Tarantino's getting older

Rating: 8/10 (21 August 2019)

Each time I get excited about new Tarantino movie I get my hopes up a little higher and each movie since gorgeous Inglorious Basterds disappoints me in a small but not deadly way. This time my expectations were also high because it's Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt finally teaming up together to work with the master and, what do you know, I was left a little disappointed but it has nothing to do with my high hopes: Quentin is simply changing, he doesn't make movies by the blueprint - he just tells us what he thinks is needed to be said, that's all.
This time it's late 1960s, the beginning of the New Hollywood era and in the center of the story there is the struggle of two buddies trying to stay in business, stay relevant and stay friends. What differs Once Upon A Time from the rest of Quentin's filmography is perhaps the lack of depth of characters and his masterful dialogues - the things we grew to adore so much. Instead Tarantino uses imagery, old-fashioned cameras, superb soundtrack and a whole lot of 60s nostalgia to tell his story right. By the end of this slowly developing movie he finally gains on speed and goes full steam Tarantino concluding his ninth movie to a perfect ending. I may have missed out on tons of witty, eloquent dialogues but I sure didn't miss remarkable performances, wonderful score and music and one of a kind touch of Mr Tarantino's talented hand on this great motion picture.