Once Upon A Time In...America.
161 Mins. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Dakota Fanning, Austin Butler, Mike Moh, Maya Hawke, Damian Lewis, Luke Perry, Bruce Dern, Al Pacino & Kurt Russell. Director: Quentin Tarantino.
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin. 'Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood', the penultimate, ninth film (he counts both volumes of 'Kill Bill' as one. So we do too) from Quentin Tarantino's top ten (unless he boldly goes with that R-rated Star Trek script...live long and please make it so) feels like that conclusion to the trilogy that began with the Hollywood history rewrites of 'Inglorious Basterds' and 'Django Unchained'. Save the like a 'Reservoir Dogs' warehouse, stage play perfect 'The Hateful Eight' as his literal eighth wonder in-between. As this movie concerning a top actor, yet falling star and his sidekick stuntman that carries that load, cleverly and cinematically incorporates inspirational, western and war themes of each. Anybody order fried sauerkraut? And it stars both Hollywood heavyweights from those respective movies, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt as a Tinseltown actor that big and his stunt double in the shadow of this city of stars. All the way to the orgy of a typical but testimonial ultraviolent and emotive end. But in La La Hollywoodland it's the first time these two iconic signs of the industry have pulled out a packet of Marlboro smokes and shared a drink together at the counsel end of the bar with a celerey stalk for your tomato juice. Right before Al Pacino like Brian Blessed in 'Flash Gordon' (think Laura Dern in 'The Last Jedi'...PEW!), spit machine gun imitates DiCarprio imitating him as 'Scarface' like he was saying hello to an old, little friend. Yep...this movie is meta as f###. What more could you expect from a man that loves movies even more than Keanu Reeves at his own Chinese Theatre Walk of Fame star shining on Hollywood Boulevard? Breathtaking. This is pure uncooked cinema, crack movie. Just enjoy this ride as you acid trip like a dipped cigarette. And here's the itch. Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Al Pacino sitting in a bar?! This isn't a joke! In the same movie? Pacino and Tarantino? And Kurt Russell too? And the late, great 80's heartthrob icon Luke Perry? Get the fuck out of here! This is the coolest, epic ensemble Q.T. has ever done since he put De Niro on a couch next to Samuel L. Motherf###### Jackson, after he just put Chris Tucker in a trunk for foxy Pam Grier's 'Jackie Brown'. Looks like there's even more stashed in that slashed Raptor bag. Roll film.
"That was the best acting I've ever seen in my whole life," a girl who can't be more than ten (so she's clearly not seen that much to go on) whispers in DiCaprio's fictional Rick f###### Dalton's ear whilst he cocks a six shooter to shoot a Western. No...this is the best acting we've ever seen. DiCaprio acting, acting. Or telling said girl what he's reading, but really saying what he's feeling. Akin in reflection representation of Pitt's Cliff Booth's drive in home to where stunt doubles of Hollywood's glitz and glamour really live. Blowing out his nose and stuttering through T.V. shows, Dalton is on his ass too. Which means his stuntman is even more so...and therefore probably getting the worst of these licks. Even if he can run across rooftops to fix your cable. "It's official old buddy. I'm a has been", Leo tells Brad through trademark conflicted man tears as he smoke 'em if you got 'em lights up another horse and lassoing cowboy (as if in reality either of these 'Hollywood' stars are). And guess who he's got living next door to him? It's a 'Wolf Of Wall Street' reunion daddy, as it's Margot Robbie whose in this movie like Miss Carlson, the klutz as Sharon Tate. So you know that we are about to get introduced to a family scarier than the Addams one in the Manson family. But will history repeat itself again? Or go more Tarantino's way for a director who solved his 'Basterds' Hitler late night writing issue by sketching on his notepad on his bedside table before he went to bed to wake up the following morning to, "just kill him"? The Australian Robbie was born to play a screen starlet as iconic Hollywood as the Tarantino texture (foot fetish and attention to dog food detail included) of this traditional big picture like Margot was Harley Quinn in 'Suicide Squad'. All the way down to costume department, thrift shop ripped. And the 'I, Tonya' Oscar nominated star is the real deal. Not just another femme fatale. But boy does she pay homaged tribute to all of them. It's DiCaprio and Pitt with the Hollywood who's who résumés though. And combined? Get out of here. 'What's Eating Gilbert's Grape'. 'Thelma and Louise'. 'Romeo + Juliet'. 'True Romance'. 'The Basketball Diaries'. 'Interview With A Vampire'. 'Gangs Of New York'. '12 Monkeys'. 'The Aviator'. 'Se7en' (WHAT'S IN THE BOX?! Sorry couldn't resist). 'Blood Diamond'. 'Seven Years In Tibet'. 'Shutter Island'. 'Fight Club'. 'Inception'. 'Oceans Eleven'. 'The Great Gatsby'. 'The Tree Of Life'. 'The Revenant'. 'Moneyball'. We could go on like 'Killing Them Softly' or 'The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford' and 'Catch Me If You Can' or 'The Departed'. 'Inglorious', 'Django'. But here on trademark top form and a million miles away from when they both went to production battle over 'World War Z', the two megastars of Leo and Brad both give us arguably their best yet with finally their first time on screen together. Just watch them run commentary like the old buddies we believe they are. Tarantino is one of those rare geniuses who makes you want to be better at whatever it is you do. So imagine what that's like when it comes to these two. Which is just everything in this industry when it comes to these two leading men on their Scorsese way to being the closest best thing to a De Niro and Pacino of today...even though both those legends (one here) are still that themselves. This was already the makings of a classic when it was bright lights, big screen announced. And they more than deliver the film flash and star substance. Only in Hollywoodland.
