It’s that time of the year again, the summer movie season is winding down and large tentpole films begin to make way for artsier films before the theaters are taken over by horror movies in the fall. With few event films left to see, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” seemed like a natural choice as the next film for me to watch to review.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is a fairytale version of the last days of the golden era of Hollywood. The film tells the story of Rick Dalton and his stunt double and friend as the pair struggle to find work in a changing entertainment industry (and world). As Rick slowly adapts and accepts new career opportunities in Italy, he accepts that his time in the spotlight might be behind him before an encounter with members of the cult of Charles Manson changes everything.
As a major film buff, I really enjoyed this film. I am not the biggest fan of Quentin Tarantino out there but he always gets incredible performances from his cast. Tarantino is as passionate as he is controversial and his work on this film is no exception. This film received some backlash for multiple reasons but none of the reasons take away from the movie as a whole.
While I don’t feel any of the complaints about the film affect it as a whole, it doesn’t mean the backlash it faced was unfounded. The biggest complaint it faced was due to it’s ending which...SPOILER ALERT...rewrote history and saw Sharon Tate spared of her fate. I admit that the ending of the film surprised me although I should have seen it coming considering “Inglorious Bastards” also rewrote history.
The depiction of women in the film also came under fire. I think perhaps some critics are being a bit hard on Tarantino for this considering the men in the film aren’t depicted in the best light either. With all that being said, perhaps “I reject your hypothesis” isn’t the best response to give a reporter when asked about the subject.
Lastly, the film also was criticized for the way it depicted legendary actor Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee’s daughter spoke out against the way Tarantino depicted her father and for not contacting his family. I completely understand the family being upset but I personally felt it was one of the best parts of the movie and knowing how many liberties Tarantino took with real life events, it doesn’t tarnish his legacy one bit in my opinion.
The film featured outstanding performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt. The two actors have a natural chemistry and their friendship shines through. Margot Robbie is good as Sharon Tate but isn’t given as good of material as DiCaprio and Pitt to work with.
Now, I mentioned that I wasn’t a huge Quentin Tarantino fan but his work on this film is impressive. The movie is truly a love letter to the end of an era in Hollywood at a time when the film industry is changing once again. Big name stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt no longer guarantee box office success so their inclusion in this film is a bit meta. I also admire the different filming techniques Tarantino used when showcasing everything from older black and white network shows to spaghettini westerns.
I will say if you aren’t a huge movie fan, this film may not be as accessible or as interesting to watch. My girlfriend went to see this with me and did not enjoy it as much as I did partly for these reasons. It is a movie that definitely isn’t for everyone. That being said, there are a lot of funny moments and the soundtrack helps transport you back in time.
Grade: B
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