Every once in a while a movie will come out that you just can't stop talking about. For me, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (2019: written and directed by Quentin Tarantino) is that movie. Imo, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is the BEST movie I've seen since, "Birdman (or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" (2014: staring Micheal Keaton, directed by Alejandro Inarritu). I must have watched "Birdman" 20 times now. Today, as I write this post I've already seen "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" 5 times -- and plan on seeing it AGAIN later tonight at the 6:40 showing in the Bonney Lake Multiplex. Boy, they're been getting a lot of my money lately. Thanks a lot, Quentin. My wallet is lot lighter now on account of you!
Why would anyone want to see a movie THAT many times? Well-p, that's a fair question. And I don't do this with many movies. Most movies that stuck in repeat are movies that I admire the artisticty of. I think I've watched "Prometheus" 15 times or so now. I just love all the artistic touches that Ridley Scott put into that film. I've re-watched "Birdman" for different reasons. I loved the acting in it and the scenes that actors work their magic in. Wow, can that Edward Norton ever act. WOW! HUGE fan of that stud actor. Loved what Michael Keaton brought the show as well. Then their's Zack Galfinakis' goofyness, and the other actors fine performances.
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a lot like "Birdman" -- to me! Both center around troubled actors trying to work through their issues. Rigan Thompson wants to prove to the world that he can make art of substance and meaning, apart from earlier success as a headliner in a super hero movie franchise and playoff of Michael Keaton's own stint as Batman in the 1989 - 1991. Rick Dalton the flawed protagonist played by Leonardo DiCaprio is an actor too, AND he's trying to prove himself BUT in a much different capacity. Rick Dalton is a hard drinking actor who wants to continue being a movie star, one who gets to work with top-flight directors like Roman Polanski, whom he admires.
At it's core "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a buddy movie. It centers around the friendship that Rick Dalton has with his stunt double, and best friend, Cliff Booth, as played in Joe Cool fashion by Brad Pitt. On the horizon of this story is the Manson cult murders at the Polanski residence in August of 1969. 3/4ths of the movie takes place in February of 1969. While the last 1/4th takes place on day of the murders. Quentin wrote it this way so the audience could see Sharon Tate in her prime, as on the day of her most unfortunate death she was 8 1/2 months pregnant when the Mason's monster butchered her and three of her friends.
Now that broached the black cloud surrounding this story, let's delve into it a little more. One of the things I admire most out of this movie, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is fact that writer/director Quentin Tarantino had the BALLS to even attempt to write and shoot a movie like this. A buddy movie that has the Manson murders looming on the horizon. Wow, going into this project I would have advised Quentin to steer clear of this subject entirely. I mean who wants to relive that horrific night. Certainly not me. If I had my way I would been the one to throw the lever and electrocute Charles Manson for ordering four of his followers to go there in the first place. Charles Manson is demonic, creepy person. He was damn lucky he didn't get the death sentence for his mastermind role in all of this. So you'd think that a movie that ends with the scene at Polanski residence on the night of the murders would be a real downer movie, but to Quentin's great credit, it is not! This movie is surprisingly upbeat and funny at times. Charles Manson is ONLY depicted in one scene, and briefly at that--and yet the main villain in this movie IS a member of the Manson cult. It's one of runaways living with Manson's followers on an old horse ranch that used to be a place where cowboy TV series were shot, Spawn Ranch.
I marvel at the end product Quentin was able to deliver. A stylistically fun movie. This is a "feel" movie, not a plot-heavy movie. I say this because as a pre-pro/undiscovered screenwriter myself I put a great onus on plot. That's like the core product that screenwriters are expected to deliver: a story designed to be shot into movie form. The first time I watched "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" a fellow movie attendee asked me what I thought, and I said it was an "F". I was disappointed by the over-arching plot, and didn't like the over-bloody ending where Cliff Booth and Rick Dalton rewrite a better history as they take-out three members of the Manson cult who are acting on orders from the maniac benefactor to brutally murder everyone in the Polanski residence.
But after a 2nd viewing of "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" my opinion totally flipped: "F" to "A". Now knowing the plot, I was able to relax and enjoy the artistry of this masterpiece. Racing down the Hollywood hills with Polanski and Sharron Tate as "Hush" by Deep Purple played, or racing around Los Angeles in 1969 with Brad Pitt at the wheel as "Bring a Little Lovin'" by Los Bravos played. "Out of Time" by the Rolling Stones transitioning the action as Dalton and Booth face the end of their era of friendship, and an unsuspecting Sharon Tate faces the abrupt end of her life as the historical record says will happen. LOVED the choice of following Cliff Booth to his home at night then going up and over a drive-in movie in process of playing at night and back to where Cliff lives from there. Creative camera work. Quentin favors a lot of low shot. He has a active, non-static camera. The danger of this technique is that it can take away from your story if overused, but Quentin uses it just enough to spice the story up.
