Once upon a Time in Hollywood - DVD + Digital

SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE!! It's entertainment! It's fun! It's Old Hollywood that a lot of us read about in the magazines in the 60's and it's the horror of what happened without showing it. Leo's character had some gut wrenching scenes, like the bar scene with Timothy O. That was a bit hard to watch. An aging, once super popular tv western star now bloated from booze and forgetting lines, realizing he wasn't even a B list actor, was just sad. For me, Brad was the movie! He was having fun with his character and gosh, he has never looked better. Sobriety, maybe coming out on the other side of a nasty divorce finally, whatever, he just looks fit and actually content. The one part of the movie that got to me was when he was at the Ranch and the way those gals/guys were looking at him gave me chills. The hatred in their eyes reminded me of the news stories that came out after the murders and ensuing years of things they had done. Just mindless hatred. The acting here was well done and Bruce Dern, well, what can I say....heck of a part for him :) I thought the ending was perfect. It led up to the massacre without any detail. Rick Dalton had wanted to meet Sharon and Roman for a long time and there it was, Sharon on the gate intercom inviting him up for a drink and to meet her friends. His chance at maybe getting his Hollywood movie career back on track.....and the viewer is left knowing that would never happen because of what happened nights later behind that gate. Just a perfect ending. I can see why Sharon's sister approved of the movie. Her part was beautiful, fun and we were reminded of how horrific the crime was considering how pregnant she was. The music was non-stop and totally entertaining. Even Leo's painful rendition of "Green Door' stuck in my head for days after watching the movie! It's entertainment and for those of us who remember that time including all the westerns that glutted the tv screen back then, it was really well done. Quentin took his time with the characters, even with Brandy. OMG, that god-awful looking dog food though - lol! But, boy, do I remember being that drunk and opening a can of dog food and slopping it into a food bowl that way. I laughed every time Brad did that! Just enjoy it and don't look for reasons why Quentin did or didn't do this or that. It's a really good movie of a time in Hollywood that was changed forever by the maniacal followers of a man who has been described as being pure evil.

Wouldn't it be great if we could re-write history? Quentin Tarantino does just that, with his latest film. I should preface this review by admitting that I have only liked a handful of Tarantino movies. But it appears that he has progressed as a filmmaker, judging by his latest achievement, "Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood". This film is not only a super-entertaining depiction of 1960s pop culture - it is a loving tribute to those who didn't make it to the 1970s, who should have. Tarantino did a lot of research into 1960s culture and history. His story is set in the year 1969. That year was not a good year by my recollection, overall. YES, we did finally make it to the moon! That was historic, magical, and epic. But it was also the year that my 16-year-old sister was killed in a car accident, devastating my family permanently. In 1969, the Beatles performed in their last public performance together, Senator Edward Kennedy's car skidded off a bridge, resulting in the death of his 28-year-old passenger Mary Jo Kopechne. The year ended with the Rolling Stones' disastrous Altamont concert, and the death of Meredith Hunter. Oh yes - and then there were the Tate-LaBianca murders. The victims seemed to receive far less press coverage than the Manson family. Even recently, I read Dianne Lake's memoir: "Member of the Family", about her time at the Spahn Ranch, and what led up to the subsequent killings, with way more written about the perpetrators of that ghastly slaughter than about the innocent targets of their murderous depravity. There are many films and books produced about Manson and his band of followers, but almost nothing of significance about their victims. The affect that those murders had on Hollywood - and even for the rest of us, back then - has reverberated throughout the decades. The images stay in our minds. History aside, two fictional characters dominate "Once Upon a Time..." with performances by actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt that are definitely Oscar-worthy. Both actors have sunk their teeth into their roles with gusto, a definite treat for viewers. DiCaprio plays introspective leading man t.v. star Rick Dalton. You rarely see Dalton without a drink in his hand or a cigarette in his mouth. Regrets are many, as he is reminded that his youth and bankability have passed him by. There is plenty of scenery-chewing by DiCaprio, who shines as the seasoned pro that he is. Pitt plays the part of Dalton's stuntman Cliff Booth to perfection. Booth is not introspective, except perhaps in one scene where he winds up daydreaming while fixing an antenna on Dalton's roof. Otherwise, he is just a "live and let live" kinda guy - unless he is crossed. Then, watch out! I have to say that I was very impressed by the casting of Bruce Lee, Steve McQueen, and Cass Elliott. The details and authenticity of "Once Upon a Time..." are enough to give those of us who were alive back then the "suspension of disbelief" we need, without our saying too often: "But wait a minute - it wasn't like that." The music, fashions, products, technology, transportation, cinema, television actors, shows, commercials, and other signs of 1960s pop culture are authentic enough to pass muster. He did his homework. Any discrepancies or inaccuracies are minor. Yet in addition to creditable details, we find the blessings of fiction, for this is not a documentary, and not made to be, and for that we are grateful. There are Tarantino's usual fanciful meanderings into scenes that go slightly off-path. They are great character studies, though. and are fun to watch, which is really the point. I'm thinking that this one will be taking home the bulk of the Oscars. Hollywood especially has needed this one, I think.

