A Labour Of Love That Celebrates All Things Cinema

Rating: Null/10 (13 September 2019)

What is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood? What isn't Once Upon a Time in Hollywood? It is Quentin Tarantino's love letter to the industry that's been his world all his life. It is his genuinely heartfelt tribute to Hollywood's Golden Age that basked in the glamorous, sunny scene of 1960s Los Angeles. It is his tip of the hat to spaghetti westerns that influenced his filmmaking style more than any other genre. It is his longing for the rolling reels & film stocks that's already becoming a relic of the past. It is his attempt to step out of his comfort zone & create something new that feels fresh yet familiar. And it's the final station in his directorial journey that brings him to the moment where he's more than grateful, wishes to give back & expresses his gratitude in ways that only he can.
The 9th feature film by Quentin Tarantino is unlike any of his previous films. It presents the auteur in a completely new light yet brims with everything that we associate with his works. Bright, breezy, beguiling, delicious, detailed, delighting, honest, hilarious, heartwarming, vivid, vibrant, vivacious, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a labor of love that celebrates all things cinema. A beautiful & bittersweet ode to the art of crafting a motion picture, and a eulogy to a bygone era & its yesteryear icons that's painted with nostalgic brushes. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt & Margot Robbie shine throughout in what's 2 hours of Hollywood reminiscence and 45 minutes of classic Tarantino doing what classic Tarantino does best. Not his best film to date but it certainly is his grooviest & most joyous.