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The Holdovers (2023)
Favorite movie of the year, hands down!
If you want to feel warm and comforted and like you're in a big hug, watch this movie. Has quickly shot to the top of my "must watch at Christmas time" movie list. All the performances are superb, especially Giamatti and Divine Joy Randolph - both whom I believe deserve the Oscar this year. Simple story told well. The script crackles and the dialogue really feels lived in. The setting and time period feel authentic. The music and score perfectly compliment the sad, yet uplifting and tender tone of the film. Highly recommend. Have watched twice now and it was even better upon second viewing. Packs a sneaky emotional punch that you don't see coming!
Poor Things (2023)
Honestly left me feeling a little gross and a tad disturbed
I've been a big fan of the director's previous work, but as others have already said, there is something quite perverse and ultimately disturbing about this film. Unpleasant imagery aside, just the idea of a child's mind in a woman's body who is CONSTANTLY naked and having graphic sex made me feel almost sick. Willem Dafoe burping out disgusting bubbles of indigestion, Emma's grotesquely long hair and bushy eyebrows, the off putting fish eye lens shots, the screeching unpleasant music, all the sex looking smelly and uncoordinated - it was as if every detail was designed to make you queasy. Mark Ruffalo was the films only saving grace for me as he was quite funny and the character really stood out. Overly long, I couldn't wait for it to end. Had some sprinkled moments of gallows humor that worked for me but overall I just felt dirty for having watched it. Had nightmares and strange dreams all night afterwards, so it was even unpleasant long after I finished watching.
Thanksgiving (2023)
A delightfully deranged, perfectly cooked turkey!
Much like your second (or third!) helping of turkey and mashed, or a thick slice of pumpkin pie - Thanksgiving may not be all that good for you, but it's still delicious.
Nothing truly unique or groundbreaking in terms of the genre, but it certainly is fun and a nice guilty pleasure/throwback to classic slasher films. The kills are grisly and creative. The villain is unique and implements apropos methods for dispatching victims. The South Shore setting is particularly fun - especially if, like myself, you happen to hail from the area. Something heartwarming about overblown Boston accents and references to Papa Gino's (which is hands down the greatest pizza chain in the country). Great opening sequence. It also helps that there is a real sense of "whodunnit?" - which is most welcome with this kind of fare.
No performance really stands out other than An Eli Roth regular Rick Hoffman. But with this type of film that's not ultimately necessary. A few too many F Bombs and a little too much screen time with the annoying Gen Z younger cast detracts from the film overall but at least most of them get killed, so sort of balances out. Be forewarned - some of the gore, especially towards the end is borderline puke worthy.
Give it a watch if you're in the mood for a little dumb fun. I don't think you'll regret it.
Oppenheimer (2023)
The hype is outlandish
How in the world this is rated so highly is entirely beyond me. This is the worst piece of crud movie I've seen since "Everything Everywhere All At Once" and funny enough I'm sure it will have a similarly BIG night at the Oscars. Just goes to show how banal and watered down Oscars and Hollywood have become. The fact that it just won a half a dozen BAFTAs last night is itself a crime against humanity (much like the atom bomb).
Anyway saying this is brilliant and giving it a ten is wrong. I'm sorry - obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion - but they're wrong. One guy on here gave it a ten and said he watched it three times in theaters. Must be a masochist to put himself through that. Who has 9 hours to waste on this turd? Could barely get more than thirty minutes in before I was bored to tears, totally disinterested and checking my phone. None of the performances are anything special. The fact that Cillian Murphy is most likely going to win an Oscar for this is such a joke. A bland whisper of a performance. He's been infinitely better in other films. As has Robert Downey Jr. I guess this is the year of "well - it's their time!" Again - Oscar's has lost the plot. Speaking of which - why can't I follow the plot of this film? What is the plot? What the heck is Josh hartnett doing here?!
