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