Movie Review- The Hateful Eight

Last weekend Dan and I headed to the Arclight Hollywood for a sold-out screening of Quentin Tarantino's latest film, The Hateful Eight. 

PLOT-  Set shortly after the Civil War in Wyoming, a bounty hunter (Kurt Russell) is transporting a murderer (Jennifer Jason Leigh), when their journey is delayed due to a blizzard. They take shelter in Minnie's Haberdashery, where they find Minnie missing and a suspicious group of strangers in her place. 

LIKE- The Hateful Eight is a typical Quentin Tarantino film; hyper-violent, snappy dialogue, and rich characters. It's often hilarious and completely entertaining. Appealing to my love of theatre, the film feels very much like a stage play. Most of the story takes place in two locations; Minnie's Haberdashery, and a stage coach. Dialogue and character development are king, with action kept to a minimal. I enjoyed the film, but I could equally see this making an awesome live show. I hope that someday someone takes up the challenge. Flying fake blood and guts, ponchos for those sitting in the front row...it would rock!

Also echoing a theatre experience, The Hateful Eight has a twelve-minute intermission for the 70mm screenings. The audience was overwhelmingly male and all of us women in the audience were laughing during the break. In an unusual reversal, the women had no line for the bathroom, while the line for the men reached the concessions. They panicked as the twelve minutes rushed by!

Tarantino has assembled an excellent cast to bring to life his characters, including many Tarantino regulars, like Samuel L. Jackson and Tim Roth. Jennifer Jason Leigh steals the show. She's feisty and raw. Plus, start to finish, she definitely got the most beat-up. I don't think that there is a moment where she doesn't sport a bloody lip. 

DISLIKE- We saw the movie in 70mm. Meh. Totally unnecessary.

Also, me being picky asks- why did all of the characters have such nice teeth? This seemed like an oversight with all of the grimy costumes and make-up going on. The Hateful Eight is a story with no clean, pretty characters and it's set in an era where dental hygiene is virtually non-existent. Pearly whites? I don't think so. It was one of those things that I noticed and it became a distraction that took me out of the world of the story.

RECOMMEND- Yes, if you're a Tarantino fan. His films are definitely not for everyone, but if you like his stuff, you'll enjoy The Hateful Eight. Great storytelling and a fun ride. 

Movie Review- Django Unchained and Ten Minutes of The Gangster Squad

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Yesterday morning, we caught the first ten minutes of The Gangster Squad. I realize from that sentence, it sounds like we theater hopped, which we didn't. Theater hopping is a huge no-no in my book, I think it's stealing and just disrespectful to those who made the film and who are in the theater viewing. I love movies too much to theater hop.

We caught the the first ten minutes of The Gangster Squad because the AMC Sixteen in Burbank goofed and loaded the wrong movie. It wasn't on my hot to see list, but now I can confidently avoid seeing The Gangster Squad. Yes, I am judging a movie by ten minutes. Ten minutes and terrible reviews.

Luckily, we had tickets to Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained. I wasn't too sure what to expect out of this controversial and polarizing film, but Tarantino never seems to make a bad movie and the cast is great, so I was sold.

Django Unchained has several things done right. The screenplay is fantastic. A compelling and original story with just the right mix of serious and levity to give it heart. It's 100% Tarantino in tone and the whole stylized spaghetti-western theme just works. I think that he is the only modern film maker who could have pulled it off. It's so his signature style.

Tarantino has created fantastic characters as a foundation and found the perfect cast to bring them to life. The writing and the cast make this movie. 

Django Unchained  has great heroes and villains. I loved seeing Christoph Waltz as a good guy this time. He just steals the show every time he's on the screen. Jamie Fox does a solid job of carrying the movie. He is one of those actors that I often forget about, but always give a great performance. He's so versatile. Speaking of versatile, I physically didn't recognize Samuel L. Jackson and probably wouldn't have, except for his distinct voice gives him away. I loved Leonardo DiCaprio, who is another scene stealer and I feel is often underrated. 

Django Unchained feels like a companion piece to Inglourious Basterds. In both movies Tarantino has written such rich characters and strong underdog seeks revenge based plots. It's impossible to not be swept up in the stories and to find yourself rooting for the heroes. These are two of Tarantino's best films. 

I throughly enjoyed Django Unchained and think that it's one of the best movies of the year, very deserving of the accolades that it has received. The only negatives are that it runs a bit long (But that is Tarantino) and that Tarantino should not have cast himself in a minor supporting role. It was painful to watch, especially the strange Australian accent that he attempted. 

A great movie, definitely one to catch on the big screen!