Christopher Nolan is undoubtedly the most overrated director working today. He hasn't made a genuinely great film since the dark knight and has become increasingly pretentious. His little "tricks" and blatant attempts at being artsy with time changes and non linear storytelling are exhausting. Not to mention his dialogue and character development lacks any discernible spark. Boring boring boring. The only spark I felt was the moments Florence Pugh (very talented by the way) had clothes off. But for a three hour movie IT WAS NOT NEARLY ENOUGH!!
I will not subject myself to another Nolan film any time soon and I suggest you do the same.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Should have been titled "GRACE! Stop running!"
Easily the weakest in all of the MI movies. Sad to say. You'll definitely be pleased if you're looking for endless Tom cruise running at full speed. He runs across an airport (both inside AND on the roof) a police station, the entire city of Venice, and atop a speeding train (he's even FASTER than the train!)
A lot of people complaining about the new love interest character Grace. She's very cute and charismatic - had no issue with her portrayal. However, roughly a quarter of the movie is Cruise begging her to stop running away from him (no means NO, dude) and then her running away anyway. Should have been called "Mission Impossible - Dead SPRINT!"
Not sure what the bad guy even wanted or why the "entity" is scary. Horrible dialogue. I fell asleep three times trying to finish. Don't make a part two - that would be the Dead Reckoning of this franchise.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Genuinely shocked at the high score on this one
Please understand - I anticipated watching this movie for quite some time and was convinced I was going to enjoy it. In the seemingly endless stream of crap that gets churned out by Hollywood these days, I was certain this would be special. Knowing its length I opted to wait to watch at home, and thank god I did.
This film is a dud right from the start and never builds any momentum, tension or payoff. One long winded sigh of a movie. Didn't even know it was possible, or how Marty pulled it off, but this is the first movie I've ever seen where an hour in, you could take an hour nap, wake up well rested, resume the movie, not have missed a single thing, and still completely understand what is going on. THATS the most impressive part of this film.
Lacking in any real character development, no shades to anybody. No relatable character through which to enter the story. It certainly doesn't help when our main character is borderline mentally disabled and has no other action to play other than scowling or confused. Furthermore, it's hard to buy into why our main female protagonist even likes DiCaprio, let alone loves him or trusts him. It makes no sense. No tension, no mystery, no excitement. Every half hour, a character we barely know, maybe haven't even met, gets shot in the head - so I guess there's that. Yet every death lacks any emotional punch.
Within the first ten minutes it's painfully obvious where the story is going, who the good and bad guys are. A film about the mystery of what is happening to this tribe lacks any mystery or shock or surprise. That's a failure as far as I'm concerned.
Making an audience sit through nearly four hours and then ending it with THAT ending. Oh jesus. By the end, you wonder if this entire project was an experiment to see how long one can torture the viewer.
Skip this one. You're not missing much.
Beau Is Afraid (2023)
The correct review of Beau is afraid.
Best part of beau is afraid so far is the graffiti in his lobby of a dude peeing (or is he ejaculating?) in is own mouth that says "don't mind if I do"
Which may very well be a metaphor for the entire movie honestly.
Half way - feels like it's been an eternity. He's about to bust away from Nathan lane. At least I hope because this daughter character isn't screaming nearly enough.
Was that the back of bill Hader's head? (Add a star)
Self indulgent traveling theater troupe sequence engaged.
Right about now this movie could really use some more paint chugging imho.
Though at this point, I'm noticing that Joaquin does not mumble quite enough for my liking. And overall, I think the movie could use a lot more hysterical screaming. There's a fair amount, but not quite enough to give you a headache, so really feels like Ari Aster is sort of pulling his punches in the screaming hysterically department.
Sorry - just had to take a much deserved creamy chicken ramen break. Yum. 😋
Here we are for Beau is afraid part DEUX. After an interminable interlude where old gray beard kisses his sons for one, legit three minute shot - we are back on the way to mom's house. Loud machine gun fire and more screaming. Aster is getting back on track. 👍
Hopefully Charlie sheen shows up soon.
Still could honestly use more mumbling and a lot more screaming - not enough screaming. Can't stress this enough.
Really, I hate to tell an auteur what I would do but someone needs to tell him more screaming.
Like think Florence Pugh screaming in all those ladies faces in Midsommar but times ten and louder. And for three hours.