Marvel movies fear. You'll never put a cape on DiCaprio. And that's it apparently after Brad Pitt's absolutely hilarious and perfect, best cameo yet in Ryan Reynolds' 'Deadpool 2' as the power lines fried Vanisher. You won't see him again like "don't call us, we'll call you" in this industry. And on the Q.T. and strictly hush, hush like 'L.A. Confidential' Q.T. movies like anything out the M.C.U. are still the type of epic events that have your high anticipations, eagerly awaiting them the morning they come out, like you just wish your shift at work could end already (subtle right?). And how perfect that still is for this classic celebration of cinema. 'Reservoir Dogs', 'Pulp Fiction', 'Kill Bill' volumes one and two, 'Inglorious Basterds', 'Django Unchained'. 'Once Upon A Time In... Hollywood' is right there with them as not only one of Tarantino's traditional best, but of modern movies as a whole. And he brings out the big guns like Rick Dalton with a shotgun. Or the next generation in acting stars in 'Killer Joe's' Emile Hirsch out of the wild here, 'The Nice Guys' breakout Margaret Qualley, 'The Carrie Diaries' own Austin Butler here looking like Taylor Kitsch's younger brother and former child star come of age Dakota Fanning. Not to mention 'Justified' star Timothy Olyphant in another western television role, red head 'Homeland' Brit Damian Lewis as a legendary Hollywood star (we'll never tell but you'll be able to as he nails it) and even Uma Thurman's daughter and star of the Summer, Maya Hawke showing just why she was so scene stealing as Robin in 'Stranger Things 3' in this Summer that changed everything. And then the guns get even flame thrower bigger like the fine girl that is Brandy the dog. 'Death Proof' drive stuntman Kurt Russell returning after his latest 'Hateful 8' western with some nuanced narration and a part to play in this epic ensemble for the legend of two cult classics in 'Big Trouble In Little China' and the 'Escape From New York' and 'Los Angeles' films for all you snakes (and don't think we forgot about 'The Christmas Chronicles' coming back tis season). And then there's the 'Godfather' of cinema. 'The Irishman'. 'Serpico'. Your 'Dog Day Afternoon' (my favourite film growing up...what a childhood), 'Panic In Needle Park', 'Scent Of A Woman' and 'Heat' star. You know who we're talking about. And glossed up in a Lakers purple suit, no joke and Dame Edna frames Pacino is perfect. Just like returning Quentin favourite and 'Nebraska' legend Bruce Dern in a whole host of Hollywood stars in this city we can't spoil. Even the late, great 'Beverley Hills 90210' legend Luke Perry in this 'Riverdale' age made it in one of his last and lasting performances. Even if the dear departed Burt Reynolds originally meant for this movie sadly did not. The iconic Perry even left Pitt and DiCaprio starstruck. Imagine that. Back when he ruled the world like his legacy and these two in a film and a town all about that still do. Right on the old California gold money Tarantino gets it right. Even if his portrayal of Bruce Lee in 'Green Hornet' Kato 'guise. for such a fun scene has drawn some cause for concern criticism from Lee's family. But you only have to visit Uma Thurman's costume department in 'Kill Bill' to see how much Quentin loves this martial arts muse. As does 'Street Fighter' and 'Inhumans' star Mike Moh having the time of his life fighting Pitt with a pitch perfect impersonation than becomes an inspired embodiment. All this, all the shows, store fronts, scored highways and classic Hollywood are roll called in Q.T.'s signed, sealed and delivered love script to classic California cinema, dreaming in the sixties when all the leaves were brown. Forget about the grey skies. This is what it's like if you lived in L.A. back then. Lights, camera and all that action. All this upon a time from Quentin Tarantino and in direction all we have left from him is once more my good friend. CUT! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Django Unchained', 'Inglorious Basterds', 'Jackie Brown'.
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