[Review] Once Upon a Time in Hollywood: The Tender Side of Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino's ninth film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, has finally been released. As a loyal fan of the director, I had always considered this one of the most anticipated films of the year, and it ultimately brought me many surprises.

I watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood a week after its release, and during that waiting period, I noticed that the reactions from Hong Kong audiences were generally mixed, with some critics even disliking the film. As a Tarantino fan, I naturally had high expectations for this movie, but after reading the online reviews, I worried I might be disappointed. In the end, I quite liked the film and largely understood why there was such a varied reaction. Tarantino's films have never been mainstream in Hong Kong. This movie's significant attention is likely due to its star-studded cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie. Furthermore, the film tells the story of its protagonists navigating Hollywood in 1969, focusing on character development rather than strong conflict or a clear villain. For mainstream audiences, the film might feel plotless, and they might struggle to connect with the unfamiliar era and setting. For Tarantino fans, the limited amount of violence and the focus on Rick's life as an actor in Hollywood might not meet their expectations. However, I personally enjoyed this very different and remarkably tender attempt from Tarantino.

Before the film's release, foreign media reported that it would be connected to the murder of Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie). This made me curious why the film's Cantonese title was directly translated as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, rather than something like his older works, such as Hollywood Meets a Murderer or Hollywood's Killing Spree. After watching the film, I finally understood: the film's true focus is indeed Hollywood, not the murder. From the numerous recreated TV show clips to the appearance of famous actors and directors from the 1960s and 70s, the film constantly reflects the director's love for that era of Hollywood. For instance, the film's protagonist, Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), is a Western star, so there are many scenes depicting the filming of Westerns, and the character later even goes to Italy to star in Spaghetti Westerns. Quentin Tarantino's previous few works have featured the style of Westerns and Spaghetti Westerns, and here in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, he once again pays homage to this genre. Almost all of Tarantino's previous films have involved gangsters, assassins, or bounty hunters, making gunfights a signature element of the director (with the exception of Death Proof, which also shares some plot similarities with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and features Kurt Russell). This time, the film's three protagonists are actors, and the movie is mostly a drama, depicting their daily lives, the process of making and watching films, and conversations with various Hollywood figures... it's indeed very different from Tarantino's past works. Audiences with no knowledge or interest in Hollywood of that era might struggle through the first two hours.

Fortunately, the film's characters, like other characters penned by the director, are still very striking and three-dimensional, supporting the entire film. Although this movie has a large cast, each character's screen time is limited, yet they remain memorable. Notable performances include Margaret Qualley, Dakota Fanning, and Oscar winner Al Pacino. The two actresses, playing members of Charles Manson's cult, exude the hippie vibe of the era with every move, and Dakota Fanning's fierce gaze is particularly chilling. However, the most captivating elements in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood are still the three protagonists, whose character developments reveal a rare tender side of the director. Rick Dalton was once a famous TV series lead, but as Hollywood changed, he gradually became outdated. For a Hollywood star, declining fame feels like a mid-life crisis, making them doubt their worth and lose hope, direction, and the will to continue striving. In the film, Rick Dalton feels obsolete, turning to alcoholism, which affects his performances, leading him to further doubt his abilities, creating a vicious cycle that even impacts his emotional state. Rick Dalton's role is Leonardo DiCaprio's first performance since winning the Oscar for Best Actor in 2016. As one of the most recognizable stars in cinema today, his portrayal of Rick's low points is perfectly understated, without being overly melodramatic. He also has multiple "film-within-a-film" performances, highlighting his acting range and depth. And Brad Pitt as Rick Dalton's stunt double, Cliff Booth, is not only impressively muscular but also proves that at 55, he remains incredibly charming. Cliff is nominally Rick's stunt double but effectively his assistant, taking meticulous care of him. Their relationship, however, is not that of master and servant, but of brothers who have weathered storms together. In the past, Rick supported and believed in Cliff when he was down, and now Cliff unreservedly helps Rick.

Speaking of the film's most crucial character, it must be Margot Robbie's portrayal of Sharon Tate. Although she seems like a supporting character in the film, and her storyline has almost no direct connection to the two protagonists, she is the soul of the movie. Sharon Tate was the wife of the great director Roman Polanski (Rosemary’s Baby, Chinatown), and in reality, she was murdered by Charles Manson's followers on August 8, 1969. Therefore, one of the film's biggest focuses is on how to depict this infamous case. This film makes a very important choice: Rick is Sharon Tate's neighbor, and the famous Roman Polanski is undoubtedly someone he admires. In the film, Rick feels outdated. After finishing several Italian Westerns, he plans to part ways with Cliff, and his future seems very uncertain. On the night they say goodbye, which is also the night of August 8th, three of Charles Manson's followers are dispatched to Sharon Tate's mansion to kill her and her friends. En route, they encounter a drunken Rick and recognize him as the lead actor from a Western TV show. They suddenly have an idea: to violently teach a lesson to these stars who, in their shows and films, propagate violence (this logic seems hard to grasp, but it recently appeared in a Tweet by Donald Trump condemning Hollywood). So, they change their target, invading his house with the intention of killing him. As a result, this decision rewrites history: the three of them are killed by Rick and Cliff, while Sharon Tate remains unharmed. Once again, Quentin Tarantino unleashes his boundless imagination, inserting two fictional characters as Sharon Tate's neighbors, allowing them to avert the tragedy. The film's ending feels like a fairytale. After the incident, Rick talks to Sharon Tate's friend outside the house. At this moment, Sharon Tate's voice comes through the gate intercom, a dreamlike moment for the audience. Sharon Tate then invites Rick into the house, signaling that Rick, whose career has been struggling, might finally have found an opportunity to work with a great director and solidify his position in Hollywood. We don't know what happens after the film ends, but at least we see hope.

Before the film began production, many worried that Quentin Tarantino would depict the brutal murder of Sharon Tate by Charles Manson's followers, reinforcing images of women being subjected to violence. However, the Sharon Tate penned by the director this time is not a victim of murder, but a free, youthful, and elegant woman. Margot Robbie's performance is also very natural, feeling fresh and comfortable. With the director rewriting history, the people killed that night are no longer Sharon Tate, but Charles Manson's followers, and these are the kind of violent scenes that fans have long awaited and that the director excels at. Although these scenes are much shorter than in the director's previous works, they are still incredibly satisfying, consistent with the director's aesthetic of violence. Rick Dalton's unexpected action is particularly applause-worthy.

The director's previous works, such as Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction, took place on the streets of Los Angeles. This time, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, though also filmed in Los Angeles, primarily takes place on Hollywood studio lots, featuring numerous 1960s TV shows, film sets, and characters. This likely fulfilled the director's childhood fantasies about the industry, making it undoubtedly his most personal work. Parts of the film also take place on the streets, with realistic street sets, the sunny, blue skies characteristic of Los Angeles, neon signs under the night sky, and streets full of hippies, making 1960s Los Angeles feel incredibly authentic. Once again, the director incorporates a wealth of classic golden oldies into the film, imbuing the entire movie with the atmosphere and vitality of that era. That era was over fifty years ago, but through the big screen, the director transports the audience to his beloved golden age, changing a heartbreaking historical event, and revealing his more tender side.

Trailer:

Synopsis:

Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.

Photo and Source: Sony Pictures