Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino

Rating: 9/10 (6 September 2019)

Stories about Hollywood would immediately capture the audience attention, to see how the main characters succeed to get a career and become big stars once they arrive in Hollywood. These stories would be usually explored, in the books, comic books, television series and movies. Some of these stories can be fiction one, by either set in nowadays or in the past by trying to be as detailed as possible, about how the filmmaking environment look like. Other stories can be based on real events, to see how some of the big stars succeeded in their careers or even failed and tried to move forward with more or less difficulties. These stories can be told in the funniest way, by using the humor to be workable in the narration's rhythm. Other stories can be told in the dramatic way, by using the emotions of the main characters, to let the audience feel their strong emotions when they face their difficulties. Or these stories can even use both elements for a musical, by balancing the humor and the drama when the main characters express their emotions through the musical notes. The filmmaker Quentin Tarantino seems interested to tell a story about Hollywood in the Golden Age of 1969, by making references about some of the most important actors in the television series. As well as exploring some historical references by giving some changes, in the fictional way with unexpected surprising moments. By making this movie, Quentin Tarantino works with some important actors again, like Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, who both already worked with him. After a long time of work, in 2019 came out Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino with Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. The movie's plot: In Hollywood's Golden Age of 1969, the television actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), who both were in once popular stars for an old notorious television series. Until they are striving to achieve fame and success, in Hollywood film industry, where some changes happened as they both have difficulties to recognize it. The movie would immediately capture the audience attention, from the beginning to the end, to see how the main characters are going to take important decisions for their career. The story uses specific details about the look of Hollywood's Golden Age, by making the movie interesting about which dresses did people wear, what kind of cars did they drive, how the old televisions did look like, what kind of songs were often listened and so on. The screenplay was elaborated by making the narration's rhythm intriguing, as well as the editing helped to elaborate the movie's narration dynamic. Through the story's narration the camera captures some important scenes, by making them unforgettable in every single camera's angle shots and its movements. The movie gets interesting when the camera shots sequences, where the main characters perform in the projects they are acting for. Especially to see how Rick Dalton moves forward with the shooting, to even repeat some takes whenever is necessary. Leonardo DiCaprio was extraordinary as Rick Dalton, an aging television actor who sees the changes happening in Hollywood. As Rick searches which projects to pickup, by then trying to achieve the fame he needs for. Brad Pitt was excellent as Cliff Booth, a stunt double who would do anything to be involved in the projects which Rick is in. But in the same way, Cliff would never let be underestimated or even get irritated by anybody, as he always wins in the fights in the most unexpected ways. Margot Robbie did a well done job as Sharon Tate, a popular actress of Hollywood who is also the neighbor of Rick Dalton. The movie entertains the audience with humor, which uses a workable rhythm in the most surprising moments without forcing it. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is one of the greatest masterpieces of all time, also one of the best Quentin Tarantino's movies.