I'd add a music cue here - canned heat on the road again would be nice. Not to tell an auteur what to do.
Also - at this point in the runtime I'm longing to go back and just look at the graffiti in beau's apartment building some more. Like the one of the dude with an appendage in his mouth and he's saying "oh not again!"
The real question is how does Beau have no money on his debit card yet his mom lives in a Hugh Hefner shag pad?
Nina Simone isn't it a pity playing as park posey comes in is nice. She should be screaming though or shooting at him, or stabbing his distended balls. (Minus a star)
I kinda want another bowl of creamy chicken ramen...
It would have at least three more minutes of Parker posey nude - why not - we've already spent this much time already.
Nice shot of his giant balls right there. I relate to this character now. 👍 (add three stars)
"You just busted through that back"
Ruh-ro!
Yes! More screaming!
As far as I can gather now - beau is still quite afraid and his mother is a big meanie!!
Sorry had to take a ten minute doom scroll break.
Can we get mr stabby murder guy back from the beginning of the movie with his privates out? That was entertaining. Or salsa guy? Oh wait - he got stabbed.
I'm pretty sure I've been watching this movie for about a week.
I was really hoping there would be a giant penis monster at some point here. Thank god.
More screaming now too which is really appreciated.
Wow / over already?
Midnight Mass (2021)
Flat out one of the best series I have ever consumed
And I say consumed because I couldn't stop. Watched this in about two days and I suggest others do the same. Don't stop, just keep with it, try not to snooze through some of the heavier handed monologues and I promise you will be met with salvation. The last three episodes of this show are undoubtedly masterful. The effects, music, performances, cinematography- everything. What a fantastic ending that had my jaw dropped. I know I am late to this but am now proselytizing to as many people as I can about this show, much like beloved Father Hill in the series. I cannot recommend enough and hope that this show continues to fascinate and provoke for years to come. I've seen all of the director's previous work (except for bly manor) and this is far and away his strongest offering. Again, stick with it and forgive it it's trespasses (long winded monologues a plenty) and you will be heavily rewarded. Episode six is easily the best hour of television I've seen in years.
Asteroid City (2023)
I used to be a Wes Anderson fan. Now I'm ashamed I ever sang his praises
With this incomprehensible slog, we are a long, long, loooonnnngggg way from Anderson's last great film - the grand Budapest - and we are not even in the same stratosphere as his heyday - life aquatic and tenenbaums.
If you thought French dispatch was a chore, boy oh boy, you ain't seen nothing yet. And to be fair to french dispatch, it had a few real gem moments buried in a bunch of phooey. With asteroid city there are no such gems hiding. The whole thing is DOA, lifeless, completely void of any human emotion. I know that's kinda been part of the dude's style but underneath all the verbal cadences and deadpan deliveries, there was actually heart. The characters in his other films, as strange and particular as they are, have souls - we can still relate to them. The characters in this film are completely absent of any actual human spark. Their dialogue flows out in such a manner that you almost can't understand it. Not a single character has a defining trait or anything you can latch on to to identify them from the endless myriad of players in this snooze inducing, pastel morass.
It was right about the time the film takes you into another of its incomprehensible, black-and-white vignettes and right after a seemingly endless scene of our space kiddos rattling off absurd names of fictional people as some sort of "game" that I realized I just couldn't take another second. I didn't even get to the part where Tom Hanks actually shows up nor did I get to the part where Jeff Goldblum appears as some stop motion, animated alien (apparently the highlight of the film) - I simply couldn't hack it.
If this is your kind of film, I genuinely feel for you and hope that you don't subject, your friends, family or romantic partners to your choices on movie night. Trust me 90% of people out there are going to strongly dislike this film, and they are not wrong to. I never thought I would say it, as high school me thought Anderson was essentially a genius, but this very well may be the last time I bother watching one of his movies. What a shame.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Worst of the wick franchise and glad it's over
Phew. I'm exhausted just thinking about this one.
I very much enjoyed the previous three films, although admittedly by the third film the fights just didn't have that same impact and overall it was growing tedious, but I tuned in for this one cause my man Keanu deserves it.
