Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

My favorite film from this past summer was Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood. Tarantino is one of my favorite directors; I love his aesthetic, striking writing and directing, and incredible story telling ability. I was on a summer program at a university when I saw OUATIH and I remember leaving the theater so excited about what I just saw. When I was waiting in the lobby to go back to campus, I overheard everyone else on the program saying how much they disliked it. I’m not one to blindly follow other people’s opinions (especially about film), and other kids who saw the movie told me that I was crazy for liking a movie that had “no plot” and was “mind numbingly boring”. I was shocked, it seemed that I was literally the only person in that room who genuinely enjoyed Tarantino’s love letter to the summer of ‘69, his most personal film to date. 

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood takes place during the summer of 1969 in Los Angeles, California. Once the popular star of a TV western, actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) struggles to find work in a new age of Hollywood. Rick spends most of his time with Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), his stunt double and friend. Rick lives next door to Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski (Margot Robbie and Rafał Zawierucha) who’s fate will change eternally because of the Manson Family cult. 

Part of why I liked this movie so much is because of the setting. The way that Taratino and cinematographer Robert Richarson depict Los Angeles in 1969 is magical. The cinematography of the film highlights the sets, costumes, cars, and captures the essence of the golden age of Hollywood beautifully. I love when movies have a really strong and unique aesthetic and OUATIH definitely fits the bill. I loved Tarantino’s other period pieces(Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight), but this is the first movie that made me want to travel back in time.

This movie is the perfect escape from reality. Tarantino created an effortlessly cool movie that clashes real history with fake history. I love that this movie encases countless smaller stories and is a lighthearted yet haunting accolade to the summer of ‘69. I can’t recommend this film enough.

This video captures the essence and vibe of the movie.