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Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio (r) star in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood |
California Dreamin'
Rotten Tomatoes Plot: Quentin Tarantino's ninth feature film is a story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt.) Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don't recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor... Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie.)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Austin Butler, Dakota Fanning, Bruce Dern, and Al Pacino
What's Good: Tarantino has a knack of transforming the mundane into something truly spectacular. Although Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has plenty of glitz and star power, its smallest moments are its best. DiCaprio and Pitt deliver one of the best bromance turns since Paul Newman & Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; and the ending is guaranteed to turn your world upside down (trust me.)
What's Not: There are a lot of nostalgic references, often delivered with a heavy hand. I enjoyed most of them, but the risk of overkill is severe. Also, some scenes run (unnecessarily) long; but I suppose that's the price you pay for brilliance.
Budget: $90 million
Runtime: 161 minutes (It literally flies by.)
Target Audience: Fans of Tarantino and anyone who yearns for old school Hollywood.
Bottom Line: I was skeptical at first, but after 30 minutes, I was hooked. I laughed, Leo cried, and in between, we were treated to one of the best movies of the decade. All I can say is, "thanks for the memories."
Grade: A