Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino certainly knows how to milk a scene. He famously did so—with milk—in Inglorious Bastards, and Christoph Waltz took home an Oscar for it. As I was enjoying similar vignettes, set in a beautifully nostalgic Los Angeles, it occurred to me that this may not add up or have a point to it all.

Luckily for audiences, the scenes and the three main characters do come together at the end for a satisfying third act.

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood centers on three la-la-landers at different stages of their Hollywood careers. Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) is an uprising star, giddy to see her name in lights. Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) is the aging cowboy western lead, struggling to see his future in cinema or TV, and Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), the stunt man, is at an early career end with nothing to show for it except his literal scars. 

Their stories intersect a specific moment in history. When the Cielo Drive sign appears early in the film and eventually the date of August 8, 1969 swipes on the screen, you know what is coming — the brutal murders conducted by members of the Manson Family. 
Thankfully the camera doesn't show the worst part of that day, but there is a story to tell.

I’m not a fan of violence as comedy, but there is something masterful about how Tarantino makes it work for storytelling. More than any of his films since Pulp Fiction, your investment pays off.

In a nutshell: If this sounds interesting to you—a 2.75 hour Tarantino fantasy film and an homage to 1960’s California—then you won’t be disappointed.

Award potential: It’s a long time before voting in January 2020 with a fall full of contenders, but L.A. loves films about themselves. Consider this the current front-runner for Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Director, Cinematographer, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, Editing and Costume.

I expect it won’t win any. Margot Robbie is sensational in an understated way that doesn’t fare well in supporting categories. The showier Quentin for Best Screenplay and Pitt for Best Supporting have the best chance at a win.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.