Interesting how QT writes a "What If" fable and mixes in some real-life characters with some imagined characters, linked together by a real-life historically accurate window in time, down to the day, hour, street, and Charles Manson's characters involved. Leo DiCaprio does a very nice job melding his character's personality quirks and real acting skills, which he can turn on and off in the blink of an eye, with a real actor's paranoia over becoming a used-up Hollywood has-been, contemplating how much he will compromise himself as his career options narrow with time. Brad Pitt is sensational as Leo's stuntman, driver, utility man, and side-kick. Pitt plays an understated Viet Nam War Hero and Stunt Man, with a pet dog, Brandy, who totally lives for her master. (Loved when Pitt kicked an arrogant Bruce Lee's ass while the stuntmen and actors were killing time off set.) Margot Robbie is totally adorable as Sharon Tate, which causes you to be concerned for her well-being as the drama unfolds. But fear now, QT has a way of punishing those who should be punished in a blood-bath, that personifies dark-humor. I found myself Googling the real characters involved in the Manson murders to verify which were real and which were from QT. QT did a fantastic job nailing the real characters life scenarios with his script, before taking his classic QT dark-humor left turn. Damian Lewis nails a cool but situationally aware Steve McQueen. Tim Olyphant and Kurt Russell give you the feeling that all of QT's Hollywood pals are always ready to play any part in his movies. This movie is just jam-packed with talent! A truly enjoyable Flick, with believable but surreal characters, that is a bit long in two areas; Pitt's visit to the ranch and Robbie's casual jaunt around town before and after the movie she sees. (Nice touch of historical realism with the movie she sees!) I've watched the movie twice. The ending is worth watching several times!!!

Once Upon a Time presents a dazzling slice of Hollywood life in 1969. Director-Producer Quentin Tarantino's attention to the minute details of that period is beyond amazing. He gets it perfectly correct from the late-1960s clothing fashions to the cars to the billboards and everything else. The viewer feels as if he or she has been transported back in time. Once Upon a Time is an absolute jewel for those who are fans of Hollywood lore. The actors' dialogue is seasoned with many references to key events, personages, and fads of 1969. Those references are probably lost on most viewers who didn't grow up during the 60s, but I did, and I found it fun to search my memory to recall what those references meant, which add a subtle depth to the movie's story. The movie is intricate, but it doesn't have an intricate plot. It is a story of the everyday occurrences of the Hollywood elite. That is, a glimpse of their daily lives. But the movie's brilliance is how those occurrences cross paths and lead to a fateful outcome. I feel that most of Brad Pitt's performances are overrated. But in Once Upon a Time, Pitt shines like the Northern Star. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance is outstanding too. Al Pacino and Kurt Russell also shine in their cameo roles. Once Upon a Time is not a conventional movie. Initially, it seems a little disjointed and hard to understand. But that is just Tarantino's way of spinning a spider's web that captures the viewer. Once Upon a Time is a very entertaining movie that is well worth your time to watch.

Awesome Flick!

All I keep hearing is how Quentin Tarantino made his finest film honoring the end of Hollywood's golden era! Well I have seen many period pieces recreate the look of a particular time & place & this was the only aspect of this movie that succeeded E.I. the three stars. Other than that his total disregard for history must come from either a lack of imagination or complete narcissistic egomania! All he had to do was to make fictitious " Manson Family" characters foil their first murder attempt & Hollywood police " protect" the old school actors to make this film much more palatable. Quentin has gotten away with his " altering" of history only because he was making good movies! I have said many times I don't judge a movie on its budget but its ability to entertain...this movie almost fails in that area! Why did I purchase it? Because I have a Quentin Tarantino collection. Claims that this is his best are insane! The actor that got his butt kicked by a stunt man was Steven Seagal not Bruce Lee! Tarantino is noted for his great soundtracks & this was a golden opportunity to bust out a golden soundtrack & he even failed there! Seriously 1969 & back... Death Proof had a better soundtrack considering the awesome music he could have used. This is not Quentin Tarantino's Magnus Opus...its a slow paced history twisting unimaginative flop & no amount of critic acclaim can alter the truth! His attention to minutia details was spot on but his attempt at making a great period piece was a train wreck of a movie. Facts matter to a intelligent audience! A stuntman that gets away with murdering his wife minutes away from mentioning Natalie Wood hits a little to close to home for people in the audience 55 or older! A little creative writing & this slow paced historical debacle could have been saved by the A list actors that now have this horrid movie in their list. This review is coming from a Quentin Tarantino fan...imagine what I would be saying if I didn't like his prior movies? I totally get creative licensing but when you have total disregard for such impactful events it borders disrespect! No scratch that it is disrespect for the whole era he was supposed to be paying homage too! Remembering old commercials, signs, buildings that no longer exists is not enough to redeem this cinematic turd! Far from being Tarantino's best, it may be Tarantino's worst !!! Oh and not to mention Tarantino's penchant for unbelievably long dialogue is getting worse & worse!!!! It's gone from being a unique novelty to flat out stupid!!!

