AT THE MOVIES

by Isy Jordan

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Timothy Olyphant, and more.

A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.

I've been a big fan of QT movies of the past like Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2, and more. When I saw that this particular film was in production, I wasn't sure. Since I didn't know the direction he was taking the storyline in, I decided to wait until it came to a streaming service.

I'm regretting that decision.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood was Tarantino as we know him. The dark humor is there. The violence and campiness are there. But through the lens of faded Hollywood star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his loyal stunt man Cliff Booth (Pitt), Tarantino seems to be evaluating aging and the compromises it brings with it whether we want them or not.

The acting was incredible, particularly from Brad Pitt who more than deserved the Best-Supporting Actor Oscar he won for the role. The storyline was a surprise. Woven through the back of Dalton's story is that the Sharon Tate and her last fateful days. I thought that was clever.

Until I saw what Tarantino did with the Tate storyline. I was wrong. It was brilliant.

I can't recommend this film enough and while we have time on our hands, make a point of watching it. It's rated R for violence, language, and sexual references. In that regard, it's a tame QT movie. It's almost three hours long but it goes by fast because it's just that damned entertaining.

The end with the flame thrower? #Priceless

Isy