Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

“So, uh, Rick, explain to the audience exactly what a stunt double does.”

Filmology Rating: 2.75 out of 4

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is the ninth film from Quentin Tarantino and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie that surrounds the date 1969. 

Rick Dalton (Leo) and his stunt double, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) deal with being washed-up actors from the Classical Hollywood era in an ever-changing world. They also conveniently live next door to Sharon Tate (Robbie). This is a tricky film. Initially, this film was very dissappointing. The film never "goes anywhere." The entire film feels like a plotless-driven comedy with great performances and Margot Robbie occasionally walks into frame to remind you that she's still there. However, upon further thought, the film is ever-so-slightly better than initially thought.

This is definitely not Tarantino's best film nor his worst. If you thought 'Jackie Brown' was a kicked-back film, this will double down on such. At a point, you become so frustrated with the film because the one question in your head that is not being answered is, "Where is this going?" However, if intentional, that may actually be something very clever. Tarantino is challenging modern audiences with a structure they're unfamiliar with. This may also be a hidden satire on how terrible Hollywood has become at modern storytelling, which Tarantino has discussed extensively. 

This is also a comedy. Personally, Brad Pitt stole this entire film. He has the best lines and action scenes (he plays a stuntman). DiCaprio was surprisingly good. I was expecting him to just be a "badass." However, he becomes an underdog at one point and you begin really seeing the character and not just Leo dressed up being "actor man." One of the biggest issues is still Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate who is portraying a real-life actress who was murdered by the Manson Cult. She really had nothing to do in the entire film and is, seemingly, only there so that she can conveniently live next door to Leo and to rope the Manson Cult into the story. 

The last act also felt problematic because this film felt very restrained; 'Jackie Brown' esc. His dialogue is pulled back, there is no Grindhouse-schlocky violence; he seems committed to a slow-moving narrative. Then he gives into his deep desires and does the over-the-top violence and it felt so out of place to where it felt like Tarantino went back to smashing action figures together again like 'Kill Bill.' There is no problem with that kind of content, but it felt out of place in a narrative that never intended to go towards that. 

There should also be a warning for the elderly. The entire theater was full of older people who I'm sure thought, because of the title, it would be like a Clark Gable or Humphrey Bogart film. It is not. 
This Tarantino film is not what I love about Tarantino. This does not have long, drawn-out tension or amazing dialogue. However, having a director like Tarantino seems crucial, at the moment. Rarely do large-budget films have a vision, style, and voice. Regardless of whether you like or dislike Tarantino, he is a rare filmmaker existing in film today. And this film also addresses that as well. 

While main-stream Tarantino is more of a speed boat, this was more of a pontoon ride that was far too long. This film is slightly above 'Kill Bill.' Which is not great praise given that is his second worst film. 'Death Proof' the obvious worst. I think it's fair to say that 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood' was better than 'The Haunting of Sharon Tate.'

Rating: See It

-Nolan