REAL review of a genre inventing film

Rating: 10/10 (2 October 2019)

This is not only QTs best film it's also one of the best films in the past few years. QT successfully creates a whole new genre of film, one he first attempted with Inglorious Basterds and then perfected with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. A lot of viewers have skewed visions of this movie because they went in expecting a very QT type movie (crazy violent, abundance of diverse characters) and a story about the Manson murders. Although OUTH is these two elements, they are beautiful woven and blurred to suit this tale of the fall of the golden age of Hollywood. I too went in with the expectation of a Manson/Tate centric story and became more and more confused as the movie went on focusing more on the fictional characters Rick and Cliff. This confusion only heighten my curiosity and therefore my movie anxiety as well, fuelling my movie going experience for the positive. We go to movies to escape, for an enjoyable time (think the audience all laughing at Tate's movie), to take refuge from their own reality for a little while. This all became relevant to me the moment at the end when the title 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' appeared on the screen. Where does this saying come from? Fairly tales, that's exactly what this film is, it's an adult fairy tale. It all made sense to me and totally floored me when I tied it all together. This was QTs loveletter to Hollywood and really why not? Most of people in this world especially mainlanders love the movies, the Manson murders change Hollywood and therefore the world, was it for the better? Doesn't matter it was a major change that shaped the Hollywood conscious to what it is today. What if it never happen? That's what fairy tales, are taking elements of real life and changing in a way that will showcase a different perspective. A fantasy. This is a fantasy fairy tale for all our 3 main leads, Rick= wants so badly to break into the movie scene, does not want to be type casted anymore. Wants success in Hollywood. Fairy tale ending: Rick will meet Roman Polanski, who will be grateful he saved the life of his wife and unborn child, Roman will put Rick in his movies thus helping Rick achieve is desires, happy ending for Rick. Cliff= the whole movie it's very clear Cliff does a lot of the heavy lifting but gets no credit, Cliff is never recognized for the work he does by anyone other than Rick. Cliff is type of person we all can be if we really really need to be, Cliff chooses to be this person all the time and is constantly chastised for it. Cliffs life is exactly what a stunt double is, does all the hard work but credit goes elsewhere. After the ending of OUTH Cliff will be a national hero, he will be recognized for the things he does, there will be no denying Cliff himself is a hero (like the Cowboys Rick plays), Cliffs 'dark' actions will be celebrated instead of constantly ridiculed (murdered his wife? Beat up Bruce lee). Happy ending for Cliff. Sharon= very obvious, she lives, will lead a beautiful happy life. People keep saying what's the point of Rick and Cliff in this real life story? it's not a real life story! it's a fairy tale! which needs hero's, hero's that QT created to perfectly fit this story and time period. The story isn't the only element that makes this a standout film, QT perfectly re creates LA life. I was fortunate to live in LA for a slice, and that's mostly all you do, ride around, windows down, listening to the best songs and go from event or place, to place. I truly felt like I was with Rick, Cliff and Sharon on this journey, there were times I just wanted to keep cruising around L.A. with Cliff haha. This is not a boring film, each scene is very important to understanding our hero's and motivations. People get upset cause this wasn't a 'QT' movie, the man can make any kind of movie he wants, he is a story teller, he told this story beautifully. The acting, probably the best and most range I've seen Leo deliver to date, he was funny (name another Leo character that made you laugh other than Gilbert Grape), sympathetic, pathetic and real, who hasn't had a self talk/breakdown? Heck, he even sings and dances in this one, I feel it's Leo's best work where he isn't just not playing an angry fella with an accent. I don't need to see anymore movies this year, Brad Pitt should win the Oscar for Cliff, Cliff steals every scene he's in, he's the coolest character to navigate the screen since Jeff 'dude' Labowski, you just wanna be friends with Cliff. BPitt conveys all this with not very much dialogue if you think about it, a lot of Cliffs character is displayed and defined by his actions (wanting to ensure everything is safe and copacetic with old George). Pitt should win the Oscar. I also really hope QT gets some Oscar love too, whether it be in the form of writing, directing or best picture. I loved the movie, you don't have to, but at least go into it looking at it for what it actually is and not what it's suppose to be. Thank you QT for giving us an adult fairy tale about Hollywood we can all learn from (I know a lot of viewers had little to no knowledge of the Manson murders beforehand) and enjoy. You watch how many copycat 'adult fairy tales' will be coming out in the future, like Pulp Fiction QT continues to create moulds for Hollywood to follow and thrive, QT put his personal message scene 2 movies too soon. 'I think this just might be my masterpiece' muttered by Pitt at the end of Inglorious Basterds should have been said by Cliff as he pulled away in the ambulance at the end of OUTH.