Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
Olino by Consolidated Theaters
Pupule rating: 4.0 (out of 4)
Could this have been pared down by 20, 30 minutes? Could this plot and all the quiet moments have been snipped away? Of course, yes, and yes. But, thank God, Quentin Tarantino is not subjugated to those restraints. If you are a fan, every minute is cherished, particularly in Once Upon.
There is no scientific definition of what a great film is. But there are certainly as many experiences as there are viewers. What makes Once Upon A Time in Hollywood unusual is that it feels in so many ways like Quentin Tarantino's personal homage to a place he loves and lives.
This is, quite by design, a 1970s film with a bit of 2019 seasoning. Everything, even down to the final credits, has the sight, smell, sound and touch of retro greatness. As with many of Tarantino's films, this also has the nuances and stark silences of a classic Western. All within the world of a B-level actor facing a mid-life, mid-career crisis. Some of these scenes are already my favorites of Leonardo DiCaprio.
The backdrops, the many drives — it seems like Brad Pitt is driving DiCaprio around town for half the movie — and the way their characters win us over in two completely different home scenarios is an unexpected blend.
Tarantino dares us to follow along as he unveils tidbits and clues of what's to come, but it's at a snail's pace that had me almost drifting to sleep in my comfy recliner chair in Olino. (The awesome chicken wings and garlic sauce french fries didn't hurt.) But the story kept moving along, showing us the charms of Pitt's pit bull, Randy, and the ranch that Charles Manson's cultish followers live at. Nothing overwhelming, and even a bit of a shrug as the storyline seems to be flatlined.
But Tarantino is a master, and even with so little action as the genre would define it, he lures us into his grasp. The final 10 minutes are absolutely mind-blowing. 'Nuff said.
Is this perfection? Perhaps. Is it genius? Probably. It isn't my favorite genre. It is funny, but not a comedy. It has action, but is mostly as still as a desert. What Tarantino did, once again, is completely take me out of my own head, and lure me into a place where I was absorbed by each moment. The crescendo effect. He is the master.
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