Sadly, the man gave it his all, but for the wrong movie. The first few films, the fight scenes felt fresh and new, if not quite reaching the levels of mastery displayed in the stupendous film THE RAID (which I feel this franchise owes a great deal of credit to) but by the fourth go around it all feels stale. And not to knock my man Keanu, but he looks tired. The acrobatics just didn't look fluid this time. Don't even get me started on the seemingly endless fight sequence in Japan. Wow - showed flashes of brilliance but when it lasts thirty minutes?? It was almost comical how interminable it felt.
I'll give points for the continued showing of imagination fleshing out this world (although we all have to agree, the rules and lore are so confusing at this point that one can barely keep track of what's going on) as well as the wonderfully executed scene at the Arch de Triumph but the rest of this film just felt like a chore. And wow - could we have cut that video game baddie scene with the big fat card player? So lousy. Also - miscasting with the usually on point Skarsgard.
Couldn't wait for it to be over, or for Keanu to put me out of my misery.
Evil Dead Rise (2023)
Don't bother
Gotta write enough to fill this space, which I assure you will take more thought than it took to write the screenplay. Honestly stupefying that one could be handed the reigns to a well respected franchise and botch it so badly. Don't really know where to begin honestly as it's pretty mediocre from the opening line of dialogue. Cardboard characters, subpar practical effects. Lousy.
The entire film takes place (besides a roughly five minute opener) inside a decrepit, obviously phony and set-like apartment complex. The setting is drab and boring and used to ill effect. Very quickly the repetition of scares and setting are numbing.
For some reason there is a tree cutting vehicle in the parking garage that immediately alerts you to its very "chekhov's gun" nature. Also some scissors. Some sort of deranged mop handle with a doll's head on it. Nothing at all can surprise or shock you here.
Avoid at all cost. Worst entry in the series by a country mile.
Air (2023)
Something was just off
I'm not a basketball guy. I was rather intrigued by this movie and went in expecting to see a movie with a bit of that classy "insider baseball" look at the world of basketball ala money ball. Sadly, this movie doesn't quite make the net.
Things are just off. From the on the nose musical interludes and scene changes, to the strange roving camera work and choppy editing, to the chemistry between the actors (it never really crackles) to the forced, crass Mamet-esque exchanges (think Chris messina's poorly cast sports agent screaming about eating Matt Damon's testicles) to the wonky narrative structure that spends so much time essentially rehashing the same scene again and again. Perfect example - after a seemingly exciting epiphany, Damon flies to LA in a rush only to have a mundane dinner and chat with Marlon Wayans. One scene later he's back on the east coast having the exact same scene with Chris Tucker.
Viola Davis falls flat, the entire Jordan clan falls flat. Most baffling of all is the choice to never show Jordan's face, which is often times just blocked by Affleck's frizzy hair or Jordan inexplicably facing the other direction of everyone else in the room.
Matt Maher was great as the guy who actually invented the shoe and Damon was reliable as always. An interesting misfire.
Love & Death (2023)
Slow as molasses
Honestly it's just a boring show. The dialogue is nothing spectacular, the characters are far from interesting, the cliffhangers meant to keep you watching are almost non existent. Overall I would definitely recommend people skip this. Don't get me wrong, the cast is impressive but unfortunately with a story this mundane and unimaginatively shot there isn't much to hold your attention.
Biggest gripe, besides being boring as all hell, is the near constant use of music and montage. It's as if the filmmakers knew how boring the whole thing is they needed to jar you to attention with an oldie but a goodie every three minutes to trick you into thinking you're enjoying yourself. Whomever was the music person on this show needs to be checked. Felt like I was watching Jersey boys. Furthermore / the time frame, feel and vibe of the show is confusing, almost as if this is a dark sequel to pleasantville instead of a show set in the 1980's.
Big skip.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
Wow - just...wow...
