Movie Review: Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood

A week-long beach vacation has made me calm, relaxed, primed and ready to return to posting consistently on this blog. I have a few ideas for posts in mind which will be coming soon, and this one is first: a review of Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood. Let’s waste no time and just jump right into it.

Quentin Tarantino is rightfully regarded as one of Hollywood’s most eclectic and unique directors with a filmography of modern classics such as Pulp Fiction (one of my favorite films), Inglourious Basterds, and Kill Bill, all of which unapologetically defer from usual Hollywood tropes and story-telling techniques. Tarantino’s use of sharp dialogue, sometimes exaggerated violence, and atypical pacing and direction have become signatures for this accomplished film maker. Tarantino is also a not a stranger to revising history and real-world events in his films, and his most recent release is no exception here, in the telling of an alternate 1960’s Hollywood based in many real world events but graced with larger than life twists in a telling of what could have been. Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood serves as a love letter from Tarantino to an era of Hollywood which is clearly nostalgic for him, and that nostalgia translates very much from this movie to the audience watching it. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character Rick Dalton and Brad Pitt’s character Cliff Booth play off of one another extraordinarily well, and the comedic chemistry between the two makes this one of Tarantino’s funniest films to date. Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Sharon Tate felt authentic and respectful, which I expected from such an accomplished actress in Robbie. Cameos throughout kept me entertained and interested, and the story comes to a satisfying end. While this film is far from perfect, there are many enjoyable aspects that kept me engaged for the entire 2 hour and 45 minute runtime.

With all of that being said, anyone looking for or needing a gripping and heavily plot-driven narrative story may not thoroughly enjoy this film. While the story makes brilliant use of Chekhov’s Gun and has an incredibly satisfying final twenty minutes packed full of tension and usual Tarantino chaos, the film’s dialogue driven nature and lack of tension could be seen as a negative for the type of fan hoping for something more typical in today’s fast-paced cinematic climate. Another issue I had with the film was that I did not know enough about Charles Manson and Sharon Tate going into the film. Of course I can only blame myself for this, but after reading more about their history once I had left the theater, I found that I would have enjoyed the story a lot more had I understand the revisions Tarantino had made from the real life tragic events on which this film is based. Anyone with an understanding of Tarantino’s unique style, an appreciation for 1960’s Hollywood, and knowledge of Sharon Tate’s life story will absolutely adore this movie, and I expect it to perform well once Oscar nomination season approaches.

This was an enjoyable film from beginning to end that I left the theater feeling happy having seen it. I can perfectly envision the kind of person who would rate this film higher and who would enjoy lots of aspects of it more thoroughly, but I am just not that audience member. This was certainly a good movie that is a must-see for any Tarantino fans, but it is not his best project to date, and instead more of a passion project driven by nostalgia and history for the eclectic director. I am excited for whatever Tarantino’s 10th and final film ends up being about, and this movie will tide me over until then. Hi-ya!

SCORE: 7/10

Movie Review: Spider-Man: Far From Home

Spider-Man: Far From Home is the first film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe that takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Far From Home is an inherently important movie because it establishes which direction the MCU will take after losing two of its main heroes and finally defeating Thanos in its most recent film. As a lifelong fan of Marvel comics, characters, and films, I couldn’t be more satisfied in what Spider-Man: Far From Home turned out to be. I grew up watching and have a lot of nostalgia for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films starring Tobey Maguire, but Tom Holland is quickly becoming my favorite of the recent friendly neighborhood castings.

This iteration of Spider-Man is in such a sweet spot for me. MJ is around as a love interest, Uncle Ben is gone but living on through Peter, Aunt May is a strong presence in Parker’s life, and yet us fans weren’t put through another origin story for Holland’s take on the character. Marvel has a respect for its fans’ intelligence that shines through its films and is likely what makes them so popular and highly-profitable. The balance between keeping Peter as the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man and following in the footsteps of the late Tony Stark is struck perfectly in this movie as Peter is still a high-school student, but who is also discovering the technologies that Stark was so infatuated with for his entire life. At its root, this is still a coming-of-age story about a teen facing stress in finding himself and his place in the world, which is likely why I enjoy these movies and this character as much as I do.

Seeing one of my favorite childhood villains on the big screen in Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio is best described as “Spider-tingle” inducing. The modern take on illusions and misinformation provided by Mysterio was executed incredibly well, and the illusion sequences throughout the movie, specifically one toward the middle of the film, were breathtaking. Gyllenhaal’s chemistry with Holland was very convincing, and the expected twist early in the movie was also done well. Marvel continues to improve the CGI and special effects in these movies, making them more and more immersive. This movie followed Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, which was one of my favorite movies last year, very well, not letting me down after the incredible graphics in last year’s animated film.

Pacing issues toward the beginning of the movie and a slightly underdeveloped “villain” presence in the Elementals (which still looked great) knock this film down a notch for me, but Mysterio and Spider-Man made my viewing experience incredibly enjoyable. The recent inclusion of so much humor in Marvel’s films continued here, too, as this movie was very funny at times but serious when it needed to be. All of the performances from top-billing down to supporting cast like Zendaya and Jon Favreau were excellent. The film’s post-credits scene sets things up for another sequel which I will definitely have marked on my calendar. Also, J.K. Simmons reprising his role as J. Jonah Jameson from The Daily Bugle just put it over the top for me. Even though I may be biased as Spider-Man is my favorite superhero (which was solidified by this movie), this one was a home-run in my book.

SCORE: 8/10