Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood
Acting was great. Story not so much; NT Times called it a shaggy dog story and I agree. Could have been somewhat shorter.
disagree. I think it was fantastic storytelling. So many interesting layers. The ending scene so heartbreaking.
Did drag a little- could have been cut by about 15 minutes from the first half (second half was nearly perfect pacing) but I honestly didn’t mind the length and found it fairly riveting throughout
This is the first movie I've been excited to see since I can remember!
I've always said of Tarantino: I wouldn't want to have a cup of coffee with him, but he's a brilliant screenwriter and director.
so true. I love everything he does but this one just really moved me. I’m a sucker for old Hollywood stuff and for both Leo and Brad.
I haven't liked a single movie of his since Pulp Fiction.(I loved PF. Seen it many times.) I may see this one next week some time. (I'm a sucker for Manson stuff.)
Last night I saw Honeyland, a documentary in Turkish that takes place in Macedonia. It's an absolute miracle of a movie. Stunning. Should win every award it's up for.
Also saw THE MOUNTAIN, with Jeff Goldblum. It's interesting, I guess, if a bit soporific.
When I first heard about this project, my concern was the Manson angle. If you tell me I'm not gonna have to cringe from a portrayal of the Tate murder, I'm ready to put in three hours.
all I can say is just wait... I would not want to ruin the ending for anyone.
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:
I haven't liked a single movie of his since Pulp Fiction.(I loved PF. Seen it many times.) I may see this one next week some time. (I'm a sucker for Manson stuff.)
Last night I saw Honeyland, a documentary in Turkish that takes place in Macedonia. It's an absolute miracle of a movie. Stunning. Should win every award it's up for.
Also saw THE MOUNTAIN, with Jeff Goldblum. It's interesting, I guess, if a bit soporific.
Then you aren’t a Tarantino fan just a Pulp Fiction fan. This one is very,very different from anything he’s done so I wouldn’t rule it out just based on not liking him. Honestly, I wouldn’t have cared if I liked the movie or not, just watching Leo tear up the screen was enough.
the movie isn’t really ABOUT the Manson murders. They are there to help explain the shift from old Hollywood and create this sort of metaphor between the way it was and the way it will be. And they create a lot of suspense. The Tate murders themselves will not be what you expect. The final scene of the movie is as haunting and tragic and heartbreaking as anything I’ve ever seen.
conandrob240 said:
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:Then you aren’t a Tarantino fan just a Pulp Fiction fan. This one is very,very different from anything he’s done so I wouldn’t rule it out just based on not liking him. Honestly, I wouldn’t have cared if I liked the movie or not, just watching Leo tear up the screen was enough.
I haven't liked a single movie of his since Pulp Fiction.(I loved PF. Seen it many times.) I may see this one next week some time. (I'm a sucker for Manson stuff.)
Last night I saw Honeyland, a documentary in Turkish that takes place in Macedonia. It's an absolute miracle of a movie. Stunning. Should win every award it's up for.
Also saw THE MOUNTAIN, with Jeff Goldblum. It's interesting, I guess, if a bit soporific.
Agreed. I'm definitely not a QT fan. But I'll see this one next week.
QT seems to have a fascination with cowboys and righting the wrongs of history, but three hours was a lot. Great recreation of late sixties movie marquees and LA landmarks and LA people. Mama Cass looked real!
Some takeaway questions: Did Leo really need the affected stutter?Was Bruce Lee really such a prick? Was this Luke Perry’s final film? Were those real scars on Brads pretty face?
I thought Leo was absolutely perfect. Don’t know about Bruce Lee but lots of praise for the performance being “ spot on”. Yes, Luke Perry’s final film. No, scars on Brad were because he was a stuntman.
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:
I haven't liked a single movie of his since Pulp Fiction.(I loved PF. Seen it many times.) I may see this one next week some time. (I'm a sucker for Manson stuff.)
Are you serious? You haven't seen Kill Bill vol 1 & 2? I can't believe that.
Inglorious Bastards and Django Unchained are must sees as well.
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Once Upon a Time was excellent!
sorry - I misread your post - I thought you said you haven't seen a movie of his since PF. 
jamie said:
sorry - I misread your post - I thought you said you haven't seen a movie of his since PF.
No prob. I saw them - just didn't care for them.
The_Soulful_Mr_T said:
I haven't liked a single movie of his since Pulp Fiction.(I loved PF. Seen it many times.) I may see this one next week some time. (I'm a sucker for Manson stuff.)
