Friday 5 February 2016

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2015: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell and Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight

Samuel L. Jackson did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Major Marquis Warren in The Hateful Eight.
The Hateful Eight is an excellent western by Quentin Tarantino about a group strangers, which includes a bounty hunter and his high priced prisoner, stuck in a lonely mountain cabin during a blizzard.

Samuel L. Jackson is the first of the titular eight that we meet as he sits on a lonely road in the snow on top of three frozen bodies. Jackson is of course a mainstay of the films of Quentin Tarantino appearing in all except one and a half of his films, though a few of these appearances are mere cameos. This is a substantial role though as Major Warren is a bounty hunter who we already know has slain three men, who were at least bad enough to be worth some amount of money. In just the most general sense of the part, Jackson is already perfectly cast as the badass bounty hunter, since few do that as well as Jackson does. This should not be hand waved as a given though, as he did formerly in his original collaboration with Tarantino, Pulp Fiction, Jackson commands a definite presence, and the fact that his character is dangerous certainly is a given. We are only given a brief moment though with Marquis as he has to inquire about a way to get through the snow towards shelter, after losing his own horse, and with that we meet the next two members of the titular eight including a fellow bounty hunter.

Kurt Russell did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying John Ruth "The Hangman" in The Hateful Eight.

Major Warren is forced to deal with the man who paid for a wagon coming along that snowy road and that is John Ruth. He is chained along with his captive one Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who he intends to bring to the nearest town by the name of Red Rock, to collect the ten thousand dollar bounty on her head. Now we go from one cinematic badass to another, as Russell also fits the bill quite nicely. If there's someone who could go toe to toe with Jackson in this it definitely is Kurt Russell. He also know how to command a scene in a way in which the nature of his character is quite evident without even needing to do anything particularly notable. Russell evidently to add to this decides to do a bit of John Wayne impression. Now this is actually a fairly common occurrence with Russell, he also did this in Big Trouble in Little China and in parts of Death Proof, though here he downplays it a bit in that his voice feels really just that of Wayne's rather than an obvious imitation. It could not be more fitting for the Hangman John Ruth, or especially the film as Russell seems like a true man of the old west here, speaking of men of the old west.

Walton Goggins did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Sheriff Chris Mannix in The Hateful Eight.

Walton Goggins, the reliable character actor who tends to add something to his film even when his roles are thin, is the fourth member of the eight to make his appearance. Like Major Warren, Chris also chances upon Ruth's wagon after being caught in the blizzard after losing his horse. Mannix though is on the opposite ends of things opposed to Major Warren, being an ardent confederate, whereas Warren was a cavalry officer in the Union army. Now Mannix, the youngest son of a Reb outlaw, claims to be the Sheriff of the town of Red Rock, which Ruth instantly calls out as false, yet the claim still gets him a place in the wagon. Now the cursory view of Mannix is that one might describe him as a bit of hillbilly. It is fitting that Goggins plays a character who looks up to Bruce Dern's character in this film, because Goggins brings a similair energy to his role that Dern does in his comedic performance. There is with such unabashed enthusiasm that Goggins brings as Mannix so excitedly introduces himself, and its great because of the way he embraces the "he-haw" nature of the character in just the right fashion. As Goggins is downright hilarious in just playing up this, well, southern hospitality of sorts as Mannix does his best to apparently seem like just the right good old boy that he should be.

Now a spoiler warning should be noted just in case. The Hateful Eight could have been called the deceitful Eight as much of the film is the lies of appearances, and the lies people tell. We get the first impression of Mannix, John Ruth, and Major Warren, but in a way we are warned from the start about this by Ruth as he is constantly questioning everyone, even Major Warren who seems like an obvious ally. Now the first impression seems a comfortable enough one to make and all three actors certainly help to try to make us accept them. Jackson and Russell are both the imposing forces they should be. Russell carrying the right casual intensity as John Ruth goes about his own business of protecting his interests, while Jackson carries it in a more direct fashion, though understated, yet never in question. Jackson knows how to hold a scene like few others. On the other hand Goggins is consistently enjoyable in his delivery of Mannix's perhaps overeager sentiments. One would be wrong to believe that this is the truth with any of them, and that is not to say that this is even them lying, yet. None of them are a simple archetype which is brilliantly revealed by each of these performances.

