Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

The movie isn’t for everyone, of course, but it’s a fun ride back to the past with fantastic performances, hilarious comedy and beautiful aesthetics. Tarantino is the one director in 2019 that can get huge names without people referring to his films as “that Leo film“, and I think that’s worth something whether you’re a fan or not. It’s rare for a film like this to be a mainstream release, and in the lacklustre year of 2019 I think it’s about time we got something in cinemas that's original.
- Chris dos Santos

Read Chris' full article...
https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-another-tarantino-classic...

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Quentin Tarantino is one of the best filmmakers of all-time. He has undeniable talent behind the camera, and his movies are fated to leave a mark in each year they’re released. In addition to that, he’s also an extraordinary screenwriter, as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood proves once again. His knowledge of the early decades of film is vast, so every feature he produces is always going to be filled with references to those “fairy tale” years. And that’s precisely what this movie is: a fairy tale in Hollywood, hence its title. Let me just leave this here right off the bat: I’m not going to address any controversy surrounding this film (namely, the whole Bruce Lee depiction and the Manson Family, in general)...

I'm not here to explain _Once Upon a Time In Hollywood_, just to enjoy it.

_Final rating:★★★★ - Very strong appeal. A personal favourite._...

***Tarantino’s revenge on the Manson psychos***

In the late 60s, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), a popular TV Western actor, finds his career taking a downturn and tries to recover with the encouragement of his kick-axx stunt double and best friend, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Sharon Tate (Margo Robbie) & Roman Polanski are neighbors with Jay Sebring always hanging around (Emile Hirsch). Meanwhile the Manson Family nutjobs are lurking in the background, prepping to attack.

“Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” (2019) is Quentin Tarantino’s 9th full film and, for me, ranks somewhere in the middle of his oeuvre. It may not be as great as “Pulp Fiction” (1994) and “Django Unchained” (2012), but it places well with “Inglourious Basterds” (2009), “Jackie Brown” (1997) ...

Well, the last 15-minutes were great, the first 2.5 hours on the other hand was... uneventful. I have an interest in Hollywood, more from the 1980s though, so some of the slower scenes still kept my attention, but there's no real plot and minimal character development.

That said, DiCaprio and Pitt both give great performances and Margot Robbie of course had her moments, however I could only chuckle during the theater scene when she kicked her bare feet up. Okay, Quentin, lol. **3.0/5**...

“When you come to the end of the line, with a buddy who is more than a brother and a little less than a wife, getting blind drunk together is really the only way to say farewell.”

‘Once Upon a Time In Hollywood’ is a chilled blast from the past told like a fairy tale. It’s both aimless and yet meaningful with the commentary on the new era in Hollywood. The movie pays tribute to old Hollywood, film making, Sharon Tate, stunt work, and actors. This is perhaps Tarantino’s most personal and mature movie his made, until the last 10 minutes (which I love) goes complete ape sh*t.

I can’t think of any other director where the passion and love for movies is so transparent through Tarantino's craft. He’s such an old school film maker that he and Martin Scorsese are the last gol...

I found this to be an excellent movie despite (or partly because of) major variance from the historic events it is based on.

Up until watching this movie, I had just seen four Tarantino films, so I guess I am not on his bandwagon. But I really enjoyed two of them (Jackie Brown and Pulp Fiction). I can now say I liked Once Upon a Time in Hollywood just as much as I did those two movies.

The dialogue is sharp and the main characters are sympathetic enough so I cared what happened to them. The film is loosely based on actual events, with fictional characters thrown in and at least one major plot change that I won't give away. I think some of the most negative feedback I have seen about this film were from purists who didn't like the major change in the story. But I appreciated the chan...

An entertaining movie filled with fantastic performances and gripping dialogue. Although, this movie is slightly directionless as I was 2/3rds of the way through the movie and had no idea where it was trying to take me. Despite that fact, I still was engaged and had a great time watching. The third act is so off the walls and crazy that it makes the entire slow burn of the film worth every second.

**Score:** _88%_
**Verdict:** _Excellent_...

OK, I'm giving it 10 stars, not because it's a great film and not because it's one of QT's best films... but because compared to everything else out there today it is a Masterpiece.

However, unfortunately, anyone that has seen all of QT's films, the ending is spoiled from the start purely on the basis that we understand how he treats history.

And, unfortunately, for SOME people it is a very slow burner, but one with absolutely fantastic acting and directing. It's a slow burner that is a brilliant period piece, and it is a slow burner that is almost a love letter to classic Hollywood, so though it takes nearly forever for any real pay off, its a fine film to actually watch and one that maintains a quality of entertainment and leaves little clues peppered throughout of the coming payof...

“Is everybody okay?” “Well... the fuckin' hippies aren't. That's for goddamn sure.”

I have watched this film in the cinema when it first came out in 2019, but didn’t think it was that great. After my second watch, 4 years and a good 550 other movies later, I liked it much better.

Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is essentially a love letter to cinema, a fairytale filled with jokes and references and a deep supporting cast. The film spends most of the time hanging out with its characters; there are plenty of scenes were we can enjoy DiCaprio giving a hell of a performance, or Pitt being effortlessly cool. The fairytale ends in a hilarious climax—an unexpected twist in appropriate Tarantino style—and they lived happily ever after.

9,0/10...

This felt disjointed and scattershot for most of the film's runtime, but I enjoyed the way the storytelling hopped around. There was something building and embarrassingly, I caught on awfully late. The three main actors were great. Margot Robbie is just beautiful and likeable. Brad Pitt is cool, tough and caring. DiCaprio's portrayal of the fictional Rick Dalton is the MVP, though. He's such a multi-dimensional character and it would be fun to see more of his Dalton's behind-the scenes antics.

The revisionist history tale is fine, but it's always about the dialog with Tarantino. It was fun to just follow these characters around....

In theory, this ought to have been excellent. Di Caprio and Pitt together with Tarantino and a sprinkling of Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie). Well, eventually - after maybe 2 hours, or so, we get something akin to what I was expecting. The long, ponderous road to this conclusion has been described by some as a sort of "love story". Hmmm, I think they are being kind. There is a bond between the two gents but it isn't really worthy of comment. I don't see how it significantly differs from the bond any partnership might form after many years of working together. Boo hoo, "Dalton" (Di Caprio) is a bit of an alcoholic who has become typecast and doesn't get the parts he used to. Well how many other actors have ended up in the same boat? "Booth" Pitt's character has very little to get his teeth into...

This film didn't quite hit the mark for me. It felt excessively long, dragging on without captivating my interest, ultimately leaving me feeling bored and disconnected. While many may have found it fantastic, I struggled to connect with the storyline and found it to be disjointed and lacking coherence.

While the film received praise from critics and fans alike, my personal preference leans towards action-packed movies that keep me engaged and entertained. I value excitement and thrill in a film, seeking an immersive experience that keeps me on the edge of my seat, rather than one that relies heavily on drawn-out dialogue that fails to hold my attention....

Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood is a signature Tarantino film, packed with big names, stylish direction, and a deep love for old-school Hollywood. The plot? Well, it’s more of a wandering journey than a structured story. Things happen, characters interact, but there isn’t much tying it all together in a traditional sense. That’s expected from Tarantino, he’s more about moments than narratives. The slow-paced intro sets the tone, but it doesn’t really pick up in a way that makes you feel a sense of urgency.

The directing is classic Tarantino, with his trademark long conversations, sudden bursts of energy, and, of course, his obsession with feet. The cinematography nails the late '60s aesthetic, from the lighting to the vintage sets, making Hollywood feel alive in every frame. ...