Movie Review: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Photo taken through window in Downtown Victoria

Not an easy movie to write a short blog post on! My first impression was ‘this is boring’. My second impression was much different. While I definitely enjoy movies, even violent and sensational ones, I do not consider myself a movie buff. In discussion at coffee with friends after the movie, the extent of detail and texture in this movie was revealed over hot coffee in a local coffee shop. I hadn’t recognized the depth of this story, even though familiar with the history of the brutal Sharon Tate murders from the summer of 1969. Going into a movie with expectations because of a famous director or an impressive cast sets one up for missing out on such depth and the sardonic nature of Quentin Tarantino’s movies.

When my expectations were for gruesome, bloody and violent scenes Quentin Tarantino disappointed ~ for a while. This movie delved into the gun toting violent nature of at least one fictional TV western of 1969, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Rick Dalton. Not only was he a fading actor, this genre of movies was also fading into the sunset. His driver, handyman, and one time stuntman played by Brad Pitt, had become a close friend. At the same time, their relationship showed the absolute divide between the stars of Hollywood and the ordinary guys of the time. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was more of a trip down movie nostalgia lane into 1969 with tension building toward a twist at the end. However, the nostalgia created the texture and voice of this movie. The detail was evidenced by the fantastic car culture, lost hippies, the Spahn Movie Ranch where part of Charles Manson’s family lived, the ubiquitous smoking of cigarettes as well as scenes of movie making on dusty lots with trailers, costuming and sets built and moved. Al Pacino, as Marvin Schwarz, movie producer, brought the movies to the controversial Spaghetti westerns in Italy when he lured Rick Dalton out of the U.S. to Italy. Rick’s lack of faith in such movies crumbled when he feared for his own career. Sharon Tate, played by Margot Robbie, in a very star struck scene, went to one of her own movies starring Dean Martin and Nancy Kwan. In the dark of the movie house with her big eyes, she thrilled to the audience joy in her movie. Actual footage was shown, which was true throughout the movie, part of the historical essence of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. There were other present day actors with brief, but significant, walk-on roles throughout this movie. I must admit my lack of familiarity with many of them. 

I have reconsidered my initial opinion that this movie was boring. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a movie to see again, so I can better appreciate the exquisite layers of this movie.

“I’m a historian in my own mind.”

~ Quentin Tarantino

Partial Cast of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino 

Leonardo DiCaprio - Rick Dalton, fading TV western star

Brad Pitt - Cliff Booth, stuntman for Rick Dalton

Margot Robbie - Sharon Tate

Emile Hirsch - Jay Sebring

Al Pacino - Marvin Shwarz, Spaghetti Western movie producer

Kurt Russell - Stunt manager

Damian Lewis - Steve McQueen

Timothy Olyphant - TV western actor

Mike Moh - Bruce Lee

Julia Butters - TV western actor, 8 year old child