Now starting with Russell, who should seem simple enough as a cool hero channeling John Wayne, what more could there be to him? Well as we soon see Ruth is very quick to discipline his captive Daisy, as he does not hesitate to physically assault her whenever she makes an insult at his expense or even at Major Warren's. Russell actually plays these scenes in a purposefully unappealing way, as it is not a direct rage he portrays when Ruth hits Daisy, but rather he shows that Ruth does enjoy it a bit. Now this is not quite as damning as it could be considering the extreme nature of Daisy's racism as well as the fact that she's a murderer, however Ruth's status as a great hero is instantly challenged as Russell shows a definite personal pleasure in the suffering he makes Daisy endure. The certain strip down of Ruth continues though as Ruth tries to make himself safe, which involves trusting absolutely no one, which is smart considering they end up in a cabin of strangers, though he does not do this in the most intelligent way. Although Russell keeps a definite confidence most of the time, there are moments where he demands something related to his paranoia, there is a desperation in the man that alludes to a weakness in him.

Now with Jackson it's rather interesting that he's as many of his characters usually are, which is that he's cool and confident even when he's talking about killing people. Jackson indeed pulls off the cool killer to the point that we in fact like him, rather than hate for technically a callousness towards life, however even this idea is played with by Jackson's performance. When it is stated that Major Warren's war record included so many killings that he seemed more interested in killing than any cause, Jackson portrays absolutely no denial in Warren in related to this. In fact when asked about the people he's killed, Jackson carries a certain pride when speaking about it, and is not even hesitate in it. Again Jackson does have that cool that let's him get away with it, but he goes even further to almost cause a bit of discomfort for us when wholly accepting Warren. A pivotal moment revolves around Jackson confronting one of the strangers a Confederate General Smithers (Dern), a general who had killed surrendering black soldiers. To goad Smithers into doing something rash Warren relates a story of not only killing the General's son, but also raping the man. The scene is no simple revenge moment, not only because of Dern giving so much humanity in his reaction, but also the vicious, though earned, hatred that Jackson brings to it. Jackson portrays it that Warren absolutely relished in the act, though it very well might have been partially made up to get the General to strike first.

Now how about Chris Mannix, what else does he have to show for himself. Well this is interesting as Mannix, despite seeming like he might not exactly be genius, actually is the one who reveals much of the truth relating to Major Warren's deeds. Goggins is terrific as he reveals the needed incisiveness in Mannix's words as he speaks about Warren's killing of men. What Goggins does is also challenging in a very effective way, in that Mannix is a racist yet a straw man he is not, thanks in part due to Goggins's performance. What's so special about what Goggins manages to do is in a way suggests, even though it certainly never stated, that the racism of Mannix is mostly something ingrained. It is never something that Goggins gives an earnestness to, not that Mannix does not believe his words, but when such words come from his mouth it is made often like a recitation by Mannix, as though he is repeating what he's heard his whole life. Goggins only reinforces this idea through giving a strong passion still in Mannix when he talks about the lives lost at Warren's hands, as well as when he tries to give an idea of just trying to find a certain respect in defeat. Goggins is excellent as he is able to actually almost force you to see where Mannix is coming from, since there is only a genuine empathy in his words when he speaks of the dead including the Union soldiers that were killed, accidentally, as well from a fire started by Warren.

I love how all three actors go so far past the first impressions of the character revealing far more complicated men then you might expect from the outset. Now even though there might be many lies told in the story the one man we seem to know is telling the truth is John Ruth. Even this is used to show more of the man when it is revealed that Major Warren has been lying the whole time about having received a personal letter by Abraham Lincoln. The earlier scene where this was brought up Russell brought out a considerable warmth in his examination of the letter, presenting Ruth as overjoyed by this truth. This makes it all the more disconcerting when it is said to be false, and Russell is actually rather heartbreaking by once again revealing a vulnerable side to Ruth, as this break of trust is made devastating by Russell as though Ruth has lost some solace since one of the men he thought he could trust had been lying to him the whole time. It should also be noted that Jackson is equally good in the moment because he so bluntly states the truth behind Warren's lie, to the point you completely understand why he would have lied. Unfortunately everything only turns against Ruth more as he is poisoned through some tainted coffee. This scene is brilliantly performed by Russell as he brings such a combination of rage and pain in Ruth's final screams. My favorite moment of the scene though is when his captive finally has a gun drawn on him. Russell again is surprisingly moving through his hangdog expression as though Ruth in the moment realizes not only that he's finished but also perhaps thinking about where his abuses of Daisy have left him.

