Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is exceptional because Quentin Tarantino is completely confident letting the movie breathe. He takes a relatively simple story and builds an incredibly immersive portrait of Hollywood at the end of an era. The movie wanders through film sets, restaurants, parties, cars, television productions, and seemingly insignificant conversations, but those moments are exactly what make the characters and setting feel so alive. Tarantino is in no hurry to get to the plot, and I loved spending time in this world.
Leonardo DiCaprio is phenomenal as Rick Dalton. Rick is insecure, self-absorbed, emotional, frequently ridiculous, and terrified that his career is slipping away. DiCaprio makes all of those qualities hilarious while still finding genuine vulnerability underneath them. His trailer meltdown, conversations with the young actress on the Lancer set, and emotional reaction to finally delivering a great performance are some of the movie’s best moments.
Brad Pitt is equally outstanding as Cliff Booth, but in a completely different way. Where Rick is anxious and insecure, Cliff is relaxed, confident, effortlessly cool, and quietly dangerous. Pitt makes something as ordinary as driving around Los Angeles or feeding his dog entertaining. His visit to Spahn Ranch is one of the film’s best sequences, with Tarantino slowly building incredible tension around a character who never seems particularly worried about his own safety. Pitt and DiCaprio complement each other perfectly, and their friendship gives the movie its emotional foundation.
The recreation of 1969 Hollywood is spectacular. The cars, costumes, theaters, billboards, radio advertisements, music, and Los Angeles streets make the period feel like somewhere we are actually visiting rather than a movie set. Margot Robbie brings warmth, joy, and innocence to Sharon Tate, particularly during the wonderful movie-theater sequence.
The final act is gloriously outrageous, combining suspense, brutality, absurd comedy, and unexpected emotion into an alternate version of Hollywood history. It is an unforgettable conclusion, but the ending is not the only reason I love the movie. Tarantino makes the journey itself entertaining, and DiCaprio and Pitt are so good that I never want him to hurry.
Leonardo DiCaprio is phenomenal as Rick Dalton. Rick is insecure, self-absorbed, emotional, frequently ridiculous, and terrified that his career is slipping away. DiCaprio makes all of those qualities hilarious while still finding genuine vulnerability underneath them. His trailer meltdown, conversations with the young actress on the Lancer set, and emotional reaction to finally delivering a great performance are some of the movie’s best moments.
Brad Pitt is equally outstanding as Cliff Booth, but in a completely different way. Where Rick is anxious and insecure, Cliff is relaxed, confident, effortlessly cool, and quietly dangerous. Pitt makes something as ordinary as driving around Los Angeles or feeding his dog entertaining. His visit to Spahn Ranch is one of the film’s best sequences, with Tarantino slowly building incredible tension around a character who never seems particularly worried about his own safety. Pitt and DiCaprio complement each other perfectly, and their friendship gives the movie its emotional foundation.
The recreation of 1969 Hollywood is spectacular. The cars, costumes, theaters, billboards, radio advertisements, music, and Los Angeles streets make the period feel like somewhere we are actually visiting rather than a movie set. Margot Robbie brings warmth, joy, and innocence to Sharon Tate, particularly during the wonderful movie-theater sequence.
The final act is gloriously outrageous, combining suspense, brutality, absurd comedy, and unexpected emotion into an alternate version of Hollywood history. It is an unforgettable conclusion, but the ending is not the only reason I love the movie. Tarantino makes the journey itself entertaining, and DiCaprio and Pitt are so good that I never want him to hurry.
Mini Review: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is exceptional because Quentin Tarantino is completely confident letting the movie breathe. He takes a relatively simple story and builds an incredibly immersive portrait of Hollywood at the end of an era. The movie wanders through film sets, restaurants, parties, cars, television productions, and seemingly insignificant conversations, but those moments are exactly what make the characters and setting feel so a...
More Reviews of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
sproost
I loved it even more on rewatch. As funny as is is touching and sweet, this film hits me right in the movie-lover heart. I can hardly imagine a better time watching movies. On r...
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Once Upon a Time, the Image Saved Itself
There is a scene in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in which Sharon Tate, played by Margot Robbie, walks up to th...
There is a scene in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in which Sharon Tate, played by Margot Robbie, walks up to th...
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