Executive Producer: Georgia Kacandes
Writer and Director: Quentin Tarantino
Major Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio as Rick Dalton, Brad Pitt as Cliff Booth, Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate, Emile Hirsch as Jay Sebring, Margaret Qualley as Pussycat, Timothy Olyphant as James Stacey, Julia Butters as Trudi, Austin Butler as Tex, Dakota Fanning as Squeaky Fromme, Bruce Dern as George Spahn, Mike Moh as Bruce Lee, Luke Perry as Wayne Maunder, Damian Lewis as Steve McQueen, Al Pacino as Marvin Schwarzs, Rafal Zawierucha as Roman Polanski, Kurt Russell as Randy, Costa Ronin as Voytek Frykowski, Damon Herriman as Charles Manson, Madisen Beaty as Katie, and Maya Hawke as Flower Child
MMPA Rating: R for language throughout, some strong graphic violence, drug use, and sexual references
Running Time: 2 hours and 41 minutes
*******
It Arrived. Did Anything Leak? No, Not to Me.
Quentin Tarantino was afraid spoilers would plaster the internet by those who watched the movie before it’s official release. I didn’t have the time to scour everywhere on the internet to see if I could find any. Frankly, I didn’t have the desire to do it either. On that note, there won’t be any major spoilers in this review. Most of us already have a brief idea of what Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood (2019) is about and are familiar with Quentin Tarantino’s stories and directing. If you haven’t watched any of his films, I would start with Pulp Fiction (1994) or Jackie Brown (1997) and if you like those, then watch the remaining seven. I listed them near the end in the order of least to best liked as it seems everyone else has done too when reviewing this movie. This movie has it all: creativity in the rewriting of history, nostalgia of Westerns, importance of foreign cinema, acting longevity in Hollywood, and the star lifestyle including drugs, drinking, and destruction. Because it had historical aspects as did Django Unchained (2012) and Inglourious Basterds (2009), there wasn’t much I didn’t like about Tarantino’s ninth film. Besides, it was nice to see some old landmarks in Hollywood and Los Angeles area. This movie is basically for people who love what movies utimately provide: an escape for a few hours from reality even if it’s about version of a historical period in time.
What’s Behind Quentin? It’s Called His Shadow.
Tarantino likes to write and direct his own material. He’s earned that right and then some. Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood is produced by Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, Heyday Films, and Visiona Romantica and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The running time is 2 hours and 41 minutes with a R rating. The major cast is 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, Rafal Zawierucha, Damon Herriman, Kurt Russell, Victoria Pedretti, Costa Ronin, Madisen Beaty, and Maya Hawke. Tim Roth, James Marsden, and Danny Strong shot scenes, but were not included in the theatrical release. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a comedy/drama about an actor and his stunt double. Both are approaching the age where losing their place in Hollywood is becoming a reality although for different reasons. It explores the culture of the late 1960s in Los Angeles and the changes occurring taking place.
Hollywood in CA is a Combination of Many Things.
I doubt Hollywood in CA gets confused with Hollywood, FL, but just in case one is the birth place of film and the other is a city in Broward County. Here is a short summary of of Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood. The movie begins with Rick Dalton (actor) and Cliff Booth (stuntman) giving an interview on a movie lot. They meet with Marvin Schwarz, a producer, who gives Rick suggestions for his next career move. He rejects the advice and has hopes his neighbor, Roman Polanksi, might help him. At a Playboy Mansion party, we see the likes of Steve McQueen, Michelle Phillips, and Jay Sebring. Enter the first viewing of Charles Manson. Since Dalton loves to reminisce about his “glory days,” he often watches himself before his TV show was cancelled. We find the reason why Randy is cautious about Cliff that leads to a scene with Bruce Lee. The career of Sharon Tate evolves as she indulges in her fame while Rick has a heart to heart conversation with a young actress who likes to be called Trudi and has some trouble on the set. After finishing helping Rick, Cliff goes on a little ride with a hitchhiker named Pussycat. He drops her at a ranch he used to work although he hasn’t seen George Spahn in quite a few years. He meets a handful of questionable people there and stands his ground with the gang. Six months have passed and upon returning from Rome, we learn Rick has found love and Cliff reunites with his dog in Los Angeles. It is now August 1969. As Rick, Cliff, and Francesca drink and relax on this night, another chance meeting with the hippies sets the ball in motion. This is what we have been waiting for, the grand finale, where dog food, knives, and fire are involved.
Let’s Talk About That End Scene, Shall We!
There are a handful of scenes that stand out from the rest. One was Rick’s interaction with Trudi. The other was Cliff at the ranch. The third and one I liked the best was the showdown on Cielo Drive. I had no idea what to expect. The ending was not what I thought it would be, but I was satisfied. There were a lot of moving parts, and I felt closer to the characters compared to some of his other movies. Maybe because it wasn’t dripping in blood and more blood, I found Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood had a subtle kind of payback by the end. You can’t go wrong with the barrel full of actors and actresses. Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Margot Robbie played their roles well as did the Manson Family members.
It Comes Down to This Shot.
Yes, I highly recommend this movie because it’s written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. It’s also a great story and while some scenes could have been shorter, overall it kept my attention almost 100%. Sure, the theater scene of Sharon Tate watching herself could’ve been shorter. The scene between Cliff and Bruce Lee would never have happened in real life. It just wouldn’t. There is no way in hell, but the purpose of the scene was not supposed to be realistic. I get it. I loved the scene of Rick with his lines. It’s a film I could watch again and again. While not near the top out of all his movies, Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood is better than Death Proof (2007), but not Reservoir Dogs (1992). My pecking order of his movies are from least liked to best liked. I separated the Kill Bill movies for obvious reasons to me because they are not on the same caliber. Therefore, instead of 9 movies, I listed 10. If you put them together, they would in the top five (more than likely number 5) and then you’d have 9 total.
10. Death Proof (2007)
9. Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004)
8. Inglourious Bastards (2009)
7. Pulp Fiction (1994)
6. Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood (2019)
5. Jackie Brown (1997)
4. Django Unchained (2012)
3. The Hateful Eight (2015)
2. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
1. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
For Those Departed And the Ones Still Alive.
The primary focus of this are the people who had long careers in Hollywood and those that were ended too soon although there are a few Manson family members included since they were in the film.
*******
Wayne Maunder played by Luke Perry was a TV actor and starred in Westerns like Lancer. Maunder is still alive, but Perry died in March 2019.
James Stacy played by Timothy Olyphant was a TV actor and starred in Westerns like Gunsmoke. Stacy died in September 2016.
Joann Pettet played by Rumer Willis was a TV actress and starred in The Night Gallery. Pettet is still alive.
Steve McQueen played by Damian Lewis was a movie actor and starred in The Magnificient Seven. McQueen died in November 1980.
Bruce Lee played by Mike Moh was a movie actor and starred in The Green Hornet. Lee died in July 1973.
*******
Sharon Tate played by Margot Robbie was a movie actress and starred in Valley of the Dolls. Tate died in August 1969.
Jay Sebring played by Emile Hirsh was a hair stylist. Sebring died in August 1969.
Wojciech Frykowski played by Costa Ronin was as screenwriter and actor. Frykowski died in August 1969.
Abigail Folger played by Samantha Robinson was Frykowski’s girlfriend. Folger died in August 1969.
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