Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood
Tarantino’s tribute to Tinseltown
Film history’s always soaked through the fabric of Quentin Tarantino’s films, but Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood takes this cine-obsession to its logical conclusion. Set over three eventful days in LA, Tarantino’s ninth film is a wildly entertaining Hollywood hangout movie, and a sincere lament for the free-spirited filmmaking culture that came to an end in August 1969.
Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Rick Dalton, the hero of a popular western TV series who made an ill-fated leap to the silver screen. Still, Rick is doing better than his stuntman, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Terminally unemployed owing to his sketchy past, Cliff is Rick’s glorified assistant. Meanwhile, Rick’s new neighbour – actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) – has just got her big break and is basking in the glory of newfound fame.
For two hours and change, Tarantino is content to hang out with Rick, Cliff, and Sharon as they go about their lives:
Rick rediscovering his mojo filming a new western series, Sharon sitting in on screenings of The Wrecking Crew to hear the audience delight at her performance, and Cliff crossing paths with the Manson family – the real-life cult responsible for Tate’s brutal murder, an event which rocked Hollywood to its core.
The film builds towards the night of Tate’s murder with a queasy inevitability, but the audacious, deliriously entertaining final act is both unexpected and an inspired tribute to a luminous talent taken before her time. This might just be Tarantino’s best since Jackie
Brown. Jordan Farley