Odd duck, yes. But Quentin Tarantino is also one of the most exciting filmmakers working today for one big reason – with Quentin you never really know what you’re gonna get….but chances are, it won’t be like anything else out there.
‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’, his latest, is quite possibly the best example of that unpredictability since his most defining effort, 1994’s ‘Pulp Fiction’. One part a collision between a dark comedy and a suspense thriller, the other part an outright love letter to what Hollywood once was, this picture is star studded, offbeat, sentimental, and on the home stretch anyway….par for the course given the guy behind the camera….outrageously violent. But it’s ALSO another darn fine example of how masterful the craft of directing films CAN be when someone deliriously cares about the subject matter, and has the creativity in their utility belt to go to town.
It’s the summer of ’69, and former leading man Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime pal and stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) are taking on a new project. Since headlining a popular TV western called ‘Bounty Law’, Rick has slid to the edge of oblivion, appearing primarily in guest spots, mostly playing bad guys. Rick, who hasn’t exactly been piling up the film credits himself, remains cool n’ content as Rick’s chauffeur, handyman, or whatever else his friend requires.
At this point, fact and fiction mingle; Cliff, during one of his many errand runs for Rick, picks up an attractive hitchhiker (Margaret Qualley) who resides at the crumbling Spahn ranch just outside Los Angeles where ‘Bounty Law’ was filmed, along with a gathering of hippies led by some mysterious cat named ‘Charlie’. Oh, and did I mention that living right next door to Rick is actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and new hubby Roman Polanksi (Rafal Zawierucha)?
At this point, if you’re thinking the film should delve into a paint-by-numbers re-creation of the infamous Manson murders, as seen through the eyes of a pair of fictional characters – well you don’t know Tarantino very well.
Cameo appearances abound in ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood’….Al Pacino, the late Luke Perry, Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning…as usual, the more eclectic for Tarantino, all the better. And the fact that the character list includes icons like Steve McQueen and Bruce Lee makes the film all the more appealing. DiCaprio is fantastic, Pitt has rarely been better, and together they make quite the memorable duo. But make no mistake, the real star here is the ambitious vision of Quentin Tarantino. It won’t be for all tastes – but I loved it.
