Cert 18
168 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong bloody violence
As an Unlimited card holder I must admit to being a bit miffed that a behind-the-scenes bust-up has led to The Hateful Eight not being shown at Cineworld Cinemas.
The devotion to trying to watch every film released in the UK is costly enough without this.
Regardless, I turned up at Showcase in Nottingham on Sunday morning, although if I had waited until the evening my Cineworld pass would have netted more than £3 off.
My conclusion on the film was that this was classic Quentin Tarantino... but not quite as good as Django Unchained.
In fact, there are many similarities to Django in that The Hateful Eight is a wonderfully-scripted but violent western with a terrific cast.
It also has echoes of Reservoir Dogs because it is a one-room drama which gives it the feel of an extravagant theatre piece.
It contains humour but not the laugh-out-loud variety which, in my view, sets Django apart among Tarantino's eight movies.
The Hateful Eight stars Kurt Russell as a bounty hunter who is determined to take his murderous charge (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to the hangman in the town of Red Rock.
En route, as their privately hired stage coach drives through a blizzard. they run into notorious former Yankee major (Samuel L. Jackson) and a former rebel (Walton Goggins) who says he is Red Rock's new sheriff
After much verbal sword-fencing they arrive at an outpost where they are met by a group with suspicious intent. These include a hangman (Tim Roth), rebel general (Bruce Dern), heavily-bearded Mexican (Demian Bichir) and loner cowboy (Michael Madsen).
Yes, Tarantino likes to hire his mates.
All give hefty contributions to a movie which comes in just under three hours long but the stand-out is Jason Leigh. She hasn't had such a meaty role since Single White Female 23 years ago and is tremendous as the murderer from the gutter.
The Hateful Eight includes many of the Tarantino hallmarks which will delight his fans.
It is bloody and brilliant but it just ain't Django.
Reasons to watch: great script and fabulous acting
Reasons to avoid: very blood-thirsty but lacks the big laughs of Django
Laughs: two
Jumps: none
Vomit: bloody vomit
Nudity: yes
Overall rating: 9/10
Star tweet
Conferencia de prensa. Before @thehatefuleight press conference. Wonderful Tim Roth and Walton Goggins.
