A Fun but Flawed Tarantino Film

Rating: 7/10 (15 October 2019)

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a weird film from Tarantino. It is clearly a love letter to 60s Hollywood that can be very enjoyable although it can also feel a bit like it is just meandering in 60s cinema nostalgia. Let's start with the things I liked. I absolutely loved the writing and dialogue but that is kind of to be expected seeing as it's Tarantino. Every performance is kick ass especially Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. And for a movie that is almost 3 hours long it totally doesn't feel like it. The only problems are the story and pacing. The movie kind of feels like it is building up through the entire film and when the end comes it kind of feels a bit unsatisfying. When I first saw it and the credits started rolling I was like "Wait, it's over?". I think the point of this movie isn't to make a super encompassing narrative though. Kind of like Dunkirk, and like Dunkirk I think I will like this movie more and more over time and rewatches. Even now though I would highly recommend watching it as it is wildly entertaining. I would give Once Upon a Time in Hollywood a B.