Pros:
1.) There are plenty of good directorial choices here (it is directed by Quentin Taratino). The cinematography has plenty of great long shots, some good editing (even if some of the jump cuts puzzle me), and certain comedic timing with actors that work well to make certain scenes even funnier. Someone as talented as Taratino should not come as a surprise, but he still got it in his ninth film.
2.) Since this is film involving old Hollywood films and TV series, it is impressive that this film manages to integrate its characters to those other films and TV series. Not including characters involving famous actors and directors (i.e. Bruce Lee and Roman Polanski), the setting looks and feels like 1969 Hollywood. The music, the costumes, the atmosphere, everything about this film screams late 1960s Hollywood. Goes to show that Taratino knows his film knowledge.
3.) The last act is so funny and brutal that it just fits with Taratino’s style of comedy and violence. No spoilers here, but all that slow burn and build-up just for this last act is so worth watching…
Cons:
1.) …Speaking of the slow burn, this film is slow. It is for the build-up, characterization, and progression of the plot, but some of these scenes I question why they are showing it. We do not need to see Cliff Booth (played by Brad Pitt) driving around Los Angeles for ten minutes, nor some of the backstory of certain movies and actors. Lose some of these scenes, and the film would be just fine it is around two hours or two hours and fifteen minutes instead of two hours and forty-one minutes.
2.) I slightly do not understand why Sharon Tate (played by Margot Robbie) has just as much screen time as Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and Cliff Booth. After looking her up, I got a better understanding why she has a big role, but she does not really do much other than partying, watching movies and TV, and hanging out with Roman Polanski. If you know her history, you are going to understand the film much better, but with how much screen time she has and how important she is in the story, you might wish she did more than what I had mentioned.
3.) If you know Taratino’s work, you know that he is a master of dialogue scenes. Most filmmakers try to copy how he makes dialogue scenes work, because he makes them interesting and entertaining for long periods of time. However, while they are still done well, some of them go on a bit too long to the point where it gets a little boring. I noticed it in his last film, The Hateful Eight as well, so Taratino might be slacking a bit, possibly because some of the dialogue is not that interesting. Those scenes are still good, but could have been better.
Overall:
The 9th film written and directed by Quentin Taratino, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a change of pace since his last two films were Old Westerns. This film kind of reminds of another movie that took place in a similar timeline and has a similar tone, The Nice Guys.
Whereas I did not really like that movie as much (but I love the trailer), this film I like more, and I kind of wished that The Nice Guys did something similar to it, but I digress. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood still has the same approaches as other Taratino films with long yet entertaining dialogue (for the most part), hilarious humor, great acting, and a clear love for cinema. I do not love it as much as other Taratino films (probably just as good as The Hateful Eight), but it is still on par with his other works. If you love Taratino and his work, you will enjoy this film (especially with the last act).
7/10
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