“Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood” Is A Modern Day Fairy-Tale

If you haven’t watched Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, be warned that there’re spoilers in this post. Also, this is not a synopsis. If you’re going to watch it, please do so with a chill mood and just enjoy the story. Okay, here it comes!

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I really enjoyed the movie.

To me, it’s an example of great storytelling. Years later, even after I forget what went on in the movie, I believe I’ll still remember the feeling it evoked. It’s that type of movie.

Interestingly, I didn’t get much out of the trailer. I almost didn’t want to watch the movie. But I love the 60’s (who doesn’t?), and Leonardo DiCaprio is famous for his taste in good scripts. Also, the trailer made me curious about Charles Manson’s involvement in the movie. So I went.

Walking out of the cinema, I realized the trailer showed just enough, and the title is exactly what the movie is about. They were a perfect package. Quentin Tarantino definitely understands what moves his audience.

As with all Tarantino films, the setting for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is punchy and extremely distinctive. If you love the 60’s, you’ll love the setting of this movie. Colorful, vibrant and accented with the fabulous sounds of the 60’s, I was reliving that golden era even though I wasn’t even born then.

The movie follows the story of Rick Dalton, an actor who’s moving past his prime, and Cliff Booth, his stunt double.

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Character Dissection

If you’re a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio, this movie’s like a treat. His portrayal of a 50’s cowboy, with that iconic sway of the hips and excessively expressive brows, was on point and so entertaining.

As Rick Dalton, he was real. So real. He showed us the very human and imperfect struggles of a Hollywood actor. Yes, he has a posh house next to famous director Roman Polanski, several movies and TV shows under his belt, but he feels the same insecurities and fears as you and me!

I love that scene in the trailer when he got pissed off with himself for forgetting his lines. I’ve done a version of that several times in my life, which is probably why it left an impression.

In that scene, he felt shamed by his imperfect delivery. He knew his alcohol habit was a problem, and yelled about quitting drinking. A second later, the force of habit made him sip from his liquor flask, a gesture so reflexive he only registered what he was doing after the fact. Furious, he threw the flask out the door.

That was one of the most human gestures I’ve ever seen on screen, and he nailed it.

After freaking out in his trailer, Rick Dalton picked himself up and delivered one of the best scenes in his life. He cried in relief and pride.

I’m sure we can all identify those periods in our lives; when every little thing triggers our worries of the future and our capabilities; when every little thing can bring tears into our eyes. Our emotions spiral and spiral out of control. We were all Rick Daltons at some point of our lives.

On the other hand, you have Brad Pitt’s character, Cliff Booth. Calm, fearless and comfortable in his situation, he always looks like he knows what he’s doing.

Through a few telling scenes, Tarantino demonstrates that this character is systematic and confident bordering on cocky.

He may live in a messy trailer, but it’s definitely not reflected on his person. I suspect he trains himself as hard as he trains his sweet but powerful dog.

His stalled career as a stuntmen didn’t make him lose his skills, we observed, as he scaled Rick Dalton’s rooftop in a few clean strides. When he’s on the roof, he reminisced about that time he threw Bruce Lee hard (very hard) against a car in a duel. That’s how we know – don’t mess with Cliff.

He turned down Pussycat’s offer of a blow job as he drove her to the ranch. Brain first, desire second. You can’t fool Cliff.

The ranch scene, for me, shows the director’s playfulness. The entire scene was suffused with tension – both from the body language of the ranch’s residents and the sound effects. I kept expecting Cliff to get into serious trouble. But what unfolded was more realistic than what I thought would happen. Everything was fine, pretty much.

Cliff went to the ranch to make sure an old acquaintance who didn’t even remember him wasn’t being taken advantage of, or even killed (I thought he’d find a corpse!). I know now, why he did that even though he could’ve gotten himself killed and no one would know what happened.

Firstly, he had to find out. Secondly, he’s just so damn confident about his abilities to fend for himself!

After smashing a hippie’s face for knifing his tire, Cliff watched one of the girls leave to inform Tex that there’s trouble, with only the slightest hint of concern. I think his expression said he’ll deal with things as they happen, and not worry about what’s to come. Or was he so confident he didn’t care? As it happened, he didn’t have to worry.

That violent streak does make you wonder if he killed his wife. But, like the tragic case of Natalie Wood, the case of Cliff’s deceased wife remains… unsolved.

