Tarantino: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Pitts Cliff Booth made the movie for me. I found the Rick Dalton stuff kinda boring.

But every scene involving Cliff was magic.

In an odd coincidence, I just watched the movie last night for the first time. I'd wanted to see it in the theaters but never had the timing right to do it.

I agree on Cliff versus Rick. If you completely took Rick out of the movie it wouldn't have made a negative impact. Cliff was the interesting one. In fact, the movie was coming close to losing me during that big extended filming scene in the middle where Rick was on the set of the western.

I also don't get Tarantino's love of ridiculous violence like the flame thrower use. I don't think it added anything and it took me out of scene because it was so unrealistic. I'll admit that I did laugh at Cliff slamming that one woman's face against every single thing in the house, though.

I'll comment on the ending in a spoiler in case someone hasn't seen it.

Spoiler!

I wasn't sure how it was going to end, and I was thinking it was going to be a downer to watch Sharon Tate get killed right at the end. But I really liked the fact that Cliff and Rick ended up nudging the hippies off that course. It made for a happy ending, and saved some people who didn't deserve to die.

It struck me that that was the whole genesis of the movie concept. Tarantino was probably talking to someone and they said, "What if one little thing had gone differently?" So they added that one element as fiction and built the story around it.

It was a decent movie, middle of the pack for Tarantino, but the ending saved it. If the murders had happened I would've walked away unhappy. But with Cliff and his dog saving everybody, suddenly the whole reason for the movie clicked and I walked away with a positive feeling about it.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

In an odd coincidence, I just watched the movie last night for the first time. I'd wanted to see it in the theaters but never had the timing right to do it.

I agree on Cliff versus Rick. If you completely took Rick out of the movie it wouldn't have made a negative impact. Cliff was the interesting one. In fact, the movie was coming close to losing me during that big extended filming scene in the middle where Rick was on the set of the western.

I also don't get Tarantino's love of ridiculous violence like the flame thrower use. I don't think it added anything and it took me out of scene because it was so unrealistic. I'll admit that I did laugh at Cliff slamming that one woman's face against every single thing in the house, though.

I'll comment on the ending in a spoiler in case someone hasn't seen it.

Spoiler!

I wasn't sure how it was going to end, and I was thinking it was going to be a downer to watch Sharon Tate get killed right at the end. But I really liked the fact that Cliff and Rick ended up nudging the hippies off that course. It made for a happy ending, and saved some people who didn't deserve to die.

It struck me that that was the whole genesis of the movie concept. Tarantino was probably talking to someone and they said, "What if one little thing had gone differently?" So they added that one element as fiction and built the story around it.

It was a decent movie, middle of the pack for Tarantino, but the ending saved it. If the murders had happened I would've walked away unhappy. But with Cliff and his dog saving everybody, suddenly the whole reason for the movie clicked and I walked away with a positive feeling about it.

It’s another film in QTs revisionist history catalog. With a hyperextended reality.

Similar in Vein to Inglorious Bastards and DJango Unchained.

It’s what QT wishes how things would have ended up.

It’s what he does. Every movie he’s made has his own version of reality. You either run with it or you don’t.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I agree on Cliff versus Rick. If you completely took Rick out of the movie it wouldn't have made a negative impact.

While Cliff was the soul of the movie, Rick was the heart of the movie. Without Rick, there would have been no Cliff.

I'm surprised to see so many people pan LDC's performance and character. For me, it was absolutely mind blowing to actually SEE a real TV Series, Lancer, acted out by actors, who themselves are being portrayed by actors in a TV series within in a movie.

The way LDC seamlessly transitioned from Rick Dalton in Bounty Law to a criminal in Lancer, then back to Rick Dalton the person was simply amazing, IMO, and his performance was absolutely stellar.

As much as I've loved Brad Pitt's characters over the years, I always see Brad Pitt in the role. I didn't really see Cliff when Pitt was onscreen, I saw Pitt.

Yet LDC was essentially playing three different characters in the film and I saw each and every one of those and not Leonardo Di Caprio.

[vailpass]

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Yeah I wasn’t born until 71 but can still relate to so much of this movie, all of those Bounty Law style westerns were still showing regularly in syndication

I read Vincent Bugliosis definitive book on the Manson saga as a very young teen, so that was familiar as well... and all the rest of it too, really, all of those cars were still on the road as a kid, all that music was still on the radio

Bruce Lee was still huge, I used to OD on his movies... and though Tarantino portrayed him badly, it was still cool to see him brought back to life so perfectly

Yeah this flic just clicks with me, might just put it on again today if I get tired of shark week...

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

While Cliff was the soul of the movie, Rick was the heart of the movie. Without Rick, there would have been no Cliff.

I'm surprised to see so many people pan LDC's performance and character. For me, it was absolutely mind blowing to actually SEE a real TV Series, Lancer, acted out by actors, who themselves are being portrayed by actors in a TV series within in a movie.

The way LDC seamlessly transitioned from Rick Dalton in Bounty Law to a criminal in Lancer, then back to Rick Dalton the person was simply amazing, IMO, and his performance was absolutely stellar.

As much as I've loved Brad Pitt's characters over the years, I always see Brad Pitt in the role. I didn't really see Cliff when Pitt was onscreen, I saw Pitt.

Yet LDC was essentially playing three different characters in the film and I saw each and every one of those and not Leonardo Di Caprio.

Having Easy's background knowledge on the Manson story and/or Dane's in-depth grasp of theater may have made this a different viewing for me. I came in looking for a Tarantino roller coaster ride and that didn't happen.

