Hugo and I left Once upon a time in Hollywood last night and honestly, we have no idea quite how to feel about it. Quentin Tarantino’s latest film is a complete love in with Hollywood in the late 60’s. It’s the world that Tarantino himself grew up in and its glossy, machismo take on the era is beautifully recaptured, if very self-indulgent and quintessentially Tarantino.
The plot follows actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his best friend/ stuntman Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Rick’s TV success sees him living in the Hollywood hills next to recently married Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie). Over the course of 1969, Rick and Cliff negotiate the back end of their Hollywood careers building up to the Manson family murders that famously heralded the end of the century.
The plot on paper sounds very enticing but the film plays out more like a sequence of disjointed set pieces that never quite tie together and upon leaving the cinema had us questioning whether there was something more going on that we just didn’t grasp. Hugo even committed the cardinal sin of going to the toilet during the film and in his own words admitted ‘I didn’t feel like I was going to miss anything’ and overall he didn’t because not a whole lot happens. Especially for a film that’s 2 hours and 45 minutes. But in between all of this, are scenes that are gripping, entertaining, funny and look brilliant.
The acting and characters are very compelling. Cliff Booth might be one of the most likeable Tarantino characters of all time despite having a sinister back story and both Pitt and DiCaprio give off shining performances. Rick’s crippling sense of self doubt and his reliance on his Cliff is believable and portrays the obvious chemistry between the two stars.
Similarly, the vivid and stylised capturing of the look and feel of the 60’s is a joy to watch. The sun washed tinge during the days, the hippy clothing and the lighting of neon signs as night falls set to selection of brilliant 60’s rock and roll really lands you in this 60’s dream world.
But even if the film looks great, is acted brilliant and has some brilliant scenes there is still something quite hollow about its journey that leaves you not entirely appreciating each of its nuances. Or is that the point? Is Tarantino trying to make a point about how the Hollywood lifestyle is hollow and vapid. I honestly don’t know. It is worth pointing out that both myself and Hugo don’t have a huge amount of knowledge about the Manson murders or 60’s cinema and have read praise from critics who, like Tarantino, know and adore the setting.
On some levels it’s a complete bore. The plot is thin and builds to a climax that despite being very entertaining doesn’t satisfy many of the prior scenes, but it is also fascinating, controversial, oddly captivating, brilliantly directed and had me researching all its base material long into the night. Its very much worth watching as it the type of film that each person will take something different from and there is no denying that there is an art there that not many other than Tarantino himself can portray, even if its not quite as tight as his previous outings.
Written by Will
Hughes Reviews 