Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Synopsis: Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.

Movie Review:

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is the newest film directed by the popular Quentin Tarantino and it is the ninth film he has directed. This movie was a fun ride with fantastic performances from its main cast, but the film stumbles from a lack of plot and is 30 minutes too long. Leonardo DiCaprio plays aging actor Rick Dalton whose stardom is dying and living in a place he doesn’t recognize anymore. Leo is so good in this movie due to sharp and witty dialogue. But Brad Pitt steals the entire show as his stunt double and best friend Cliff Booth. His character will have you laughing throughout the movie. In my opinion, it's Brad Pitt's best role in a long time. I think Cliff Booth's storyline was the best subplot in the movie and I am hoping Pitt gets a deserving, often overlooked, Oscar nomination for it. Margot Robbie plays the famous, short lived actress Sharon Tate — Robbie gave it her best but she is by far the weakest storyline in the movie. There were a few side characters that should have been cut from the movie: Timothy Olyphant had a small cameo and was only in one scene that felt out of place, and actors like Luke Perry, Dakota Fanning and Bruce Dern — it was great to see them but added nothing to the actual story. However, the legend Al Pacino was a cameo appearance worth seeing. His character Marvin Shwarz was funny and worked well opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. Unfortunately, most of the movie drags with too many driving sequences and extended shots and long scenes making the movie run far too long. Quentin Tarantino does what he does best in this movie — He directs topics of violence as well as humor in the greatest way possible, especially the way he handles the Manson murders in the film. This movie makes you feel like you are living in Hollywood during the late 1960's. It has great performances from Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie but it has no real plot, unnecessary side characters, and runs way too long. I am giving “Once a Upon Time in Hollywood” a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Leonardo Dicapio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie,Emile Hirsch, Timothy Olyphant, Kurt Russell, Lena Dunham, Luke Parry, Dakota Fanning, Damian Lewis, Mike Moh, Austin Butler,Bruce Dern and Al Pacino

Runtime: 161 minutes