Once upon a time in ... Hollywood is the ninth film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino and we could safely say that the cast resembles the crusades of the world of cinema: too many are the names that have trodden the imaginary stage of this monumental work of reconstruction of a time that was. Brad Pitt, Leonardo di Caprio, Margot Robbie, Dakota Fenning, Luke Perry (last appearance on screen, sadly), Al Pacino, Kurt Russell and many others, that if we had to name everyone we would end up with a cold and not at all funny list. The film we are going to analyze is something quite different: it is a different point of view, an enhanced reality of the era that was and will certainly never be.
Once upon a time…
… Rick Dalton (Leonardo Di Caprio) is the Hollywood star, the highest paid and the most requested on the scene: the actor is a true legend in his sector, to the point that with his friend Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) have been through a lot (well Cliff maybe a few more since his job is to act as a stuntman for our golden boy); perhaps the two have been through too much because ours Rick he is now at the end of his career, a lion who would not want to stop hunting but who is forced to give way to the young. Cliff he is more modest: for him, luxury villas and recklessness are not important, for him simple pleasures count more, a quiet life we could say. In this scenario, we see moving Roman Polański e Sharon Tate right in the mansion next to Rick Dalton's. From here on we do not feel able to tell you how events unfold, just so as not to ruin anything else about the plot of a story that - albeit true - is told in a unique style, just as expected from Tarantino.
… In Hollywood!
Once upon a time in ... Hollywood it is a film full of meaning from its title, after all it sounds like a fairy tale ... and in fact it is: photography and direction are undoubtedly exceptional, and only perhaps in the sound could something more be sought (nothing that certainly goes to ruin the film). Quentin Tarantino he is a bit held back in the first part of the film, but then he proves to be the crazy genius we all love, letting us immerse ourselves in the dense life of the characters who, even if invented, enrich the real life of the stars they meet. Seeing Leonardo Di Caprio struggling with TV series of the 70s was exciting: in the FBI the actor is sublime, not to mention that in other films, westerns in particular, he gives his best. Brad Pitt is perhaps the true protagonist of the film: although his role is more secluded than that of Di Caprio, it is certainly no less. Perhaps less prominent than the others was Margot Robbie who, although she plays an important role, appears not very much on the screen: we firmly believe that she is not suitable for this kind of role, we have seen her give much more to the public for example in the role of the queen Elizabeth in Mary Queen of Scots, where she has been able to prove that she is much more than the beautiful woman she is.
Ninth film, ninth success
Once Upon a Time in ... Hollywood is undoubtedly a success: the film is full of contrasts that combine a sense of slowness bordering on boredom with scenes that will probably remain in the history of cinema: you will realize it when Rick Dalton will play Caleb in a western comedy and while Cliff Booth will have a rather heated discussion with Bruce Lee. Surely the success of the film must be attributed to the skill of the director, but nothing should be taken away from the extraordinary competence of those who have in front of the camera. Having said that, we can only wish you a good viewing next September, at the cinema in theaters, the appointment is set for the 18th.
