Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)



Movie Title: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Year Released: 2019

Rated: R

Runtime: 2h 45min

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Writer: Quentin Tarantino

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Julia Butters, Austin Butler, Dakota Fanning, Bruce Dern, Mike Moh, Luke Perry, Damian Lewis, Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Brenda Vaccaro, Nicholas Hammond, Samantha Robinson, Rafal Zawierucha, Lorenza Izzo, Costa Ronin, Damon Herriman, Lena Dunham, Madisen Beaty, Mikey Madison, James Landry Hébert, Maya Hawke

Review: Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is pure, nostalgic fun. I really enjoyed this movie as it carried itself primarily as an ode to the Hollywood scene in the late '60s. While not my favorite Tarantino film, I found this film to be perhaps the funniest, as many of the scenes on movie or TV sets were quite hilarious. I thought Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt did a fantastic job playing two buddies that formed a friendship over their actor-stunt man relationship in the movie industry. Their witty banter was often hilarious and it felt authentic being that they are actually friends in real life. I also loved the dynamic between DiCaprio and Julia Butters, with Butters portraying one of Leo's 8-year-old co-stars who is wise beyond her years. I found it both heartwarming and amusing as Butters' character attempted to console and reel in a former Hollywood star down on his luck and seemingly spiraling out of control. I think in some ways, whether intentional or not, Rick Dalton is sort of the embodiment of the Hollywood scene in 1969, with the golden age seemingly coming to an end at the end of the decade. On the flipside, you have Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) who is just bursting onto the Hollywood scene, and she genuinely seems enamored and excited with everything going on around her. Tate is in some ways embodying the excitement of entering a new decade and a new era of movie stars and filmmaking. What I also particularly enjoyed here was Tarantino's use of the ensemble cast that he had at his disposal. There are so many big name actors and actresses in this film that are sprinkled into every scene. I thoroughly enjoyed how many of these characters were TV or film actors starring alongside Rick Dalton within the film. I thought it was a really ingenious way of incorporating so many big name stars into one movie.

While one of the more mild Tarantino films in comparison to many of his previous efforts, have no fear. The last act of this film brings out all of the quintessential Tarantino signatures. Without giving away too much, this film plays as a revisionist history film similarly to Inglourious Basterds. The difference here is that this film takes a stab at re-writing the history revolving around Charles Manson (Damon Herriman), and the Manson Family cult that murdered Sharon Tate. Whatever you think you know about that fateful evening, throw it out the window and brace yourself for violence, blood, and an abundance of fictional silliness. The runtime is long, and it definitely feels long, which is just about my only criticism. I also recognize that Quentin Tarantino films are certainly not for everyone, but if you're a Tarantino fan or a fan of early Western films and TV shows, you absolutely have to see this film! It does not disappoint!

Stars (out of 4):
       

Fun Fact: The Cadillac in this movie belongs to Michael Madsen. It also appeared in Reservoir Dogs (1992) written by Quentin Tarantino and driven by Madsen.



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