I love the contrast between the two main characters. Rick Dalton’s an emotional wreck in a fancy house, his emotions as easily manipulated by his situation as a puppet’s limbs.

Cliff Booth’s comfortable in his messy dingy trailer. Does anything ever touch him? He always sports a small smile, as if life is just a slightly funny story.

Rick’s a phlegm-hacking man with no particular care about his body or health, preferring to float on his pool than swim. He sounded like he may die of lung cancer. Cliff’s ripped, fit even on a diet of fat processed food. He has the body of a typical Hollywood star.

Rick wore his emotions on his sleeves and lets himself cry in public and before an 8-year-old. Cliff guarded his emotions.

Yet Cliff says “You’re Rick fucking Dalton. Don’t you forget it.” He didn’t think he should be the famous one. Probably didn’t want it.

Like life, sometimes the ones who looks like they have everything under control isn’t at all in control. Don’t judge movie stars based on their flashy posters! And they aren’t always the fittest and best looking.

While Cliff’s at the ranch, Sharon Tate’s at the cinema, watching her own movie – a representation of the budding Hollywood dream. Her innocence and fiery passion left an impression. Did she have to die? I lamented.

Here’s the essence of Hollywood – a young person, hopeful and hungry for fame. She’s a klutz in the movie, and she’s proud of it. Hey, a role’s a role. She was proud, not only because she’s in a movie, but also because it represented a possibility of more.

Eventually, Rick took up the offer to star in spaghetti westerns and leaves Hollywood for 6 months. This little interlude, to me, showed one of life’s great ironies. Rick made a considerable sum of money from the movies, but because of his swanky lifestyle, found himself unable to afford Cliff Booth’s service at the end of the 6 months after he got married. And that’s the only time we see Cliff get emotional in the movie.

Suddenly, I wasn’t envious of movie stars anymore. They’re as helpless about their lifestyle choices as anyone could be. All that work, fame and money… Maybe it doesn’t beat being contented with what you have.

That fateful night

Anyway, that brings us to that fateful night. Rick and Cliff, to celebrate the end of their partnership, decided to get wasted on the night Sharon Tate was killed in real life. Now, I’ve never watched Inglourious Basterds, I thought Sharon Tate was going to die in the movie. I thought it’s just a matter of how.

It was supposedly the hottest night of the year. A group of hippies showed up in a very noisy car right in front of Rick’s house. He bullied them into backing out of the private road, coming very close to getting shot at.

After getting yelled at by a very drunk and obnoxious Rick, the hippies were actually delighted to recall that he was the main actor in a show they watched they were little. But in a snap, they turned murderous, echoing the behavior of fans all around the world. They can put you on a pedestal, but they can also tear you apart when they’re done with you.

When the three home invaders entered the Dalton residence, I was still skeptical. Was Cliff going to talk them out of attacking this house so they move on to the Polanski’s?

“I know you,” Cliff said to them, unfazed and amused. Sky-high on acid, he even asked them if they were real. “I’m as real as a donut,” Tex replied. Yup, his name wasn’t “the devil”, his name was something dumber.

What followed was a humorously executed but very violent scene. Talk about entertainment value!

I don’t usually like violence, but I was glad to see all three would’ve-been-killers destroyed in the movie. And the freaking flame-thrower was such a fun touch. Was it right to be amused by deadly violence even though it was provoked?

As I watched them die, I can’t help but wish that the killers in real life had invaded a house with less defenseless folks too. Sharon Tate was 8 and a half months pregnant when the attack happened – she didn’t stand a chance. I can’t bear the thought of that.

If you feel very upset by the murders, you may want to give this post a read.

A fairy-tale

As the movie draws to a close with Cliff injured but alive, and Rick getting invited to the Polanski’s by Sharon Tate, you realized why it was titled Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. It’s a fairy-tale of many folds.

It’s a movie that embodied the glamour and struggles of Hollywood – a place where regular people chase after a fairy-tale existence and become characters in “fairy-tales”.

And like all fairy tales, Once Upon A Time In… Hollywood has a happy ending.

It’s definitely a movie I would watch again. If only for that look on Rick Dalton’s face when the girl charged out of the window, screaming, waving a gun at the sky.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my after-thoughts on Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. Did you watch it? Did you enjoy it? Let me know in the comments!