Once Upon A Time In Hollywood Review

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast Headliners: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, the Manson Family,  many many small others
Original Release Date: July 26th, 2019

When director Quentin Tarantino makes a new movie, the world listens. His cowboy phase is (well, mostly...more on that in a bit) behind him as he returns to another historical period. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood dials back the clock the retro groovy hippie-tastic 1960s. It's a unique, hilarious, retro, California-tastic, occasionally scary well shot great time. It's a long time but it's worth it for what it does so well. One can expect what it does well and this time it may help to know the context.
The year is 1969 specifically. So called by Tarantino “one of the most important years in Hollywood and the end of the Golden era”. Main protagonists are found in actor Rick Dalton(Leonardo DiCaprio) who dabbles primarily in Western television and films(there's the “cowboy era isn't over yet” shtick amongst others) who has a best friend / assassistant / stuntman in Cliff Booth(Brad Pitt).  Events transpire as they deal with the film industry as well as more sinister happenings of the day.
One must note that this movie's plotline is a bit unconventional. It's not a movie of something quite epic. Rather the scale of things is so incredibly small that it perhaps makes things better for that. Smaller disparate glimpses of life in this retro era are seen before coming together in the end. That in its way is very Tarantino and specifically older Tarantino like Pulp Fiction or Inglorious Bastards are than the heroic quest of Django Unchained or the trapped-in-a-location whodunit of The Hateful Eight or stakes of Resevoir Dogs.  Some of these parts feel almost like different films entirely but it all nearly masterful works together for those who don't mind the slight meandering.
On one hand there's the acting throughline of Dalton's career endeavors. There's some fantastic acting performances in this film but of course DiCaprio stands amongst the top. His character is so wonderfully has-been while being filled with scene-stealing splendor. Off-screen he's (at times blackly comedic-ally) depressed and prone to crying and drunken fits with a dash of swagger. In his roles from hero on the fading Bounty Law to cheesily mustachioed villain in Lancer really showcases DiCaprio's range (with shades of Django in the Westerns, Inglorious Bastards in a WW2 bit , and some more classic FBI / The Great Escape mashups in others ...more on that later). He deals with various types and ups and downs that could carry the movie on its own.
It's not on its own though as there's the plot of Pitt's Cliff. Once again this performance is absolutely wonderful with every bit Pitt having the bravado success in vibe that DiCaprio has being a form of pathetic. Cliff is heroic, tough, funny, charming and has a dark past. His main interactions end up being with the Charles Manson villainous side that help bring in the darkness to the film but he has his humor too. Every moment of his is a delight even if it is an aside. Some of the best small moments come from him hanging out at his apartment with his dog who is one of the best dogs seen in a long while... such is the skill of his performance that even when being small he's being incredibly impactful.
If alone they more or less astound then together DiCaprio and Pitt (which do feature semi-often) make a magnificent pair. It's a bromantic friendship for the ages with laughs and witty dialogue filled by a great Tarantino script. This extends to most characters in the film. It's really an all star cast even if most actors make only a momentary appearance. There's an archetypically Al Pacino as Hollywood bigwig Marvin Schwarz who has some good stuff with DiCaprio. There's charismatic legend Kurt Russell as tough stunt coordinator Randy (and sometimes Narrator) who makes for an extremely entertaining humorous side segment with his wife Janet(Zoe Bell) and the actual historic Bruce Lee(Mike Moh who brings accuracy with great choreography). Further bits in Jay Sebring(Emile Hirsch), Steve McQueen(Damian Lewis), George Spahn(Bruce Dern), Wayne Maunder(Luke Perry), Roman Polanski(Rafal Zawierucha), child promising star both in-universe and literally Trudi Fraser(Julia Butters),and more make a solid if sometimes even briefer than others impact.
Truly a tritagonist to the piece is actually successful actress Sharon Tate(Margot Robbie). For the most part her story is completely separate from those of Rick and Cliff other than being neighbors and some possible Manson Family connections that one may know and must be seen. Her scenes, brief and few and far between, are oddly happy and carefree. She attends lavish parties and enjoys the company of fans at her movie premiere. With (perhaps too little) words she expresses happiness and joy in her day to day life. It's one of the brightest characters and side-narratives to ever exist in a Tarantino movie which is surprising but also carries a bit of a message with it. Robbie does a decent job at being subtle if typical. One wishes for a bit more of her around but perhaps as mentioned that's the point.
On the other end of the spectrum are the villains. Remember, murderous cult leader Charles Manson(Damon Herriman who barely gets an appearance at all) are around. This actually mainly comes from his infamous hippie girl (and occasional male) underlings. These include whether real or fictional Pussycat(Margaret Qualley), Tex(Austin Butler), Squeaky(Dakota Fanning menacingly unrecognizable), Patricia(Madisen Beaty), Linda(Maya Hawke), Sadie(Mikey Madisen), and Catherine(Lena Dunham) amongst others. These many bit minions are greatly menacing. Any scene with them is such a creepy (rightfully so) almost horror-contrast to the funky Hollywood high life of the rest of the experience. Whether it's their Spahn Ranch HQ or the assumed events in Hollywood homes they bring menace and psychotic terror wherever they go. This contrast of bright Los Angeles with the manic under layer makes for an at times unique vibe with dark humor between the blood which ultimately is very Tarantino as ever.
With Quentin Tarantino in the director chair one might expect it looks visually great and of course it does. Some fantastic cinematography and direction is present with 1969 feeling so real as if it was a time machine to the day. Every little object seems to have a presence and there's a bit of a retro haze to things. Much credit must be given to the media-specific focuses mostly coming through Rick's plot. As mentioned the Western feels just like Django or Hateful....until “line!” calls break the fourth wall. There's the fuzzy old TV show of FBI or other such things that are meta asides from the main world. Of course there's some action handled with snapppy excitement and blood but it does take awhile. Music is mostly period pop / rock songs but pieces are used greatly with some seldom original score used to decent effect too although it's a bit sparse compared to some pieces. These are nuggets of excellence buried between at times slow stretches of (as said however likely purposefully) mundane “Reality”-ness.
One must keep that structure in mind. It's a very, very long film reaching almost three hours in length. One shouldn't go into it immediately expecting riveting twists and turns or slapstick comedy but that makes when they do show up that much better. It's almost a token staple at this point but the long haul leads up to a very bloody pulse pounding crescendo that almost makes it two different movies that's darkly hinted at at times before then. The ending may be a bit divisive as it's both satisfying yet also a bit anti-climactic. However one can't help but feel triumphant especially if one is just willing to embrace if for what it is. That's what this film is...embracing 1969 for what it was . For every glossy elegance to hippie outfit and sunny more. It's truly a look what was “once upon a time “ in the era, just one moment...with enjoyment along the way for those who are willing to take what it is. Tarantino, please don't leave us with early retirement but if you do keep it up as ever.  9.1 out of 10