Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: Movie Review (No Spoilers)
By Michael Momper
There's a reason why Quentin Tarantino's name alone drives throngs of excited moviegoers to the theater when it is associated with any movie. He is certainly on the highest echelon of creative geniuses in Hollywood, writing and directing his own crazy concoctions of violence, kooky characters and twisty action plotlines. Classic movies like Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs and Inglorious Basterds have firmly cemented his place as one of the most well-respected directors alive today, and almost every one of his movies has a large cult following due to the general goofiness and cartoony characters that the man creates. His penchant for witty, wisecracking dialogue is nearly unmatched, and after finishing his latest creation, it is with a heavy heart that I inform you that he plans to only make one more movie after this, bringing his total to ten full-length movies.
In the meantime, he has given us 2.5+ hour movie to digest while he gets cracking on a tenth. Fans of his work, even those who have only seen 2 or 3 of his movies, will notice that his cracking energy and crazy coked-up violence is much more restrained here, as the plot and multiple storylines slowly meander towards their ultimate end. The movie is essentially a buddy movie, with Leo Dicaprio and Brad Pitt being the two main attractions and many of the other characters based off of real people (Margot Robbie stars as Sharon Tate, Damon Herriman as Charles Manson, etc.). As Leo and Brad are their typical charismatic and charming selves, there are plenty of hilarious interactions between the two. They are the driving force of this movie, and their laid-back 1960s demeanor is both funny and endearing throughout. Tarantino showcases his talent for snappy dialogue mostly between the two, while the rest of the subplots slowly weave together and take on a slightly more melodramatic tone.
It's a long movie, and because of this, the tone of the scenes and the overarching atmosphere have to be meticulously focused, or else the audience will lose interest. With Tarantino's 2015 film, The Hateful Eight, the tone is masterfully balanced along a 3 hour runtime, with the audience knowing full-well throughout that either the violence and the humor are exactly what they are seeking, or it's not their cup of tea and they are better off leaving. It's a delicately crafted film. This is a sentiment I can feel, quite palpably, in almost every one of his films, which is why his oddball characters are doubly intriguing: every bit of his universe is created with such confidence, such assured vision, that I never once question what he is going for, as it is clear that he has combed over the creation of every character and setting with arduous attention for detail. This is especially true for cult fans of his movies, as there are plenty of Easter eggs/callbacks to his prior movies and each of his new movies.
My main complaint with this movie, though it is not colossally bungled, is that the tone of the movie does not seem entirely focused this time around. At times, I am given chills at the thought of what happened in the real Manson murders, and the scenes take on a darker mystique that leads me to think Tarantino is voyaging into almost a horror movie medley, one he has not tackled before. Other times, I am laughing so hard that I am wondering if this isn't, at its core, a feel-good comedy. There certainly are plenty of lighthearted and silly moments that would give this 1960s setting an even more groovy and worry-free atmosphere. The change of tone throughout the different subplots left me slightly puzzled, as if I didn't quite know how I should feel at points. To his credit, he definitely kept me guessing, as the ending was completely unpredictable.
The ending is likely what most viewers will be talking about, and it is near impossible to discuss without giving anything away, so I will refrain. See it for yourself if you are interested, because it seems from my browsing that many viewers loved it and many hated it. What they will most certainly take away, however, is that there were some big positives in this film and some slight (or more than slight) drawbacks. The acting is excellent and full of some good goofy vibes. The setting is intriguing, with plenty of lavish colors that really pop off the screen, and some fun set pieces. The camera work is exceptional, full of delicate tracking shots and intimate close-ups that plunge us right into the thick of Tarantino's wacky universe. In keeping with his usual flair, you certainly get the feeling, even with the non-fictional characters, that this zany world is one of his creation, and not one attempting to be historically obedient. Think of that what you will.
Your expectations are really what make or break this movie. Did you want an over-the-top, nonstop and crazy revenge flick? You won't find it here. Did you want something deep, dark, and extremely ponderous? Very few of those moments here. If you are looking for good-time hangout fare with some zippy Tarantino dialogue, you might just get what you are looking for.
Rating: 74/100
In the meantime, he has given us 2.5+ hour movie to digest while he gets cracking on a tenth. Fans of his work, even those who have only seen 2 or 3 of his movies, will notice that his cracking energy and crazy coked-up violence is much more restrained here, as the plot and multiple storylines slowly meander towards their ultimate end. The movie is essentially a buddy movie, with Leo Dicaprio and Brad Pitt being the two main attractions and many of the other characters based off of real people (Margot Robbie stars as Sharon Tate, Damon Herriman as Charles Manson, etc.). As Leo and Brad are their typical charismatic and charming selves, there are plenty of hilarious interactions between the two. They are the driving force of this movie, and their laid-back 1960s demeanor is both funny and endearing throughout. Tarantino showcases his talent for snappy dialogue mostly between the two, while the rest of the subplots slowly weave together and take on a slightly more melodramatic tone.
It's a long movie, and because of this, the tone of the scenes and the overarching atmosphere have to be meticulously focused, or else the audience will lose interest. With Tarantino's 2015 film, The Hateful Eight, the tone is masterfully balanced along a 3 hour runtime, with the audience knowing full-well throughout that either the violence and the humor are exactly what they are seeking, or it's not their cup of tea and they are better off leaving. It's a delicately crafted film. This is a sentiment I can feel, quite palpably, in almost every one of his films, which is why his oddball characters are doubly intriguing: every bit of his universe is created with such confidence, such assured vision, that I never once question what he is going for, as it is clear that he has combed over the creation of every character and setting with arduous attention for detail. This is especially true for cult fans of his movies, as there are plenty of Easter eggs/callbacks to his prior movies and each of his new movies.
My main complaint with this movie, though it is not colossally bungled, is that the tone of the movie does not seem entirely focused this time around. At times, I am given chills at the thought of what happened in the real Manson murders, and the scenes take on a darker mystique that leads me to think Tarantino is voyaging into almost a horror movie medley, one he has not tackled before. Other times, I am laughing so hard that I am wondering if this isn't, at its core, a feel-good comedy. There certainly are plenty of lighthearted and silly moments that would give this 1960s setting an even more groovy and worry-free atmosphere. The change of tone throughout the different subplots left me slightly puzzled, as if I didn't quite know how I should feel at points. To his credit, he definitely kept me guessing, as the ending was completely unpredictable.
The ending is likely what most viewers will be talking about, and it is near impossible to discuss without giving anything away, so I will refrain. See it for yourself if you are interested, because it seems from my browsing that many viewers loved it and many hated it. What they will most certainly take away, however, is that there were some big positives in this film and some slight (or more than slight) drawbacks. The acting is excellent and full of some good goofy vibes. The setting is intriguing, with plenty of lavish colors that really pop off the screen, and some fun set pieces. The camera work is exceptional, full of delicate tracking shots and intimate close-ups that plunge us right into the thick of Tarantino's wacky universe. In keeping with his usual flair, you certainly get the feeling, even with the non-fictional characters, that this zany world is one of his creation, and not one attempting to be historically obedient. Think of that what you will.
Your expectations are really what make or break this movie. Did you want an over-the-top, nonstop and crazy revenge flick? You won't find it here. Did you want something deep, dark, and extremely ponderous? Very few of those moments here. If you are looking for good-time hangout fare with some zippy Tarantino dialogue, you might just get what you are looking for.
Rating: 74/100
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