Once Upon a Time Movie Review

Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time' is a mishmash of genius, fantasy and star vehicle. It is also a rambling and incoherent work of art. So what's the verdict? Is it worth watching? And who should see it? Let's take a look at a couple of key aspects of this film. Read on to discover what's wrong with it.

Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time' is a farrago of genius

One of Quentin Tarantino's signatures is the ability to juggle multiple story lines in one movie. While his previous film Pulp Fiction was a masterpiece for its multiple storylines, Once Upon a Time is even more ambitious. The plot follows actor Rick Dalton, his stunt double Cliff Booth, and the film's current shooting schedule. In addition, once upon a time also follows Sharon Tate, the young bride of Roman Polanski, who is murdered by the Manson family.

The film's title is a cliche of a movie and, in a way, the film plays on this cliche. In the opening scene, Rick Dalton is attempting to relax on a movie set, sitting next to an eight-year-old method actor. At this point, the actor is reading a biography on Walt Disney, a reference to The Graduate. The film is both aesthetically pleasing and metatextually exciting, and Tarantino demonstrates that he doesn't have to make up a crisis to convey its point.

It's a star vehicle

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is a Tarantino-directed star vehicle. Starring Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, it's an adaptation of Martin Scorsese's short film. The film is uneven in its plot and direction. Though Pitt and DiCaprio deliver solid performances, the film's star is wasted. Tarantino is a master of witty dialogue and engaging stories. This one doesn't have the same appeal, and Tarantino's chapter breaks and plotting aren't his strongest.

Tate's role is unconvincing and underdeveloped. Despite her popularity in the world of show business, the movie treats her as a modern woman, living her own life and dealing with the pressures of stardom. Although she plays the role of a snobby cynic, the film treats Tate like a young woman whose days are filled with anxiety. Rather than treating her as an opposite of Rick, the film ignores her worries and stresses.

It's a fantasy

In a once upon a time, Hollywood was a place of counterculture and love. But in a decade marked by Vietnam and assassinations, Americans were losing their innocence. A decade that would end with the Manson murders is also remembered for the nihilistic elements found in the film. Set during the months leading up to the bloody evening on Cielo Drive, Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood is a slice of 1960s Americana.

The film is directed by Zhao Xiaoding, a longtime cinematographer of Zhang Yimou films. It's the director's directorial debut. The story is an adaptation of a 2008 Chinese fantasy novel by the same name. But the film suffers from a confusing plot, scrambled romance, and choppy mood changes. The film is worth seeing, but not for its stunning visuals.

It's incoherent

Once upon a time is a decent period piece, but its plot is disjointed and incoherent. It jumps from one point in time to another, and this disconnect removes the viewer's investment in the characters. Once upon a time would be a good choice to compare to the great masterpieces of Sergio Leone, but it lacks the finesse and skill that distinguishes a masterful film. Although the acting, Production Design, and writing are good, the editing is sub-par, and the overall storyline is disjointed and incoherent.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a love letter to the golden age of Hollywood, and it makes a series of philosophical arguments about the state of the industry. It breaks things, conjures up old pop culture, and makes philosophical observations about the importance of art, even if it is in a small way. But for all its flaws, once upon a time is an enjoyable and well-made film.

It's annoying

If you've read any once upon a time movie reviews, you've probably noticed the same recurring theme: a lack of diversity. The rewriting of historical events and the treatment of women are both problematic. The movie also makes an odd choice of Bruce Lee, who's not the real deal. But the movie does succeed in making the real Bruce Lee feel like a fictional villain.