This leaves us with Warren obviously, and in turn gets Jackson a perfect Hercule Poirot moment as he dresses down one of the stranger's stories. Jackson unquestionably owns the moment as he should, and its just so captivating to watch him uncover the mystery as well as delivering some quick justice. Warren though is not alone against Daisy and her co-conspirators as he finds an unlikely ally in Mannix. Now this does seem impossible, it shouldn't work, but it does. Now the key behind Goggins's portrayal of Mannix is that he never lies, he's a man who always is seeking the truth, and will break down a lie if he hears it. Now even though the "hee-haw" side is there, it's not facade, rather Goggins finds Mannix as a measured man who will be more dour if he's speaking words he believes in but is just well a rather jolly chap by nature. Goggins is fabulous in the way he calls upon the certain charm of Mannix. Not only is it funny, but it also shows Mannix doing his best to try to disarm people in some way. One of my favorite moments of his performance, which saying something (something I must say for many performances in this category this year), is in his argument with Ruth and Warren which gets so heated that Warren pulls his gun on Mannix. Goggins is comedic gold as he switches gears, and apologizes so sweetly for talking politics. Goggins importantly establishes that there is never a hate in his heart. He speaks racist words in a way that does not reveal the true man, and it is only when life is concerned that he brings out real vigor to his words. Goggins, even in a moment where he's about to shoot someone, brings the greater emphasis on the man he's avenging. Goggins is a delight when shooting breaks out, because again he suggests a man out of his element really, as he just seems to be winging it. The fact that the consistent quality Goggins focuses upon is decency, despite not sugar coating his uses of racial epithets, he makes the alliance between Warren and Mannix believable. The best part is both actors go past this, as they manage to even develop a bit of a friendship. Both Jackson and Goggins have such marvelous chemistry that this is completely convincing. Not even much is said yet it is never questioned as the two suggest in their glances really an understanding and mutual respect between the two. The two manage to make their final scene together so poignant as the two men of opposing armies, sit together alone with no interference of the outside world, and just quietly enjoy what might be one their last moments, side by side. I don't want to diminish Russell's work as he unfortunately must exit early as well as plays the one man with nothing to hide, yet finds something remarkable in revealing perhaps too much of who the "badass" bounty hunter really is. Jackson and Goggins not only create such memorable characters they also have a challenge, a seemingly unfeasible one, yet they pull it off to bring about such a powerful conclusion. 

52 comments:

Robert MacFarlane said...

I was very impressed with both Russell and Jackson (in some ways probably more than the film itself), even with this review I guess I just missed something with Goggins.

Also, I would argue Jackson is lead. Not only is he more or less present in the whole thing (even when he's not the focus), 90% of the film's themes and subtext are entirely reliant on his character. The film's very thesis basically crumbles if he wasn't the protagonist.

Michael Patison said...

Just saw Hail, Caesar!

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Has Roth gone up on rewatch.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I've sent my 5/4.5s document to your Email account.

Michael McCarthy said...

YASSSSSSSSS I love these guys. Any chance at raising Jackson for Pulp Fiction. This review suggests it might be appropriate.

Michael Patison said...

My thoughts on Hail, Caesar! are basically the same as Louis's. Ehrenreich is my MVP as well and gets a 4.5. I also agree with all of his ratings, though I'd up Brolin and Clooney to 4s. I thought Brolin was given enough time, but could've used more of Clooney (and really everybody else).

Alex Marqués said...

I didn't expect less. Excellent review as always, Louis. Judging by the review, it seems that you really liked Dern as well.

Calvin Law said...

You make me want to watch the film again, and bump Goggins into my top 5. In a film full of great line deliveries his glee at seeing *spoilers* admit he's the murderer is probably my favourite.

Great review Louis, loved the style you took with this one.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: The list is great, thanks so much :)

moviefilm said...

