“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood”

Release Date：Jul/26/2019
Genre：Comedy/Drama
Director：Quentin Tarantino
Cast：Leonardo DiCaprio、Brad Pitt、Margot Robbie、Timothy Olyphant、Dakota Fanning

Viola's Rating：8.2







In 2014, the current 56-year-old Oscar winning director Quentin Tarantino said that he’s going to retire after directing his tenth feature film, and here comes his ninth baby. Before it all comes to an end, Tarantino first wants to write a love letter to this chaotic, charming and ridiculous dream land, Hollywood; therefore, he made “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood”, which was theatrically released on July 26, 2019.

Having its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” is set in 1960s Los Angeles, or more precisely said, in 1969 when the movie “The Wrecking Crew” was still at the theater. Surrounded by, instead of based on, the Tate Murders, the mass murder conducted by members of the Manson Family, the story of the film is mainly about a faded television actor, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), and his stunt double, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), strive to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” not only pays tribute to the Golden Age, but also sings praises to the friendship between Booth and Dalton, which represents all the effort of the crew in the shade. Booth, as a character, even wears a belt in the flick, given by Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures that bears the highest honor in the industry. Details like this really demonstrate the love and respect Tarantino feels about Hollywood.

When it comes to Hollywood, people think of “the place where dreams come true”. However, it’s not as easy as “Hard work brings success” or “Pursue excellence, success will follow”. Sometimes, it’s as difficult as hitting the jackpot and thus luck plays a critical part in it, and “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” reveals this cruel truth directly and frankly. Besides, you never know what you do, which role you take will lead you to a bright future, so more opportunities the better.

There are other elements in “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” that marks the era of Golden Age and creates a nostalgic ambience such as the illustrated posters featuring DiCaprio’s Dalton in the motion picture, which pays tribute to Tarantino’s beloved Spaghetti Westerns, and some black and white clips along with a bunch of square format footages that were even before VHS time.

As for the Manson Family and Tate Murder, although it’s not even in the trailer, and there’s nothing related to them mentioned throughout “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood”, the whole movie still carries the key elements of the incidents, so audience who are familiar with the history will enjoy it much more, but even if you’re not one of those, the entertainment isn’t less at all.

“Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” may not be the best picture of the year, but as Tarantino’s second last work, it’s definitely one of the best in the film industry.

Picture Credit: IMDb