have commentated on THE HATEFUL EIGHT being a medley mega-mix of the director's previous works and they're right . Some plot turns owe a massive amount to RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION but perhaps worst of all it also includes the flaws of IB where some scenes seem to go on forever in a totally self indulgent manner and the story doesn't really get going until halfway through its running time
One positive way to look upon this is that if you've enjoyed most of Tarantino's previous work then you'll enjoy this one . The downside is that if you think Tarantino is overrated and something of a one trick pony then this movie isn't going to change your mind . It's probably not his worst film but by the same token few people will claim it's his masterwork either