My ratings for the cast of The Hateful Eight:
Samuel L. Jackson - 4.5
Kurt Russell - 5
Bruce Dern - 5
Michael Madsen - 4.5
Walter Goggins - 4
Demian Bichir - 3.5
Tim Roth - 3.5
Channing Tatum - 2.5

Anonymous said...

Louis: Amazing review. The three were terrific as hell.

Anonymous said...

Louis, can you please name your top 10 favourite westerns?

Alex Marqués said...

I watched Room yesterday, and I liked a lot more than I expected. Larson and Tremblay were amazing, and I really digged the direction in spite of the pacing at some points.

Watching The Revenant today.

Milo Tindle said...

The only actor from "The Hateful Eight" that I really liked was Goggins. I'd give him 4.

Russell? Total misunderstanding, constantly yelling, he's doing sort of caricature, same as Jennifer Jason Leigh as Daisy. They both got 2 from me.

Generally, very bad movie, first half is simply boring, the second - hmm quite disguisting in a way. I enjoyed most of Tarantino's movies, so this one was quite a surprise for me.

Robert MacFarlane said...

I have to admit I'm liking this film less and less the more I think about it.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Also, I saw Me and Earl and the Dying Girl yesterday. Louis, if anyone tries and recommend you see that, they are not your friends. They are making a deliberate attempt at your life. Do not see this movie.

Alex Marqués said...

Not feeling the same H8 hate, I still think it's awesome :D

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Have you seen any other 2015 films recently.

Luke Higham said...

Louis' given 20 fives for 2015 so far. :)

Milo Tindle said...

My 2015 Oscar ranking is as follows:

ACTOR:
1. DiCaprio (4.5)
2. Cranston (4.5)
3. Damon (3)
4. Fassbender (2.5)
5. Redmayne (2)

ACTRESS:
1. Ronan (5)
2. Rampling (4.5)
3. Larson (4)
4. Blanchett (4)
5. Lawrence (3)

SUPPORTING ACTOR:
1. Stallone (5)
2. Hardy (5)
3. Rylance (5)
4. Bale (3.5)
5. Ruffalo (2.5)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
1. Mara (5)
2. Winslet (3.5)
3. Vikander (3)
4. McAdams (2.5)
5. Leigh (2)

Anonymous said...

It's been the greatest year for supporting so far, I bet there won't be a year that won't compare to this one in supporting.

Louis Morgan said...

Milo Tindle: How are you talking? Didn't Andrew Wyke kill you? But you're entitled to a different opinion, though I disagree obviously.

Anonymous:

1. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
2. Once Upon a Time in The West
3. Unforgiven
4. The Treasure of Sierra Madre
5. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
6. The Ox-Bow Incident
7. The Wild Bunch
8. For A Few Dollars More
9. The Outlaw Josey Wales
10. A Fistful of Dollars

Luke:

Roth rating feels right to me, though I'd actually move up Parks and Madsen up to a 4 each. Parks adds a lot with his little reactions throughout, I especially love when he notices something about the coffee himself. Madsen's performance I think grows with the plot revelations in mind, particularly in regards to his interactions with Leigh.

Luke Higham said...

11 fives and counting. I'm gonna feel really bad for Louis, whenever he ranks his top 10.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

And for 2015 movies I saw Grandma.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Rating and Thoughts on Tomlin and your thoughts on Grandma in general.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: And Sam Elliot.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What are your thoughts on James Stewart, Glenn Ford and Lee J. Cobb as actors?

Louis Morgan said...

Grandma was frankly a rather terrible film as every character, save for one, came off as a caricature which were not helped by the extremely over the top performances given. Now the problem is it wants to be in part a serious drama yet is completely tone deaf as everyone plays it up to eleven, save for one, which does not fit the material, or the general style of the direction. It could have been saved sort of I suppose if this at least was funny, but it's not.

Tomlin - 2(She's gives a two note performance here, and I'm certainly glad Lawrence won over her for the Golden Globe. She's either loud and abrasive to the point that she comes off much more like a sketch character than a real person. She does not really develop specific chemistry with most of the people she interacts with making it just a series of moments where she is yelling at the top of her lungs at someone else yelling at the top her lungs. Then without grace she then is the caring Grandma. There are no transitions for this, she just suddenly is in a way that feels unnatural.)

