MOVIE OF THE WEEK #3 (12/25-31/15): THE HATEFUL EIGHT

"Oh come on – that has to be an elephant! This is the worst game of Pictionary ever!" John Ruth (Kurt Russell), his prisoner Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and former Confederate Army General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern) deal with a brief annoyance in a scene from writer/director Quentin Tarantino's eighth film, THE HATEFUL EIGHT. Credit: Andrew Cooper, SMPSP. © 2015 The Weinstein Company. All rights reserved.  

WATCH THE TRAILER(S) HERE:




KEY CAST MEMBERS: Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, Demian Bichir, Bruce Dern, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, James Parks, Zoë Bell, Dana Gourier, Gene Jones and Channing Tatum

WRITER(S): Quentin Tarantino

DIRECTOR(S): Quentin Tarantino

WEB SITE: http://thehatefuleight.com/

60 SECOND PLOT SUMMARY (OR AS CLOSE TO THAT TIME AS ONE CAN MAKE IT): The eighth film (in case you didn't notice from all the ads) by Quentin Tarantino, The Hateful Eight finds John Ruth (Kurt Russell) traveling down a snowy trail in Wyoming with Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) as O.B. (James Parks) tends to the wagon's driving duties. Why are they on this road in Wyoming within 6 to 12 years after the end of the Civil War? Because Ruth, a.k.a. "The Hangman," is a bounty hunter, Domergue is wanted dead or alive and there's a $10,000 bounty on her awaiting Ruth in the town of Red Rock.

Then their private carriage comes across Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), a former Union soldier who carries a letter from Abraham Lincoln in his pocket ... And three dead bodies he plans to collect rewards for when he gets to Red Rock. Unfortunately, Warren's horse is dead and he needs a ride to town, too. And wouldn't you know it – so does Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), a former Confederate army soldier and member of "Mannix's Maurauders" – who is on his way to Red Rock to be sworn in as the town's new sheriff. 

The blizzard bearing down on them, however, causes the newfound quartet (plus O.B.) to have to stop for the night at Minnie's Haberdashery, a one-stop shop for weary travelers. But upon arriving at Minnie's, it seems the shop's namesake (Dana Gourier) is gone as is frequent companion Sweet Dave (Gene Jones). Bob "the Mexican" (Demian Bichir), however, tells Warren that Minnie has left to go visit family in another part of the state and left him in charge. 

Also staying at Minnie's are three other colorful characters: Former Confederate General Sandy Smithers (Bruce Dern), who's in town on his way to visit his son. Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth) is the charming Englishman who claims to be the new hangman appointed to Red Rock and Joe Gage (Michael Madsen) is the strong, silent cowboy who is content to simply write in his journal as opposed to answering questions. 

So, what happens when you have eight characters – all of whom are harboring secrets and don't trust each other – trapped together in a massive snowstorm? A party only someone like Tarantino could dream up and his fans could enjoy ... 

WHO WILL LIKE THIS FILM THE MOST? Tarantino fans; Samuel L. Jackson fans; Tim Roth fans; Kurt Russell fans; people who enjoy homages to other films within a genre within the film they are watching; fans of intricate dialogue and plot twists

WHO WON’T (OR SHOULDN'T) LIKE THIS MOVIE? People opposed to any of the following: long movies / extreme violence and/or profanity / violence against women / graphic violence / lots of talking / films that end on essentially what equates to a joke 

SO, IS IT GOOD, BAD OR ABSOLUTELY AWFUL? If you've been craving a film that goes against the standard holiday fare of good tidings, holiday cheer and peace on earth among man, fear not – for The Hateful Eight is the cure for what ails you ... As long as you don't mind a high body count, profane outing that is nearly three hours long.

Certain directors make certain kind of movies, so much so that you can almost create a checklist when it comes to their individual works. In Tarantino's case, that checklist would likely be something like this?

THE QUENTIN TARANTINO MOVIE DOSSIER (a.k.a the checklist of things that you can find in nearly every Quentin Tarantino movie):

• A two-hour plus run-time (he doesn't believe in short flicks);
• Characters who seemingly enjoy each other while hating each other while being forced to work together at the same time;
• A multitude of characters that are all connected in ways (1) they don't know at first or (2) only a few of them in regards to each other but not every person in the chain;
• The presence of Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Tim Roth and/or Michael Madsen;
• A classic, profanity-filled, revenge/wrath taking Samuel L. Jackson speech;
• EXTREME violence that the character who suffers it somehow never sees it coming;
• The use of the word "n–gger" enough to upset Spike Lee yet again and pretty much anyone who sides with him in regards to his fellow director's prolific usage of it;
• Violence against women that would make this – even with a pre-determined outcome – look like child's play (link likely not safe for work – that's what NSFW means, newbie – unless your boss was a really big fan of Extreme Championship Wrestling back in the day)!

If that checklist makes you turn away in horror and/or disgust, you've either [1] never seen a Tarantino movie or [2] just decided this movie is not for you. If you take them within the context of the universe of film, however, or enjoy these sort of things, you will likely enjoy The Hateful Eight – for the film is filled with all of them. 

The other thing it is filled with are devilishly acute performances from its cast, Jackson and Goggins in particular, which makes the film work within the lunatic world in which it exists ... Save for the racial politics at play that would make several of the relationships between the characters seemingly impossible. The Hateful Eight features Jackson doing what only he can in a movie such as this with Goggins playing the role of comic foil to the hilt in a fashion that would make him well-suited for a Blazing Saddles remake should Hollywood ever get the atrocious idea to remake that film. (Note to any Hollywood executive somehow reading this: NEVER remake Blazing Saddles. EVER.) Whereas Jackson gets to be the Sherlock Holmes of the show figuring out what's happening and why, Goggins' Dukes of Hazzard Roscoe P. Coletrain-like performance is hilarious and yet intelligent from start to finish without ever coming off as being played for laughs as such. (Watch him discuss the film here before watching him in the role and you'll understand just how great his performance in it is.)

Other than that, there's not much else – save for the fantastic original score by Ennio Morricone that sets the tone for what is to come masterfully – one really needs to discuss about The Hateful Eight. While things play themselves out in a traditional Western fashion, the added Tarantino nuances in terms of language (be it foul, colorful or humorous), juxtaposition of the characters and the whodunit nature of the story prove their respective selves to be worthwhile. Then again, considering the film is about 3 hours long give or take 5 to 10, it better be. The film is a classic slow burning fuse leading up to a powder keg explosion – and anyone close enough to the blast radius gets to feel its effects. Thus, if you can stand the absolutely grim special effects in death scenes (the fact The Walking Dead's Greg Nicotero is involved should tell you something), violence and language, you'll enjoy The Hateful Eight.

If nothing else, it will be the only Western of its kind you'll see for quite some time – and I mean that as a profanity-filled compliment. 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):