Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (2019)

A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.

Director:

Quentin Tarantino

Writer:

Quentin Tarantino

Stars:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie

Won 2 Oscars. Another 135 wins & 373 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Rick Dalton
Brad Pitt	...	Cliff Booth
Margot Robbie	...	Sharon Tate
Emile Hirsch	...	Jay Sebring
Margaret Qualley	...	Pussycat
Timothy Olyphant	...	James Stacy
Julia Butters	...	Trudi Fraser
Austin Butler	...	Tex Watson
Dakota Fanning	...	Squeaky Fromme
Bruce Dern	...	George Spahn
Mike Moh	...	Bruce Lee
Luke Perry	...	Wayne Maunder
Damian Lewis	...	Steve McQueen
Al Pacino	...	Marvin Schwarz
Nicholas Hammond	...	Sam Wanamaker

Storyline

Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age.

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Plot Keywords:

nagging wife | tattooed trash | pig | camera shot of a girl's legs | man checks out a woman | 

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Taglines:

The 9th Film from Quentin Tarantino.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language throughout, some strong graphic violence, drug use, and sexual references

Did You Know?

Trivia

In an interview with film critic Elvis Mitchell, Quentin Tarantino compared the characters of Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth to the famous Beat Generation duo Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady. In the late '90s, Francis Ford Coppola had an "On The Road" film moving down the pipeline with Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp as the proposed two leads. With this film's casting, Tarantino just manifested two master directors' casting visions.

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Goofs

When Cliff is driving Pussy to Spahn Ranch, he tells her the prison system hasn't gotten him yet and that if it did, it wouldn't be for sexual relations with a minor. In the next scene, Cliff tells Tex he once spent two weeks on a chain gang in Texas.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bounty Law Promo Announcer: This man is worth 500 dollars. And this man's going to collect. He's Jake Cahill, and he lives by... "Bounty Law".

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Crazy Credits

Like Django Unchained (2012), the film opens with the late 1960's Columbia Pictures logo.

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Alternate Versions

In the teaser trailer and the next 2 theatrical trailers some shots from deleted scenes are shown.

• Cliff Booth see Charles Manson walking away from Sharon Tate's house. Both exchange looks. Charlie initially greets Cliff, later Charlie grunts at him.
• Sharon Tate dancing in a black dress in a moving stage.
• Mr. Schwarz salutes the projectionist before entering the projection room.
• Sharon Tate swimming in her pool.

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Connections

References The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

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Soundtracks

Hush
Written by Joe South
Performed by Deep Purple
Courtesy of Deep Purple Overseas/Parlophone Records Ltd
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Either the Worst or the Best Film...

Before watching this film, it is CRITICAL that you have somewhat of a knowledge about Charles Manson (and Sharron Tate). If I did not have my sister next to me pointing out the small references to this serial killer's story, I would not have understood at least 80% of the movie. Understanding the significant details adds a specific intensity in every other scene, like you know something that the characters don't, and always keeps your eyes glued to the screen.

Although I can see how a few scenes were fairly slow, and the middle was not particularly engaging, Tarantino definitely had a purpose for each scene, even if I don't have all the answers. Even the smallest of details, like a gun holster of beer or the way the characters drive down the highway, reveals hidden thoughts, feelings, and backstories to the audience. If you do not catch onto these specific details, I can understand how some points seem overindulgent of "the golden age" of Hollywood. But the beautifully nostalgic filming in these moments is what makes this film not only entertaining, but a piece of art.

It's the juxtaposition of Sharron and Dalton's storyline, it's the wonder and the dimensional characters, it's the brilliant manipulation of the audience's emotions, causing you to laugh, scream, and cry (sometimes simultaneously) that makes this film utterly perfect.

The ending leaves you wondering "What if..." over and over again, questioning what reality would look like if these fictional characters of Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth actually existed. And I think that's when I realized how perfect the title was: it's a humorous, fairy-tale (although not completely violent-free) ending to the tragic fate of Hollywood in the 60s...

Details

Official Sites:

centrumfilmow Columbia TriStar - Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Magazine

Country:

USA UK China

Language:

English Italian Spanish German

Release Date:

26 July 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled #9

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$90,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$41,082,018, 28 July 2019

Gross USA:

$142,502,728

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$374,375,059

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Bona Film Group, Heyday Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

161 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1) Dolby Atmos Dolby Surround 7.1

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1