My rating is more of a 4.5. Thanks for reading! “𝑰'𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰'𝒎 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍'𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌" "𝑵𝒂𝒉, 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕" Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a 2019 comedy-drama film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Set in 1969 Los Angeles, the film follows a fading character actor (Rick) and his stunt double (Cliff) as they navigate the rapidly changing film industry, with the looming threat of the Tate-LaBianca Murders hanging overhead. if there's any technique Tarantino has down to a science it is that of the fragmented narrative. Broken – but far from brittle - ‘Once Upon a Time…’ successfully forces two separate storylines to converge into one; consequently this expunges the need for what would otherwise be exhaustive exposition. This is especially true when what is considered common knowledge about Sharon Tate's life - or more specifically, her death - and speaks to the desire to tell a fully developed story using only the bare essentials or necessities. Taking place towards the end of the sixties ‘OUAT…’ stays dutifully committed to its intended aesthetic. The entirety of what is heard in the background or periodically Incorporated as casually announced news-bulletins - like those about the murder of Senator Robert F. Kenedy - are rooted in fact and contextually allude to historically significant events. Drawing from the wealth of influences available, Rick Dalton is a caricature of Steve McQueen ( who, unlike Dalton, made a more successful and comfortable transition from television to films), Edd Byrnes, Ty Hardin, and Pete Duel. Despite some initial difficulties in regards to convincing the surrounding Hollywood vendors to authorize the fitting of their premises with period facades to better represent the 1960s this obstacle was eventually surmounted (with some of these veneers staying in place long after production concluded). (Fun fact: Quentin Tarantino would not allow the use of cell phones on set while filming in lieu of phone booths being installed in the case that calls needed to be made by crew members. Talk about some devilish devotion!) With its paralleled narrative and authentic set design assuming the role of ‘OUAT…’s bread, this sandwich of satisfaction doesn't skimp in ensuring that the filling that is its characters is just as delicious and savory in tandem. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks - and lucky for the audience sometimes you don’t have to. Possibly one of my favorite performances by DiCaprio to date, his demeanor (and excellently executed accent!) capture the essence of a character that both reaps the benefits of his fame while struggling with the lingering impermanence of it. As if designed to be a direct foil to this conundrum Cliff - portrayed by the one and only Brad Pitt (who does his stunts - surprise!) - embraces the fluidity his role invites and rolls with the punches (literally) as it is necessary As a consequence of this their relationship on screen becomes self-referential in that Cliff often does all of the dangerous fighting while Rick is rewarded with a flashy climax and what is assumingly will be all of the credit for a “job well done”. On the topic of dogs: a three-year-old Pitbull by the name of Sayuri was honored with the Palm Dog Award following her equally committed and sometimes scene stealing performance as ‘Brandy’ (more than deserved, if I do say so myself). Only accounting for approximately 20 minutes of screen time, Margot Robbie's portrayal of Shannon Tate is reflective of the amount of research done in preparation for it. Adorned with an abundance of grace, poise, and some of Tate's real jewelry, the accuracy of her performance reportedly moved some of Tate’s surviving family members to tears. It is a shame this same effort wasn't put into the portrayal of Bruce Lee - who, arguably, could have been written in as someone with less notoriety attached - but this is comfortably written off as a result of an interaction being perceived by audience members as the way in Cliff seems to 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 it. Setting the audience up with tension from the very start ( as might be conjured following the recollection of Tate’s untimely untimely demise) ‘OUAT…’ comes to a screeching halt following a climatic and violently stylized surprise. It goes without saying that this conclusion is as far as possible from being rooted in truth, but the irony is in how this ending is a significantly happier one. Described as a ‘love letter to Hollywood’, in many ways ‘OUAT…’ simultaneously acts as Tarantino’s sacrificial lamb; it ascends as a forgivably transgressional and sensational depiction of the relationship that directors and actors have with a craft that resembles, replicates, and manufactures reality as it is seen fit. I would recommend!

The movie was great, fed up with stupid amazon auto play, no way to shut off that UBER ANNOYING ’feature’, on the verge of deleting prime because of that!!!