As a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino, I knew that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood would have to be a movie that I checked out. It may have taken a little longer for me than I would have liked, but I can say right off the bat it is one of the most interesting movies of the year. It is not actually what I expected from the trailer and I mean that in a positive way.
How to Stream or Download Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
The movie once it becomes available for digital download can be streamed or it can be downloaded from Google Play or iTunes. Click on the button below the review to access the relevant pages on these sites.
The Film Review
So, what exactly is this movie about? Well like many other Quentin Tarantino movies, you have a lot of moving parts to this story. The basics that you need to know are that it is set in the late 60s, a period where the Golden Age of Hollywood was coming to an end and things were becoming a little different.
Our two main characters are aging actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stuntman, Cliff (Brad Pitt). Rick and Cliff have an awesome relationship and the way that they are there for each other is something that is quite striking and has you feeling sorry for Rick, even though there are some things about him that make you wonder if he is actually a decent guy.
There is more to the movie than just an actor who is on the downward spiral of his career. The movie is actually set during the famous Manson Murders and this plays way bigger part in the movie than I thought it would. Margot Robbie playing Sharon Tate is not just stunning to look at, she also delivers a spellbinding performance.
That can be said for the whole cast, which in typical Tarantino fashion is stacked with talent. Emile Hirsch, Timothy Oliphant, Bruce Dern, Dakota Fanning, and Kurt Russel are just a small number of this wonderful cast. As obvious as it sounds though, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio steal the show. I am not just talking about their performances, but their relationship.
I love the whole aesthetic of the movie, now granted I was not alive back then. However, the movie looks just like the way I imagine 1969 Hollywood would look and that is pretty cool. I love the fashion, the way the houses are designed and just everything about this time period that has been captured on film.
The movie is pretty graphic. To be fair, it features the Manson Murders and it is a Quentin Tarantino movie so violence and extreme bad language are to be expected. What I “like” about it though is that it does not actually feel forced. It all feels like it is real in this world and that helps make you feel like you are in this world too.
I had a really fun time with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. I would not say that it is my all-time favorite Quentin Tarantino movie, but so far it is certainly on my shortlist for the best movie I have seen in 2019. One thing I will say is that watch the trailer, but do not read any spoilers about the movie before you see it and you will love it even more.