Lot of in car driving scenes in this movie -- and E.C. Henry ate that up!
But my favorite scene in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is the scene between Rick Dalton and Marabella Lancer (played to perfection by Julia Butters). In it both actors are on lunch break and reading their books. Marabella shows interest in Rick's book that's about a cowboy named, "Easy Breezy". While describing the story to Marabella, Rick Dalton has a person epifany--Easy Breezy is him! A man who is slowly become more and more obsolete and uneeded. The main protagonist's flaw is set-up BRILLIANTLY by Quentin Tarnatino early on when he meets a movie-maker who wants him to go to Italy to make "Spagetti Westerns", which Rich thinks hails the downfall of his time as an actor in Hollywood. Rick Dalton's character flaw is his own insecurity and fear of loss of his own career. See how that compares to Michael Keaton's Rigan Thompson; the same only different! Anyway Leonardo DiCapaprio's acting in this scene is flawless. Mesmerizing. Maybe the best acting I've ever seen ever. Why? Because he HAS TO carry the scene. There's no action, just Rick Dalton a bit out of sorts as he tries to recover from a hangover and pass the time until it is time to resume shooting the next scene in this western's TV pilot. It's his looks, hacks, and reaction to Maribella that are on display. And to Leaonardo DiCaprio's great credit, he absolutely nails not only this scene but also the next two he's in where he first fails on set, then delivers the best acting he's ever done in the next: the highs and lows of the acting profession, I guess. Anyway, Leo parks and should win an Oscar for his FINE WORK in this movie.
First comes fun... then comes set-up... then comes delivery.
Being a screenwriter myself and FAVORING the bad guys. Believing in my heart that it is the bad guy that drives the action in a movie, giving the hero a formidable obstacle to overcome, I MARVEL at Quentin's taste on display here. Because his main villain is a teenage runaway named "Pussycat". She is 15-17 year old girl who prostitutes herself out on the streets of Hollywood and severs in the Manson cult. "Pussycat" (as played by Margret Qually) is what I what I would describe as a "gateway villain"; she is a temptress that Cliff Booth takes note of as he drives around town and keeps running into her on the side of the road looking for a ride.
In a great creative choice Quentin Tarantino focuses on the girls in Manson cult. The first time we see them they're happily skipping down the street singing a song together before they forage in the dumpster for good food that's been thrown away. At first they are blurry but then the camera focuses in on them, and gives the audience a "feel" for what it was like for those in the Manson cult; the girls were like stray cats, rummaging around in the garbage. Even later when we go to Spawn Ranch, where the cult is staying we see the conditions are run down and that they're just abusing a prone, blind old man to have a place for all of them to stay and base their operations.
Would you give this girl a ride? #temptation
It's a very tense scene when Cliff Booth uncovers the truth behind Spawn Ranch. Very creative from a history-based story as well. Hats off to Quentin again for delivering INTERESTING scenes in a story that is difficult to tell and pull off.
In the end, I just marvel at Quentin's masterpiece. I didn't think he'd ever top "Reservoir Dogs" which was Quentin's breakthrough movie way back in 1992. But he did. He took a very difficult subject matter (the murder of Sharon Tate by the followers in the Manson cult) and crafted a buddy tale in the midst of a changing landscape in Hollywood. I know for one, I couldn't write a movie like this. You want a buddy picture that ENDS with Manson murders?! Count me out, pal. Yet in the end that's what Quentin did, and in the process he delivers a fun ride and honored the memory of a budding, young actress who was cut short in her life.
Creatives; you never know what cooks their noddle. I don't write the same way that Quentin writes. I prefer a more tradition approach adhering to three act structure, and having a strong, central villain. But I think Quentin loves people. He loves to tell their stories and explore what makes people tick. I think he's a genius and can't wait to see what he comes up with next. His stories are always unpredictable, yet he delivers on the fun and gives his actors and actresses amble opportunity to shine. Hopefully come the Oscars in 2020, Quentin and crew will get there share of gold. Because this movie:
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is one of the best movies I've ever seen.
It's spelled S-p-a-h-n.
Posted by: Shaniqua Jackson | Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 05:32 PM