Last night I saw Honeyland, a documentary in Turkish that takes place in Macedonia. It's an absolute miracle of a movie. Stunning. Should win every award it's up for.
Also saw THE MOUNTAIN, with Jeff Goldblum. It's interesting, I guess, if a bit soporific.
This was movie did NOT live up to the hype. Save your money and watch it on one of the cable channels. Poor editing, the story line was over done. And, what a waste of Al Pacino's time. I actually fell asleep and its not me to sleep through a Quentin Tarantino movie.
Really disappointed. After reading some of the reviews over the weekend, I was not alone. I enjoyed just about all of Tarantino's flicks (Jackie Brown, Pulp Fiction, Inglourious Basterds, et al, with the exception of this one.
It was pointed out to me Tarantino switch from Marimax to Sony/Columbia Productions and his longtime film editor, passed away. Perhaps that's why this movie ran for an unnecessary almost 3 HOURS!
The scenery and bringing back the past old shows, was ok and the woman who played Sharon Tate, good. Other than that, 2 stars out of 5. (I'm being generous.)
I know Bruce Lee's daughter is not a happy camper. (WARNING: Spoiler alert.)
"Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon, has hit out at the portrayal of her father in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino’s new film set in the late 1960s film industry, saying it was disheartening and uncomfortable.
Lee added: “What I’m interested in is raising the consciousness of who Bruce Lee was as a human being and how he lived his life. All of that was flushed down the toilet in this portrayal, and made my father into this arrogant punching bag.”
all of QT’s movies are 3+ hours had nothing to do with any studio switch. It’s part of his “thing”.
With three exceptions (the debut Reservoir Dogs, the two-part Kill Bill and the double-feature Death Proof), all his movies fall within 2:34 and 2:48, with Once Upon a Time clocking in at 2:41.
That’s an impressively narrow range. The guy’s obviously found a sweet spot he likes.
Meanwhile, the songs on the Beatles’ 1962-1966 “red album” vary from 1:58 all the way to 3:03. Undisciplined basterds.
DaveSchmidt said:
With three exceptions (the debut Reservoir Dogs, the two-part Kill Bill and the double-feature Death Proof), all his movies fall within 2:34 and 2:48, with Once Upon a Time clocking in at 2:41.
That’s an impressively narrow range. The guy’s obviously found a sweet spot he likes.
Interesting.
I also have to say - some movies, you have to be in the right frame of mind for and wide awake.
Some of my favorite movies can easily put me to sleep if I'm not in the right mindset: 2001 - Inherent Vice - Brazil - Koyaanisqatsi.
And if you want to be wide awake - go to SOPAC - you'll also be freezing. Bring a sweatshirt.
conandrob240 said:
all of QT’s movies are 3+ hours had nothing to do with any studio switch. It’s part of his “thing”.
The editing was NOT good. Yes, his movies are long however, each of previous were better than this one and kept my attention. I found it laboring. Not his best.
jamie said:
And if you want to be wide awake - go to SOPAC - you'll also be freezing.Bring a sweatshirt.
I WAS in SOPAC and the freezing cold couldn't keep me awake. Another party member who was with me said it wasn't bad, but wasn't Tarantino's best, The other, I had to nudge during the movie because they started to snore. LOL!
It’s just one of those must-see kind of films if u have three hours to spare. If nothing else his films are interesting and have great dialogue. In retrospect Brad was kind of doing Brad ( but I loved that he peeped the compound right off ) and his character could have been killed off at any moment. Leo was doing his character as though “The Aviator” had a sequel and Howard Hughes had become a cowboy star. Just sayin’. Enjoyed it tho.
Pulp Fiction then Resevoir Dogs, IMHO. Inglorious Basterds is not even in same category. I haven't seen this one yet but can't wait. I hear its up there among the first two.
what did you think? I thought it was fantastic. Not perfect but pretty close. Best Quentin move in a decade (Pulp is my favorite followed by Inglorious Basterds, I think this falls 3rd for me after those two maybe second). Leonardo DiCaprio was absolutely stunning in it. His best performance ever. Brad Pitt was great too. Lots of fantastic tiny performances- almost unrecognizable Dakota Fanning, the little girl from American Housewife, Mike Moh as Bruce Lee. Thoroughly enjoyable and mesmerizing, great scenery too with LA in 1969 being recreated. It’s one I want to see again.