THE HATEFUL EIGHT

(2015) Quentin Tarantino's eighth film is a lengthy, snowbound western that takes its time setting up the characters and situation (a good thing) - only, of course, to turn most of said situation on its ear.  In a bitter post-Civl War Wyoming winter, bounty hunter John "The Hangman" Ruth (Kurt Russell) - so named because even though most of his catches have "dead or alive" on their Wanted poster, Ruth gets pleasure out of delivering his charges alive so he can watch them being hanged himself - is on his way with a prisoner in tow to collect his reward.  Said prisoner, Daisy Domergue (an Oscar-worthy Jennifer Jason Leigh), is pretty much the meanest woman in the state, and can both take and give a punch like a man.  Picking up a couple travelers on the way (Samuel Jackson, Walton Goggings), Ruth's long wagon ride is interrupted when the entire party must detour and take refuge at Minnie's Haberdashery, barely able to outrun an incoming blizzard.  Problem is, Minnie is nowhere to be found, supposedly having put a Mexican named Bob (Damian Bechir) in charge, and the store is filled with other shady characters (making a total of eight plus the wagon driver) - all of whom have his or her own agenda, and may or may not be who they seem.  At fifteen minutes short of three hours long, the ending feels a bit dragged out and isn't 100% satisfying, but overall the Tarantino staples of oddball characters prone to violence fits this colorful near-parody of a western - featuring a great ensemble cast that's a lot of wicked fun to watch - to a bloody, often-funny "T". (rated R)  7.5/10 stars