Why watch the Oscar-winning movie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" for Brad Pitt

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The famous actor played perhaps his best role.

The ninth tape of one of the brightest representatives of postmodernism and auteur cinema and just a good director Quentin Tarantino received 10 Academy Award nominations and won two of them. The long-awaited statuette was presented to Brad Pitt. Also honored was the work of production designers who perfectly conveyed the style of the era of old Hollywood.

Any work of Tarantino, of course, immediately attracts everyone's attention. After all, it is he who best knows how to combine references to classic films, humor, vivid characters and grotesque cruelty on the verge of comedy.

The master remained true to his style, while not hesitating to experiment with genres. But this time there is a feeling that Quentin decided to just remember the past, to be a little sad about bright times, and at the same time to entertain the audience.

And that is why “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” has turned out, perhaps, the most soulful picture of the master. Although there are much fewer events and really bright moments in it than in its previous tapes.

This is goodbye to old Hollywood

The plot tells about the actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) - the star of Westerns, whose career is gradually declining. He's already starring as villains on TV shows. Always next to the hero is his stunt double and friend Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) - a kind and positive person, behind whose back it seems to be a cruel crime.

While Rick is trying his best to save his fading career, Cliff helps him with household chores and meets funny hippie girls from Charles Manson's "Family". And at the same moment, their neighbor - the wife of Roman Polanski and aspiring actress Sharon Tate - is enjoying the first rays of fame.

If according to the description it may seem that the plot of the film is simple, it is so. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is developing very slowly. The whole action is limited to just a couple of days.

But more importantly, Tarantino practically abandoned sudden turns in the script (except perhaps for one moment) and put in the forefront not even the artists, but Hollywood itself.

In one of the first scenes, the character of Al Pacino tells Dalton about the sad fate of the star being released in circulation, and this is what becomes the leitmotif of the whole story. Rick here and there meets more popular artists, meets an eight-year-old girl who knows almost more about acting than he does. And he understands more and more that his time is running out.

Probably the same way Tarantino sees today's changes in cinema. After all, he always belonged to retrogrades, preferring to shoot without an abundance of computer effects. He still relies on his beloved, albeit sometimes aging actors.

And, probably, it is no coincidence that he took on the main role of DiCaprio: lately he is often called “His Brand Is Excellence”: How Leonardo DiCaprio Became Hollywood’s Last Movie Star “the last real Hollywood star”. That is, an artist whose name itself has become an indicator of quality. Tarantino seems to be hinting that there will be no new ones: almost everyone now has to act in walk-through jobs.

It is even more curious that Brad Pitt finally won an Oscar for his role in this film. Previously, he already had a statuette for producing "12 Years of Slavery" and many nominations. In 2020, he won the Best Supporting Actor category. Although, in fact, both in the importance of the character and in the level of play, Pitt is not at all inferior to DiCaprio. And in the image of Cliff Booth, he seemed to collect all the best from his past roles.

"Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood" - frank nostalgia for those moments when everything was a little simpler and more honest. It's no secret that the director adores old cinema, just from those times in which the action of his film unfolds. But this era goes further and further.

No wonder in "Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood" to the traditional citation of the classics were added references to the films of Tarantino himself.

Realizing that he has become a living legend himself, it is as if he deliberately destroys the magic of cinema. No wonder the scene of Booth's fight with Bruce Lee was filmed just for a long shot - one of the director's favorite tricks. And then Pitt is very noticeable and even impudently changed to a stunt double. Despite the fact that he himself plays a stuntman.

And it's even better noticeable when, on the set of the next film, one of Dalton's dialogues begins to be filmed in the standard Tarantino style: the camera moves around the characters. But then everything breaks down, and she drives back with a creak.

This is the very same movie about cinema, which allows you to look behind the scenes of show business and see the actors of real people. A grotesque version of the director's very style. His favorite non-linear storyline is getting weird: Flashbacks can take longer than the main scene. Slow dialogue is filmed with a static camera, without even changing angles.

And best of all, this grotesque is visible in the storyline of Sharon Tate. After all, it is as if she is not needed at all. Tarantino most of the time simply allows viewers to admire the beauty of Margot Robbie: she walks, dances, watches a movie in which she herself starred, and has fun with friends.

Although it is in this part that the most important plot move is hidden. But in order to understand it, it is better to prepare.

This is fiction on the verge of reality

It's no secret that Quentin Tarantino is very fond of referring to pop culture. But in the past, all this was limited to radio broadcasts, popular music and citing classics of cinema. The only time he connected the action of the picture with real characters was "Inglourious Basterds", which featured Adolf Hitler himself.

But "Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood" seems to be developing in our world. Rick Dalton lives next door to Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate, meets on set with actor James Stacy, auditions for the role in The Big Escape, which eventually starred Steve McQueen.

Of course, you don't have to remember all of these characters to enjoy a painting. Although to those who know at least Polanski and McQueen, what is happening will seem much more exciting and witty. After all, the director even re-shot some scenes from a famous movie.

But those who have not heard of either Sharon Tate or the Charles Manson sect are likely to lose a lot. Therefore, it is worth reading at least a couple of general articles about these characters in advance.

In the modern world, many are afraid of spoilers even for biographical films about famous personalities like Freddie Mercury and Elton John. Perhaps this is how the tapes about them really look more interesting, and you might even be surprised at the plot twists. But Tarantino has exactly the opposite case.

The more you know about real-life hero prototypes and historical context, the better.

Several important atmospheric moments are built precisely on the fact that the viewer already understands dark hints. A certain short Charlie comes to the Tate house and asks a guest about the previous tenants, Booth meets the girl and gives her a lift to the Spahn ranch, where westerns were once filmed. It would be better if these names and titles mean something to the viewer.

And just the fact that young and sunny Sharon is enjoying life and planning to have a baby is very important for the disturbing atmosphere. All this may seem unnecessary and meaningless, pumping without result. But only if you do not know how this story ended. But it is worth at least superficially to understand - and you can feel the very tension when bright moments already hint at tragedy.

Just do not forget that Quentin Tarantino never aspired to either documentary or realism. He makes feature films. And "Once Upon a Time in … Hollywood" is no exception. Moreover, with a title that copies the traditional beginning of any fairy tales and tales.

This is the real Tarantino again

You can talk as much as you like about new and old techniques and explain the director's complex ideas. But still, the main advantage of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the main factor that attracts viewers to cinemas is the following: this is a Quentin Tarantino film.

And the fans of the master will not be disappointed in the least. The director still works great with the actors. DiCaprio, for all his great services to Nolan, Scorsese and Iñarritu, is revealed in a completely new way. Brad Pitt plays like he's just having fun on set. And Margot Robbie is incredibly charming, and Tarantino has not forgotten about his favorite foot fetish.

The rest of the director's favorites are also dropping by. Sometimes even in very small roles, delighting the viewer with familiar faces and skill.

Tarantino again throws in a good deal of grotesque and text jokes. There is probably even more comedy here than in all of his previous works. He also shoots very stylishly, imitating classic shots and creating a unique visual series: everything looks like it came from photographs of the late sixties.

Quentin Tarantino has long said that he will shoot only 10 films in his life. It is not known exactly what he will do next. But with the past - both his own and Hollywood - he has already said goodbye. Bright, touching and very witty. The way only he can.