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Elliot - 4.5(Elliot was the one I was referring to, and there does seem just as much of a chance for him to devolve into caricature yet resists the urge. Instead he actually manages to present a real guy and we actually get find an emotional history between his character and Tomlin's through Elliot's performance. He's very moving as he provides an actual soul to the proceedings, if only for a scene, and his performance really gives the film more substance that it seems like it even deserves considering the rest of the film.)

Anonymous:

Stewart - (One of the greatest actors of all time. One of the most charming but he really had range as well. Not in terms of how many state the terms, as in different accents or something, but Stewart is able to find unique character since he always was able to find the emotional truth underlying them)

Ford - (Ford was okay. He could be a little bland and his charm sometimes came off as more smarmy than anything else. However there were times were he delivered more. He was never great, but he was capable of being good)

Cobb - (One of the great character actors of the 40's and 50's. Cobb specialized in being cast in harder roles so to speak, which he certainly thrived in, but his work never was simplistic. He was always able to find a bit more with his characterizations, and always knew how to deliver.)

Milo Tindle said...

Louis: I'm definitely alive. I enjoy your rankings, sometimes agree, and sometimes am surprised how great performances you can underestimate (Hopkins in "The Remains of the Day", among many others), and how really terrible you can overrate (Burns in "Sunshine Boys" or H8, among many others). But, in general, you're doing amazing job.

Have you ever considered doing similar ranking for actresses? That would be something, the more that the great and only "FritzLovesOscar" seems to be not active any longer.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What performance of Karloff's was close to getting a 5 for you?

Louis Morgan said...

Milo:

I'm pretty sure I rated them just right ;). As for the actresses I've certainly considered it, but all I can say maybe sometime in the future.

Anonymous:

The Criminal Code and Bride of Frankenstein.

Anonymous said...

Louis: What is your rating and thoughts on Orson Welles in Moby Dick?

Calvin Law said...

I've actually moved Roth and Russell to 5's now. And completely agree with Madden.

Luke Higham said...

Calvin: I doubt Stallone's making the top 5.

Deiner said...

Great review Louis, I also loved the three of them.

Anonymous said...

After re-watching The Hateful Eight, Russell and Jackson have grown more on me and are both 5's.

Calvin Law said...

Luke: I know :(

Anonymous said...

Calvin: But at least, Stallone's gonna be on top ten, I'm sure of that.

Luke Higham said...

He'll come 7th or 8th.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
John Smith: I just watched Anomalisa and it made me feel so fucking empty, happy, sad, confused and so on. I guess i loved it.

P.S It has one of the most emotionally engaging sex scene i have ever seen. It felt so real... and i saw it in an animated movie with puppets.

Luke Higham said...

John Smith: I'm glad you liked it. :)

Anonymous said...

John Smith:

Luke: Have you seen it? What did you think?

Luke Higham said...

John: It's my favourite animated film of 2015, though Stop-Motion does have a greater effect on me than CGI animation.

I loved each scene that involved Michael & Lisa and thought the voice acting, Leigh and Noonan in particular was superb.

Anonymous said...

Luke: You like stop-motion more than CGI?

Luke Higham said...

John: My tastes in animation are more traditional. I love Stop-Motion and Hand-Drawn animation. I must say, the last Pixar film I ever loved was Ratatouille, though Toy Story 3 and Inside Out were very good.

Anonymous said...

Luke: I'm not John Smith.

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Apologies. :) I was in a bit of a rush and John wasn't using his account name, so I ended up getting confused.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Has Blunt gone up to a 5 for Sicario.

Michael McCarthy said...

Speaking of Anomalisa, Louis, what makes you so sure that Lisa was actually the sex doll? Because I just rewatched it and I think there's more evidence in the film disproving that idea than supporting it.

Robert MacFarlane said...

Saw Hail, Caesar! earlier. Enjoyed it a lot. Ehrenreich was my favorite, but I think I enjoyed Brolin and Tatum even more than Louis.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Yes.

Deiner:

Thanks.

Anonymous:

Welles brings the needed gravitas to his few moments, and does well with the stylized lines he has rather well, certainly better than Peck.

Michael:

Lisa does not appear until after he purchases the doll in kind of a dreamy transition involving a shower. The doll is not Tom Noonan. The Doll sings a song. The Doll is never there when Lisa is. He brings the doll home with some signs of intimacy to say the least.