I really enjoy most everything Pitt, Leo, and QT have made. I was picturing another QT non-linear piece with his rich dialogue and "wow" moments typical of his films. There was some of that but it appears this one was nuanced in ways that didn't line up with me.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Having Easy's background knowledge on the Manson story and/or Dane's in-depth grasp of theater may have made this a different viewing for me. I came in looking for a Tarantino roller coaster ride and that didn't happen.

I really enjoy most everything Pitt, Leo, and QT have made. I was picturing another QT non-linear piece with his rich dialogue and "wow" moments typical of his films. There was some of that but it appears this one was nuanced in ways that didn't line up with me.

If you can’t dig this movie... EAT SHIT

Just tell me Jackie Browns in your top 3 and we’re still cool

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by vailpass

Having Easy's background knowledge on the Manson story and/or Dane's in-depth grasp of theater may have made this a different viewing for me. I came in looking for a Tarantino roller coaster ride and that didn't happen.

I really enjoy most everything Pitt, Leo, and QT have made. I was picturing another QT non-linear piece with his rich dialogue and "wow" moments typical of his films. There was some of that but it appears this one was nuanced in ways that didn't line up with me.

I need to watch this one again. We really enjoyed it, and I think it could be my favorite QT movie.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

While Cliff was the soul of the movie, Rick was the heart of the movie. Without Rick, there would have been no Cliff.

I'm surprised to see so many people pan LDC's performance and character. For me, it was absolutely mind blowing to actually SEE a real TV Series, Lancer, acted out by actors, who themselves are being portrayed by actors in a TV series within in a movie.

The way LDC seamlessly transitioned from Rick Dalton in Bounty Law to a criminal in Lancer, then back to Rick Dalton the person was simply amazing, IMO, and his performance was absolutely stellar.

As much as I've loved Brad Pitt's characters over the years, I always see Brad Pitt in the role. I didn't really see Cliff when Pitt was onscreen, I saw Pitt.

Yet LDC was essentially playing three different characters in the film and I saw each and every one of those and not Leonardo Di Caprio.

The way the integrated Leo's Dalton inside real tv shows and movies was superb.

Like 'The Great Escape' and the FBI Files tv show . I didnt realize that was actually Burt Reynolds until after i had seen the movie.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

While Cliff was the soul of the movie, Rick was the heart of the movie. Without Rick, there would have been no Cliff.

I'm surprised to see so many people pan LDC's performance and character. For me, it was absolutely mind blowing to actually SEE a real TV Series, Lancer, acted out by actors, who themselves are being portrayed by actors in a TV series within in a movie.

The way LDC seamlessly transitioned from Rick Dalton in Bounty Law to a criminal in Lancer, then back to Rick Dalton the person was simply amazing, IMO, and his performance was absolutely stellar.

As much as I've loved Brad Pitt's characters over the years, I always see Brad Pitt in the role. I didn't really see Cliff when Pitt was onscreen, I saw Pitt.

Yet LDC was essentially playing three different characters in the film and I saw each and every one of those and not Leonardo Di Caprio.

Honestly thought it was some of the best acting I’ve ever seen.

[rabblerouser]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

In fact, the movie was coming close to losing me during that big extended filming scene in the middle where Rick was on the set of the western.

One of my favorite parts.

"Poor Easy Breezy."

[smith11]

Originally Posted by rabblerouser

One of my favorite parts.

"Poor Easy Breezy."

love how tarantino references obscure stories in the background of the main story....dalton's co-star in the TV pilot was a real life character james stacy, played by timothy olyphant...as the production winds down for the day they show stacy hopping on his motorcycle and riding off

in real life stacy had a bad motorcycle crash and lost limbs and had a promising acting career derailed...

[gblowfish]

I guess the story is what you have to call "suspending belief." I enjoyed the tap ins to late 1960's culture (Mannix, Combat, Matt Helm) and the cars were way cool. Thought Leo's character was a big mish mash of Robert Conrad, Chuck Conners and James Garner. And between this movie and Hunters on Netflix, Pacino has morphed from a Mafia Godfather to a little old Jewish man. Very strange. The guy who played Bruce Lee was a hoot too.

[DeepPurple]

I'm as real as a donut, Mother ****er!!

I love 1968 and '69 music. I graduated high school in '68, this movie is right up my alley. I didn't think that many people would really dig it. I'm glad some of you like it. I guess you have to be a fan of the 60's to really get into it. I've got a small section of a wall at home with about 25 photos of shows and movies I like from the 60's and such.

[Easy 6]

Yeah I wasn’t born until 71 but can still relate to so much of this movie, all of those Bounty Law style westerns were still showing regularly in syndication

I read Vincent Bugliosis definitive book on the Manson saga as a very young teen, so that was familiar as well... and all the rest of it too, really, all of those cars were still on the road as a kid, all that music was still on the radio

Bruce Lee was still huge, I used to OD on his movies... and though Tarantino portrayed him badly, it was still cool to see him brought back to life so perfectly

Yeah this flic just clicks with me, might just put it on again today if I get tired of shark week...

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by DeepPurple

I'm as real as a donut, Mother ****er!!

I love 1968 and '69 music. I graduated high school in '68, this movie is right up my alley. I didn't think that many people would really dig it. I'm glad some of you like it. I guess you have to be a fan of the 60's to really get into it. I've got a small section of a wall at home with about 25 photos of shows and movies I like from the 60's and such.

To really love this movie, as I did, I think you needed to check off at least a couple of these boxes:

Have been alive during the 60’s: missed it by 7 years

Love American history: check

Love great acting: check

Love Tarantino films: check

[eDave]

Going to have to watch it again I guess. Was kinda meant for me first time through.