Tarantino's confidence shines through

Rating: 7/10 (8 September 2019)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood with all of it's star-studded cast, production value, and famed auteur director is incredibly arthouse for a blockbuster. As a international viewer outside US, I did not research much into the Sharon Tate murder and the Manson's family gruesome exploits. Hence, going into this movie I had very little idea the contextual setting it was taking place in. I did understand most of the nods and gestures at the timeless actors, places and and world inhabited by the movie.
I feel like there are two parts to this film that Tarantino might or might not have wanted to make clear. Firstly would be to make a film about nolstalgia and being outside time. Rick's obsession with him being a "hasbeen" resulting in him losing his place in time. The classic soundtrack. The motif of the actors driving against the arrowheads on the road. The long shots of multiple setpieces of old shops lightning up, the drive-in cinema, horseback, hippie culture, the excessive cigarretes. These all paint a incredible and realistic hollywood in the 60s. It's clear that he loves that period, and every reference is implanted with great detail and care.
The narrative of the film is also mostly absent, in turn we get multiple disconnected storylines with multiple characters. Which works to produce something remarkably "slice of life". It's a different feeling in this movie, clearly different from his other filmography. Which is why I say this is more art film than dramatic blockbuster.
Then comes the second part, the wacky, absurd, and violent Tarantino that paints a different message. Scenes cut very abruptly. Many flashbacks, inserts and movie excerpts. Bizzare, akin to going againts film rules. It blurs the line between film and the film world. The scene in which Rick is filming his scene without revealing any of the film equipment can be analyzed just by itself. Yet, I want to place focus on the ending. It's an interesting creative choice by Tarantino to subvert the ending. It created an idealogical and whimsical sequence of events. Personally, the idea of reality vs film projected reality is very clear here. The audiences know the true reality, but can choose to believe in which reality they want to believe in.
While there's lots to unpack from everything in this movie. It was hard to say that it was a masterpiece or rivetting. It's entertaining and captivating due to Tarantino's masterful work of dialogue and scene building. But without a clear narrative the film suffers. But I'm sure Tarantino had a lot of fun making this one.