If his words are to be believed, Quentin Tarantino's retirement from the industry is imminent. The notorious writer/director has repeatedly proclaimed in recent years that his 10th feature will be his last. With so little time left, the 56-year old is probably going to make sure his final act as an artist is defined by projects that he's especially passionate about. His presumed penultimate feature Once Upon a Time in Hollywood... fits that criteria and then some. Tarantino's 9th* (despite being released in two separate "volumes", he considers Kill Bill to be one film) movie is an absorbing, laid-back love letter to the Hollywood of his early childhood that birthed his love for the medium is unlike anything else he's ever made.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood... is almost the antithesis of the typical Tarantino experience. Instead of the frantic pacing and quip-filled monologues he tends to favor, Tarantino embraces the loose, freewheeling nature of the time period in which its set (1969) by establishing an easygoing episodic narrative style to tell the tale of three industry folk (once beloved TV star Rick Dalton and his stuntman turned chauffeur/errandboy Cliff Booth, rising star actress Sharon Tate) that are in different stages of their careers. Providing a glimpse into the dizzying highs and cruel lows that come with working in the entertainment industry as these people go about their daily routines allows him to extensively bask in the vibrancy that defined the period while also shedding a light on the often ignored dark underbelly of the "Free Love" era. While there's certainly a sense of indulgence to the slowly-unfolding, often inconsequential proceedings, the sheer enthusiasm and flood of details that was put into every frame made this absolutely magical for a film nerd like myself to take in. There's enough morbid humor, shocking bursts of graphic violence and morally dubious characters to remind the audience that they're watching a Tarantino film, but as a longtime fan of his work, it was fascinating and refreshing to see him utilize a radically different approach to achieve yet another knockout result.
Of course, a thinly plotted movie like this isn't just going to skate by on an intoxicating period atmosphere and the filmmaker's unwavering passion for the material. This revisionist history exercise only ends up being so compelling because of the actors Tarantino chose to bring his nostalgic fantasy to life. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie are all absolutely sensational as the centerpieces of this Old Hollywood fairy tale. DiCaprio is an unstoppable force as an alcoholic actor whose finally starting to accept his fading fame, Pitt is the right blend of effortless cool and horrifying monster as the mysterious yet charismatic Booth, and Robbie's masterful subtle turn as Tate embodies the warmth the 60's were known for to an incredibly poignant degree.
Even the bit players who only show up for a scene or two (most notably Margret Qualley as a flirty Manson Family member who Booth picks up hitchhiking, Julia Butters as a child actress that works with Dalton who boasts a level of professionalism that well exceeds her years and Bruce Dern as the cranky, nearly blind George Spahn-who rents his massive ranch to the Manson Family) prove to be very engaging characters that help make this world a fascinating place to spend nearly 3 hours. Given the revolving door-like shuffling of people on and off-screen here, it's remarkable how nearly every character feels like a valuable part of this breezy journey and Tarantino deserves major props for perfectly casting an ensemble that was so absurdly large.
While it's not likely to be in the top tier of my favorites of his, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.... is another special, unforgettable film from Tarantino. This is the work of a director who is completely in control of their craft and a cast that has complete faith in the vision of the person steering the ship. If the unfortunate reality that the end is near for Tarantino proves to be true, at least he's going out with his boldness, confidence and skill as a filmmaker fully in tact.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood... is almost the antithesis of the typical Tarantino experience. Instead of the frantic pacing and quip-filled monologues he tends to favor, Tarantino embraces the loose, freewheeling nature of the time period in which its set (1969) by establishing an easygoing episodic narrative style to tell the tale of three industry folk (once beloved TV star Rick Dalton and his stuntman turned chauffeur/errandboy Cliff Booth, rising star actress Sharon Tate) that are in different stages of their careers. Providing a glimpse into the dizzying highs and cruel lows that come with working in the entertainment industry as these people go about their daily routines allows him to extensively bask in the vibrancy that defined the period while also shedding a light on the often ignored dark underbelly of the "Free Love" era. While there's certainly a sense of indulgence to the slowly-unfolding, often inconsequential proceedings, the sheer enthusiasm and flood of details that was put into every frame made this absolutely magical for a film nerd like myself to take in. There's enough morbid humor, shocking bursts of graphic violence and morally dubious characters to remind the audience that they're watching a Tarantino film, but as a longtime fan of his work, it was fascinating and refreshing to see him utilize a radically different approach to achieve yet another knockout result.
Of course, a thinly plotted movie like this isn't just going to skate by on an intoxicating period atmosphere and the filmmaker's unwavering passion for the material. This revisionist history exercise only ends up being so compelling because of the actors Tarantino chose to bring his nostalgic fantasy to life. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie are all absolutely sensational as the centerpieces of this Old Hollywood fairy tale. DiCaprio is an unstoppable force as an alcoholic actor whose finally starting to accept his fading fame, Pitt is the right blend of effortless cool and horrifying monster as the mysterious yet charismatic Booth, and Robbie's masterful subtle turn as Tate embodies the warmth the 60's were known for to an incredibly poignant degree.
Even the bit players who only show up for a scene or two (most notably Margret Qualley as a flirty Manson Family member who Booth picks up hitchhiking, Julia Butters as a child actress that works with Dalton who boasts a level of professionalism that well exceeds her years and Bruce Dern as the cranky, nearly blind George Spahn-who rents his massive ranch to the Manson Family) prove to be very engaging characters that help make this world a fascinating place to spend nearly 3 hours. Given the revolving door-like shuffling of people on and off-screen here, it's remarkable how nearly every character feels like a valuable part of this breezy journey and Tarantino deserves major props for perfectly casting an ensemble that was so absurdly large.
While it's not likely to be in the top tier of my favorites of his, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.... is another special, unforgettable film from Tarantino. This is the work of a director who is completely in control of their craft and a cast that has complete faith in the vision of the person steering the ship. If the unfortunate reality that the end is near for Tarantino proves to be true, at least he's going out with his boldness, confidence and skill as a filmmaker fully in tact.
Grade: A-
No comments:
Post a Comment