I don't even know where to begin - umm - how about with the incessant scatalogical attempts a humor, bodily fluids, vomit and giant dildo fight sequences - oh wait - did I mention henchmen attempting to shove butt plugs in their asses because for some reason it allows them to "channel" another person from the multiverse? Did you get any of that? Yeah me neither.
This film is only receiving this attention because we all know how political the Oscars are and Asian Americans have had a tough go of it the last few years - there is truly no other explanation. In fact - it honestly is embarrassing to see the academy, which already stoops lower and lower every year, nominating this dreck for 11 nominations. You read that right - ELEVEN! Absolute nonsense. I could go on and on and really pick this turd apart but there's no use - You either take the bait and think it's brilliant because it's just so all over the place - or, like me and many others - you see it for what it is - a juvenile, pale comparison to other better films (kung fu hustle, the matrix, etc)
I should have known I would literally detest this film after suffering through forty minutes of boners and farts in the craptastic Swiss Army Man but I foolishly bought into the award season narrative of this film. Man - about an hour and a half in, I was truly hoping for Daniel Radcliffe to pop up with an erection and blast a hot fart in Jamie lee curtis' face to liven up the proceedings. The DANIELS as they call themselves (already annoying just cause of that) have to be the most childish filmmakers to ever get to the level they are at and so quickly and with such little talent. My god - can they not last ten minutes without something poo poo and pee pee related?? Also - movie NEVER ENDS. Holy Christ I thought Lawrence of Arabia was a long movie - this felt interminable. Lastly, and then I'll stop ranting as it's just beating a dead, dead, very dead horse at this point - what the hell even is the messsge of this movie and what was all that s*** with the everything bagel?? My god this movie was HORRIBLE.
Morbius (2022)
Should have had more bats and MUCH more bats
I was dissatisfied that twenty minutes into the movie he hadnt morbed yet nor had he said "it's morbin' time" - overall not enough vampire action and unfocused. Story lacked vampire morbin action at crucial moments. Could have used a little more bats. Jared Leto was in it. So was another guy named Jared who, disappointingly, was not a vampire and didn't morb. The bad guy morbed but definitely not as well as Michael morbius. I love the alliteration of M in Michael and M in morbius. It's a shame the movie didn't live up to the name. I liked the part with the bats. Could have been truly something special but alas. Cannot stress enough it needed more bats.
Nope (2022)
Almost reached the top of the mountain.
It's a rare shame that a film gets so much right and in the end leaves you wanting. Atmosphere, cinematography, music are all very effective. It's all the more disappointing considering these elements that it doesn't quite coalesce.
It seems apparent to me that nobody had the heart to tell peele he may want to take another pass at the script or at the very least gave him any notes. It's a sort of Tarantino syndrome -
Once you're labeled an auteur or you win an Oscar it seems nobody helps reign it in.
It's clear from the assessments of many that what is really glaring is lack of character/motivation/emotional connection. People are also frustrated by the lack of cohesion between the "Gordy" story and the rest of the film. It would seem an easy fix - give the tragic backstory of the scarred child actor to OJ Haywood (which would further motivate his withdrawn nature and discomfort on film sets) and allow it be a story of his trauma and fear of the "territorial" animal. It would also further bolster his realization that you can't look at the ufo (juxtaposed for instance with the case of when he looked at Gordy) This would tie the two stories together and add emotional heft. Perhaps Haywood ranch has gone under and has been bought by Jupiter's claim and its eccentric owner who is an obsessed fan on the Gordy show. Perhaps Em and OJ work on his theme park as horse trainers. Perhaps Angel is the tech guy who runs their sound for the "spectacles" and security. Keep it tight.
It just seemed that two stories with unclear motivations that were totally separate from each other was detrimental to the film.
Furthermore - the tension and horror peaked around the hour and a half mark and then it continued on for another hour. Didn't help that the UFO transformed into a terribly unfortunate kite looking plastic bag. Or that they wasted Michael Wincot (though the purple people eater rendition was a nice touch)
This could have been truly special. Maybe next time!
