The Hateful Eight: Could This Be Tarantino's Best Work Yet?

It's no secret that I'm a HUGE Tarantino fan. The man knows how to make a good movie! After years of working as a clerk in a video rental store he certainly picked up a few things about what people like to see in cinema. I tend to see him as the informally educated version of Martin Scorsese. Thus far, Tarantino has yet to make movie I don't like. Admittedly, I was less impressed with Django Unchained than I had been with his other great works like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. That being said, you can imagine I was pretty excited when news came out of a possible new film, The Hateful Eight. Now, Tarantino has said that he plans to retire after 60 and for me this is absolutely daunting as he's 51 right now! He better step on that moviemaking lest he deprive us all of his genius.

There is no doubt that Tarantino makes a unique film. He's infamous for the violence and gore but he does so with a sufficient dose of irony to soften the blow (think Mr. Blonde cutting the policeman's ear off while dancing to the "sound of the seventies" on the radio). He also puts great twist on clichéd film plots. If we look at Pulp Fiction, it is completely a mish-mash of stereotypical mafia based story lines. The amazing thing is that even when playing to the stereotype, Tarantino still manages to make it different. I have to say though, one of my favourite things about Tarantino's work is his tendency to play to a non-linear storyline . Both Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs played around with the concept of time which I found very unique and interesting.

Now, onto The Hateful Eight. Much to Tarantino's dismay, an unauthorised copy of his script was published online in January this year. Disappointed and quite angry, it seemed he was scrapping the film for good. Fortunately for avid fans like myself, Tarantino recovered and decided he would make The Hateful Eight after all. So far, it appears the film will be about bounty hunters transporting prisoners in 19th century Wyoming. While I wasn't overly keen on his last western, I have a feeling Mr. Tarantino has something excellent in store for us. Already it has been likened to Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.

Movie poster for "The Hateful Eight"

Always the showman, Tarantino organised a live read of the leaked script at the United Arts Theatre. He warned that this was only a first draft and was likely to be subject to change. Nonetheless, the audience was thrilled by a cast including Tarantino veteran Samuel L Jackson, Kurt Russel, Walton Goggins, James Remar, another veteran Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Amber Tamblyn and Bruce Dern. According to a review by The Guardian, the reading was something spectacular and with any luck the film would follow suit.

Late last month, the teaser trailer for the film leaked onto the internet. There is no footage as of yet as shooting has yet to commence but the film is set to be released in December of next year. From the trailer, the names of the 8 have been revealed:

1. Major Marquis Warren - "The Bounty Hunter"
2. John Ruth - "The Hangman"
3. Daisy Domergue - "The Prisoner"
4. Chris Mannix - "The Sheriff"
5. Bob - "The Mexican"
6. Oswald Mobray - "The Little Man"
7. Joe Gage - "The Cow Puncher"
8. General Sandy Smithers - "The Confederate"

Tarantino has also announced that the film will be shot in 70mm Super Cinemascope. In all honesty, this doesn't surprise me. Tarantino seems to have a deep distrust of the digital world instead embracing the old filmmaking technologies. I suppose it's an art.

So there we have it! I shall be awaiting December 2015 with great anticipation!

For the review of the live reading by The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/apr/20/quentin-tarantino-hateful-eight-liveread-reservoir-dogs