Review by RCR entertainment reporter, Eric Szymanski, follow him on Twitter at @ecmanski
Quentin Tarantino has done it again. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is the 9th film in his illustrious directorial career dating back to 1992 when he burst into the scene with Reservoir Dogs. Over the years, filmgoers have come to expect nothing short of over the top when it comes to Tarantino. I can safely say he delivers with his latest installment. Kind of. Being a certified QT fanboy with Pulp Fiction lines sprinkled into my everyday vocabulary, I tend to view his movies through rose-colored glasses upon first viewing. I took a different approach with this film and what I found was that this movie was very different from his previous work. Sure, we get the sharp dialogue and extended scenes that tend to drag and feel as if they lead to nothing. This felt more like a buddy comedy with Leonardo DiCaprio playing Rick Dalton, an aging leading man who is coming to the realization his status in Hollywood is on the decline. One can say as the decade of the 60’s is ending, Dalton’s once white-hot career is right beside it. Brad Pitt, the other piece of the equation in this dynamic, plays Cliff Booth. Booth is Rick’s longtime stunt man and companion. Both put on an acting clinic but Pitt steals the show easily getting some of the best laughs in the film. Margot Robbie rounds out the cast with her portrayal of Sharon Tate. As limited as her role felt, she nailed it in every one of her scenes bringing energy which matched the real-life persona of her character.
I can’t say this film is going to convert any non-Tarantino fans. In fact, it may frustrate some of his die-hard fans. We’re not getting a countless onslaught of four-letter words and bullets flying throughout the 2 hour and 39-minute runtime. It’s more of a slow burn with people just hanging out and getting into situations. Think of it more like a Jackie Brown and less like a Kill Bill. This is actually one of the things I appreciated. The first act hooks you, the second act drags a bit, but the third act is the satisfying payoff Tarantino fans come to expect. I especially loved the 1969 backdrop it takes place in. The pop-culture references sprinkled throughout backed by an amazing soundtrack really transport you to that era. As always, the cinematography is amazing as this is meant to be experienced on a big screen. The little details truly stand out from the costume and set design to the fact that LA freeways in 1969 were not the daily congested mess they are today. What I can see being a complaint from some, however, would be a lack of narrative. At times, it felt like the story itself wasn’t going anywhere and we’re just left with a collection of amazingly acted scenes. Does the audience give this a pass because it’s Quentin Tarantino? I can tell you I did.
Another interesting aspect is the film being centered around the real-life tragedy involving Charles Manson and his followers. This automatically lets the audience know what these characters are like. It’s especially effective in a sequence involving Pitt’s character and his interaction with the group. Knowing what these people are capable of heightens the tension. I will say, I thought the handling of the real-life subject matter was tastefully done and not exploited in a negative context in any way.
The question many will ask and contemplate is where does this one rank with his previous eight films? My number one is Pulp Fiction and remains that way. I can’t say it’s on par with Inglorious Basterds either. I’d probably put it somewhere in the middle above Jackie Brown and The Hateful Eight. I will say Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is an entry that feels a little tame for Tarantino standards. With a little editing, dare I say this could have been PG-13. Not that I’m saying take the kids. No, please don’t. But if you enjoy the work of Quentin Tarantino, one of the few directors that can open a movie on his name alone, then please take a trip back to late 60’s Hollywood and enjoy.
4.5 ⭐️/5
“In this town, it can all change…like that.”
#OnceUponATimeInHollywood will be in theaters July 26
About Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
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. https://www.onceuponatimeinhollywood.movie/
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