Director: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt & Margot Robbie
Quentin Tarantino tinkers with history in his new film Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood. Reuniting with Hollywood's finest's Brad Pitt (Inglorious Basterd) and Leonardo DiCaprio (Django Unchained), Tarantino once again weaved an energetic, highly stylized and artistically wild film.
Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood follows multiple storyline. Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) is an actor that fears his career is waning. He usually tag around with his best friend, Cliff Booth. Booth, on the other hand, is a stunt man, a war veteran and a pet owner (a pitbull named Brandy). He drives around Dalton in his 1966 Cadillac Coup de Ville, does errands for him and become his confidant. Nearby, lives Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski, a flourishing actress and a prominent filmmaker. Both a historical figure whose life was altered by the Manson Family, a cult led by Charles Manson
Tarantino's 9th film and probably one of his best, Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood is a billet-doux to the 60's aesthetic and glory. Known for his particular attention to details. The film is brimming with reference from the 60's. Its set design easily transport the viewers to an era where film and TV flourish and celebrated.
Tarantino was inspired to write the film after seeing an actor, he wouldn't name, and his stunt double sharing a laugh together. The director filled and explore this blank space in the narrative resulting to the birth of the character of DiCaprio and Pitt. Tarantino then incorporates historical events such as the Bruce Lee incident and the Tate residents massacre, altering a few details along the way.
Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood contains all the Tarantino's brand of filmmaking. His particular fondness for violence might be criticized but in the context of his film, brought liberty to his characters. Violence is at minimum in the film compare to his other movies, but its nevertheless epic, conscious and silly. According to Tarantino, he has no other intention for violence but entertainment. Though the attempt murder was true historically, it was presented with sprinkled aesthetic and farce.
We are responsible of what we watch. Tarantino is well aware of how people see his likeness to violence as implied in the film; we act from what we hear, saw and/or read. His movies has a certain level of absurdity that should not be taken seriously but rather intelligently. This absurdity create a line that if crossed, might spell bad taste on someone's mind.
In essence, Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood illustrated the idea that we shape the people around us. We weave their ambitions and their fate. At the same time we are responsible to who we become.
