Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)
Director: Quentin Tarantino. 2hr 41 mins/161mins. (18)
Claire’s rating: 4/5 Very good/lots to enjoy
Jason’s rating
4/5 Very good/lots to enjoy
Synopsis
In the late 1960’s, washed up TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his long-suffering stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) face an uncertain future. Rick is offered a kiss-of-death ‘lifeline’ by producer Marvin Schwarz (Al Pacino) – to make westerns in Italy as a leading man which will net him money and keep him employed, but almost certainly herald his descent into obscurity (Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns contained similar title to this movie).
Dalton returns with a young, sexy Italian bride and his tail between his legs and accepts supporting roles on TV. At the same time, his neighbours Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha) and his wife, actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) face increasing success and, prowling the hills of Hollywood, are Charles Manson (Damon Herriman) and his murderous acolytes.
Review by @Claire_d_air
Chekhov’s gun is a concept that if a weapon is present in the first act of a story, it must be used by the third. Make that gun a flamethrower and you start to get an understanding of the farce and indulgence Tarantino exudes in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
As a mature Tarantino film, I think this is some of his best work, the editing isn’t as engaging as some of his other films, and the story can be a bit messy at times, but the passion Tarantino adds to this project shines through.
However, judging from the loud murmurs of disgust from people sitting in my cinema screening – I think I might be in the minority. Maybe I am easily swayed by the nostalgia of Tinseltown too...
...and @Reelreviewer
Supposedly his last movie as a director, Tarantino actually gives us three final movies in one: the decline of one man’s career, the nascent rise of a woman’s and the burgeoning, murderous antics of someone who can only just be described as a human.
Tarantino unsettles his audience...but in a totally different way to the way you think. We expect lots of guns, blood and brains sprayed on car windows but he instead concentrates on carefully crafted nods toward old Hollywood’s last gasps, a leisurely, contemplative story and some fiery, exceptional acting.
Weighing in at a hefty 2 hours and 41 minutes, if this turns out to be the final as director for Quentin Tarantino, it seems he wants to take his audience with him.
For more, read the full reviews: bit.ly/UponHollywood
Cast & credits
Bona Film Group/Columbia Pictures/Heyday Films/Sony Pictures Entertainment/Visiona Romantica. (18)
Producers: David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh, Quentin Tarantino.
Writer: Quentin Tarantino.
Camera: Robert Richardson.
Sets: Barbara Ling.
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.
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