Would It Kill You to Laugh? (2022)
Titans
These two are absolutely hilarious together. A fair amount of the sketches fall flat and the reoccurring joke of hot plates and melted caramel didn't hit for me, but the interludes of Meredith viera interviewing them is pure comedy gold. I was laughing so hard I nearly chocked. Watching them discuss who got to keep certain comedic mannerisms was brilliant. I recommend if you're already a fan but if you're not on their comedic wavelengths you're gonna have a hard time clicking into this one.
Pam & Tommy (2022)
Excellent show with style to spare
Insanely enjoyable and instantly hooks you. I'm most impressed by the performances of not only Lilly James and Sebastian Stan but my god, Seth Rogen brings the heat with this one. Haven't seen much nick offerman yet but what little you get so far, brilliant bit of casting. James and Stan disappear into their roles. Not going to lie - I found myself saying out loud at least half a dozen times - "I can't believe that's not Tommy lee" - transformative performances.
The 90s feel is very much there and feels real (unlike say the dumpster fire that is yellowjackets) and the soundtrack is sublime. First episode has a sequence in which Seth Rogen is planning some nefarious deeds to the classic "closer" by NIN. It's stellar. The directorial flair and propulsive camera movements give the show a inexorable pull and really moves the story along in a most enjoyable way. It reminded my of I,Tonya and lo and behold - same director. This guy has got some serious chops.
My only complaint is the debaucherous sex scenes and partying in episode two are a little much and the scene in which *spoiler?* Tommy Lee talks to his penis is puerile and takes away from just how good everything else is.
In short - this is a must see.
Yellowjackets (2021)
Truly preposterous with unlikable characters.
Binged this in a few days at the insistence of my girlfriend as we weathered out a storm. Honestly would have preferred to be stranded in the wilderness, as far away from a TV set and this absolute disaster of a show as humanely possible.
Where to begin? I don't know - I want to complain about every single choice / whether it be a horribly written line of dialogue, terribly framed shot, uninspired acting choice - you name it, it sucked.
No mystery, no suspense, not a single character to root for or even remotely care about, and worst of all, toward the end of the season, the main characters end up committing a crime so heinous any shred of likability is completely gone and they all just become psychotic, horrible people.
Not only that - it truly feels episode to episode is written by different writers who are not consulting with each other as to where the story is even going. Perfect example - at the end of a later episode a character dies in a terrible explosion, thirty minutes into the next episode not a single character has even mentioned this and no one seems to care.
Melanie Lynsky is totally unbelievable as the housewife having a steamy, sexy affair. It's honestly embarrassing and makes you uncomfortable. Even the way she kisses is tight and awkward and there is zero chemistry. Juliette lewis is overacting so hard you can almost see her constantly thinking of ways to unnaturally contort her body and face and to be more tic filled. A grating performance to say the least. The teen actors are honestly all terrible. Not a single line of dialogue uttered by any of them feels real or has a shred of the stakes at hand. Especially the Travis actor - what a wet blanket. And for some reason all the ladies wanna sleep with him?
The only redeeming quality of this show is Ricci - and even then - I have no idea what the hell her character is even doing.
I can't wait for them all to just go ahead and eat each other. It will end the insufferable, inane dialogue you have to attempt to stay awake through.
It is a travesty that this gets another season and countless others never even see the light of day.
Gisaengchung (2019)
Half of a great movie
Overrated doesn't even begin to describe this film. I'm a fan of the director and am always excited when a new film of his is announced, and so it was with this film. Sadly, it does not deliver like his other works do. Performances are all uniformly excellent - particularly that of the poor family's father and the house maid of the rich family. Inventive camera work, a few chuckles here and there and a halfway point twist that makes you extremely uncomfortable and excited for where the story will go next and then...the story just takes a nose dive off of a cliff never to recover. As the film crawled towards its conclusion I couldn't wait to get out of the theater. By the time it's hoping to be ending arrives, I had already checked out. An interesting failure with a lot on its mind, but in the end, what's really underneath it all is a muddled point about class that isn't truly made. I would like for the film to have gone farther and darker than it did or to not have gone dark at all in the first place. This is a film that tries to be too many things at once and leaves you feeling cheated of seeing the movie you thought you were going to get. I keep thinking back to the one review blurb from the trailer (paraphrasing) "a film that starts out as one thing and then becomes something entirely different" - yeah, becomes a big stinker.
