“Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood” Review by Michael Winkler
July 30, 2019 7:08 pm |
Quentin Tarantino is and has been, one of the most well-respected directors in the film industry. Tarantino has written and directed nine feature films, with “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood” being his most recent. It’s always a grandiose affair when Tarantino releases a film. Once Upon a Time made over forty million dollars opening weekend and people are continuing to see this masterpiece in droves. That is the true question at hand. Is Once Upon a Time a masterpiece? The answer is Yes! Quentin Tarantino has a very particular style of cinema, meaning that if one were familiar with his work than they would be able to pick it out of a line up of films. Not so much with Once Upon a Time. This movie has pizzazz and a certain swagger to it, which sets it apart from the rest of his films.
This tale follows a fading television star in Rick Dalton (Leonardo Dicaprio) who is down on his luck and isn’t as sure in himself as he once was. Luckily for Rick, he is not alone during these doubtful days. Rick’s stunt double, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), is also his best friend and handyman. The story takes place in Los Angeles, during “The Golden Age of Hollywood” in 1969. Leading roles are becoming far scarcer and Rick is encouraged by his agent, Marvin Schwarzs (Al Pacino) to try acting in Italian films. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Rick and that’s when Dicaprio takes this role and runs with it. He does such an amazing job at conveying the self-doubt and anguish that his character is going through, that feeling bad for Rick is quite easy. Cliff (Pitt), however, serves as comedic relief and the “inconvenient truth” at times for Rick. Cliff knows that his career is at its final leg and he is at peace with that fact, not Rick though. It’s fun to see this duo have back and fourths and they also find themselves in some very zany scenarios. Pitt does a wonderful job at lending support to scenes with Dicaprio but also holds very strong in his solo scenes. A certain scene in the film brings Cliff to a “Hippie Ranch” which is where Charles Manson (Damon Herriman) and his followers (Dakota Fanning, Maya Hawke, Austin Butler) are living. Pitt has some great dialogue and some great character moments. This scene proves that Pitt and Dicaprio are on a very even keel when it comes to their acting and skill level. Another stand out performance is from a young girl on the set of one of Rick’s western shows in which he has a cameo. The girl adds a spark to Rick’s fire and gives him some much-needed confidence after having a not so subtle meltdown in his trailer, which is one of the best scenes of the film. Dicaprio shines again and again in this film from beginning to end. Dicaprio even gave his character, Rick, a slight stutter when he was feeling nervous or disheveled. Bruce Lee (Mike Moh) also makes an appearance in this film. Let’s just say, it plays for one of the funnier events in the movie for Pitt’s character.
Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) was an actress and model during this period. Tate was gorgeous, and the casting of Margot Robbie was a perfect fit. Although Sharon Tate’s story is one of such heartbreak and tragedy, Tarantino takes this story to a new vision. Tarantino thought that it would be imaginative and fun for actors to go to the theatre and see themselves in a movie and enjoy the crowd reaction. Sharon Tate does exactly this during one of Robbie’s best scenes. Margot Robbie sells her performance so well from when she is speaking with the ticket taker to sitting in her seat with her bare feet up (in true Tarantino fashion) and sunglasses on watching as all of the viewers enjoy her performance. This scene was very inventive and thoughtful to a lot of people in the movie industry. Sharon Tate lives with husband Roman Polanski and they happen to be Rick Dalton’s next-door neighbors. There aren’t too many scenes including Tate, but Margot Robbie did wonderfully and becomes the heartbeat of the movie at points. This speaks to the sheer brilliance of Quentin Tarantino’s ability to understand who can and cannot be suitable for one of his roles. One miscast and the movie could’ve gone in a different direction.
Leonardo Dicaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie as the three leading actors made this film work. This blast from the past is a colorful, spectacular, gruesome, funny, and charming film, which isn’t afraid to change history and isn’t afraid to toe the line of raw brutality. What else can be said, aside from Tarantino has done it yet again. The last half hour of this film will have some laughing uncontrollably while sending others for the doors. It’s hard to believe that coming from Quentin Tarantino that comedy would be a large part of this film, yet it is. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is not only Tarantino’s funniest movie but also his bravest. This film doesn’t go by standard movie rules. It takes chances, it shows things that sometimes are better left unseen, it lets the viewer get a glimpse (albeit a small one) into Hollywood during the ’60s, and it is full of heart. This movie is more than a film, it’s a love letter written to Hollywood, signed “Quentin Tarantino”.
PCL Rating: Tupperware
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: FRESH 🍅
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Tags: Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie Sharon Tate, Michael Winkler, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood 2019, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood Movie, pop culture leftovers, Quentin Tarantino
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