THE END OF FREE LOVE
Movie Review – Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood
Review by Ray Schillaci
The title to Quentin Tarantino’s 9th film should prepare its audience as to what to expect. But, marketing of the film (and history) alludes to a different kind of story. A fun-filled film with a hint of darkness about the free love generation, the “New” Hollywood, and how everything took an awful left turn and ended in gruesome tragedy. Marketing focuses on a Paul Newman/Robert Redford type pairing with snappy dialogue, the requisite Tarantino catchy soundtrack with go-go girls, cars of the era, Playboy mansion, nostalgic sights, and Charlie (Manson) and his girls.
What we actually get is a Tarantino purposeful Hollywood-manufactured fairy tale that delivers a warm melancholy travelogue. Only the facts that Tarantino finds interesting are spot-on, otherwise everything else is thrown out. Remember Inglourious Basterds‘ jolt of an ending with both Goebbles and Hitler dying in a furious nitrate fire in a theater? Well, Tarantino repeats his non-history lesson and justifies it by tagging the title to the ending, Once Upon a Time…
This is not to say the film is bad. It just will not play to the masses. Frankly, I don’t think Tarantino gives a sh*t. This is quite possibly his most personal film. The once upon a time video clerk that is in love with that era has delivered a film that encapsulates it beautifully.
There are real personalties (i.e. Roman Polanski, Jay Sebring, Sharon Tate, Manson) given very little screen time, and then there is the focus of the film based on real life personalities, DiCaprio’s waning movie and TV star, Rick Dalton and his stunt double, Cliff Booth, portrayed by Brad Pitt. They supposedly represent Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham. Dalton and Booth may have similarities, but they are not to be taken as fact, hence why Tarantino did not use the famous duo’s names. Both DiCaprio and Pitt give stellar performances. DiCaprio practically embodies the spirit of Reynolds even going as far as to deliver the famous arched eyebrows.
Writer/director Tarantino gives us a very different film in tone than any of his other films. Yes, the dialogue is great along with the soundtrack, and his obscure obsession with feet. But, this film more than any other will appear, to some, as if it meanders from one sequence to the next, never really fitting all the pieces together, and they’re not supposed to. Tarantino almost appears to be paying homage to the late great Robert Altman with this style embracing the era more than his characters. This will put off some viewers while others will be in awe, and with some at my screening actually applauding (i.e. recreation of the old Van Nuys Drive-In).
This is a Hollywood story about Rick Dalton’s star fading, his struggles dealing with it, and his faithful pal and stuntman consistently shoring him up, reminding him he is better than what anybody perceives him as. Dalton starred in two movies and a successful TV series, but blew it in the end. Most likely to drugs and alcohol. Now, he’s relegated to villain roles, but has been offered a lead in an Italian western which he feels is a strong sign of a has-been since he despises “spaghetti westerns.”
Cliff, his stunt double, handyman, and pal goes with the flow. His name has been tainted after a bad marriage ended up with the death of his wife that we are not sure whether or not it was an accident. Cannot help but wonder if Tarantino was alluding to the Robert Wagner/Natalie Wood boating incident. Needless to say, with Cliff’s reputation and his bad-ass attitude, he’s hard pressed to find work.
Throughout their exploits, we happen to find out that Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate are Dalton’s neighbors. Jay Sebring, hair stylist to the stars, and once fiancee to Tate, also frequents the Polanski home. It’s an odd inseparable threesome. Tarantino casually intercuts scenes of the three and their lifestyle with Dalton’s struggles, and every so often gives us a glimpse of the hippies of the era which eventually leads to Manson and his clan.
There are priceless scenes throughout: Damien Lewis doing a spot-on Steve McQueen during a Playboy mansion party attempting to explain the relationship of the threesome (Polanski, Tate, Sebring), Cliff Booth facing off with Bruce Lee (pure fan-boy fantasy), Rick Dalton’s time with his young co-star as he struggles with getting everything right. Then there is the one scene that sends chills down our spine, Cliff visiting the Spawn Ranch where Charlie’s clan resides. Tarantino practically gives us the same feeling that unnerved us in Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre when the young woman leaves the swinging bench searching for her friend all the while we know to stay away from that house of horror.
What Tarantino does not do is deliver the gruesome horror of that night. The film builds to that horrifying climax and the suspense is riveting. Instead, what he delivers is a shock to the system that actually had some applauding and laughing at my screening. There will be those that will be offended by his ending and some of the portrayals, but he answers that by his title, and reminds us of it. For those that do not get it, Tarantino does not care and will not apologize. Tarantino and his films are a rarity in Hollywood. Once Upon a Time… has a distinct voice that may not play to everyone, but the film will have devoted followers in the end.
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino
Release Date: July 26, 2019
Run Time: 161 Minutes
Rated: R
Country: USA/UK/China
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
