Film Review: Quentin Tarantino Stays Familiar in ‘The Hateful Eight’

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CHICAGO – Story-wise, there is not much difference in “The Hateful Eight” – regarding themes and violence – that writer/director Quentin Tarantino hasn’t explored before. But it is also an outrageous and big western tale, and it’s presented in some theaters in a huge 70mm screen format.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 3.5/5.0
Rating: 3.5/5.0

It is special that QT has the power and energy to re-introduce this old style movie format to modern audiences, and he matches the length and breadth of some of those epic stories of the past (think “How the West was Won combined with “Pulp Fiction”). What he doesn’t do is tap anything new in his story telling. There is Samuel L. Jackson again, out for a mysterious type of revenge. Peppered in the dialogue is the n-word, yet again, ad nauseam. But at least it’s better and more expressive than “Django Unchained,” which I didn’t like. And if you like Django, then “The Hateful Eight” will further float your QT boat.

There is a stagecoach to Red Rock in the latter part of the 1800’s, and on that coach is John Ruth (Kurt Russell), a bounty hunter, and his prisoner Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Another notorious bounty hunter, Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), is marooned in an impending blizzard, and hails the stagecoach to hitch a ride.

The crew ends up at Minnie’s Haberdashery, an outpost along the trail, but Minnie is nowhere to be found. Inside is Bob (Demian Bichir), who claims he’s working at the store, along with cowboy Joe Gage (Michael Madsen), General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern) and hangman Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth). The group settles in to ride out the storm, but something is not right.

“The Hateful Eight” has a limited run beginning December 25th, and will be shown in 70mm in select theaters, including at the Music Box Theatre – 3733 North Southport Avenue – in Chicago. See local listings for other theaters and show times. Featuring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern, Michael Madsen, Demian Bichir, Tim Roth and Channing Tatum. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Rated “G”…just kidding, it’s a hard “R”

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Hateful Eight”

Hateful Eight
Marquiss (Samuel L. Jackson), Daisy (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and John Ruth (Kurt Russell) in ‘The Hateful Eight’
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

StarContinue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of “The Hateful Eight”

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