Watchmen (2019)
Pound sand TROLLS!
Look, I'm no watchmen fanboy (although I read the graphic novel twice) but I can rightfully say I know the source material quiet well. Is it the same as the novel? No. Why should it be? The same thing again, just a remake - who wants that? Does it deal with race and inequality? Yes, these seem to be strong currents running through the narrative of this iteration. Is it racist, race boating, leftist PC, Hollywood elite, the moon landing was fake, woke propaganda?!? No. It's a story that strongly reflects truths of our society and world that we live in. You feel confronted by it? You feel insulted as a white person? Quit being a snowflake and open your eyes to real fears millions of Americans live with EVERY DAY. Is the show a perfect ten out of ten? Not yet. Will it be unique, insightful, twisty, horrifying and beautifully shot and performed? Yes. All you butt pinched trolling nerdos need to take a breath. Oh yeah, and I guess cause it matters when reviewing this show, for the record I am a 31 year old white man! : )
The Hateful Eight (2015)
Certainly Hateful
*not any spoilers but still covering my butt to be safe*
Huge Tarantino fan. Have always loved his work. As a writer/actor, he's been an influence on my own work, as I know he has been for many others. However, after this film, I do find myself questioning that influence. Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill - all fantastic films in my opinion. For me, my disillusionment with Tarantino started around Death Proof. Kurt Russel was a hoot and the climactic care chase was appropriately engaging, but the rest of the film just dragged. This downward trend has only grown worse with subsequent films. Inglorious Basterds was three brilliant, classic scenes trapped in a lesser film. Django was perhaps one. Hateful Eight? Honestly, there's not much too say that hasn't already been said.
Every scene is a clunker. The dialogue is exhausting and not particularly interesting. Just folks jawing on and on about things that happened in the past or notorious acts committed by other characters. The violence (when it finally does come) is over the top and mean spirited, unleashing itself in geysers of viscous, kool-aid colored viscera. The N-word use is unrelenting and pulls you out of the movie. The movie by the way - it's long, it's way too long. Not that I mind a long film, but it needs to be a better story than this to hold my attention for three sadistic hours. The setting grows old. Every character is unlikeable (I guess what should I expect from a movie called The Hateful Eight?) I suppose Sam Jackson is likable, but he's still a nihilistic, cruel murderer. His performance also feels wayyyyy too modern. Walton Goggins seems like he's in another movie. Kurt Russel does a great John Wayne, but unfortunately doesn't get to be the bad mother we all wanted to see. Demian Birchir is a Looney-tunes style caricature of a Mexican. Jennifer Jason Leigh is essentially a snarling demon, which she does incredibly well, but is equally one note and abrasive. Michael Madsen is barely given anything to do. Bruce Dern is terribly wasted as well. Tim Roth is
good, I guess? I didn't listen to anything he particularly said, but he was there. Zoe Bell shows up in a flashback and manages to deliver in roughly five minutes of screen time the most cloyingly over the top and annoying performance in recent memory.
The good? Is there any? Well, yes. The score is haunting and instantly iconic. The costumes are rich and unique. I couldn't help but feel that every character seemed like a certain type of animal based entirely off of their costumes. Owl, raccoon, bear, crow, bison. That was interesting. That's about all the good. I truly can't recommend this to anyone, not even a Tarantino fan. The guy has became too obsessed with his own "voice". Quite Literally. At one point he even begins to narrate the proceedings for you. Why? Because why the heck not? Which is precisely what Tarantino seemed to decide when he wrote this. I doubt that Tarantino will ever read this inconsequential review from one miffed fan, or any of these, or that they would have any bearing on his future work, but if he does, I hope he'll see that the consensus seems to be he needs to reign it in a little bit. I know he has threatened to retire after ten films. I truly hope that isn't the case. I'll always be interested in what he comes out with next. His earlier work has certainly earned him the right to a film lover's attention. But if he makes another three hour film like this one
.