Once Upon a Time in Hollywood excites and dazzles

On July 26, Quentin Tarantinio’s ninth film, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” hit theaters. Featuring Leonardo Dicaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, the movie focuses on the late 1960’s in Hollywood. Rick Dalton (Dicaprio) is struggling with becoming a big-name actor in Hollywood. He travels with his partner, former stunt double now chauffeur, Cliff Booth (Pitt), in hopes of keeping the ‘hollywood dream life’.  The movie bases its plot around true events, like the history of the Manson Family and Sharon Tate. The Manson family was a cult formed in the 60s that despised people who were prominent celebrities, like Sharon Tate, and set out to murder them. Tate was an American actress who was married to a famous director, Roman Polanksi, and was murdered by the Manson family while pregnant with a child. The film incorporates this chilling true story, but adds its own spin on it as well. Tarantino takes the creative license of a storyteller and illustrates what could have happened: “once upon a time…”. Through his expert direction and the help of production design, Tarantino brings to life the vibes of the late 60’s through glo prints, groovy music and choppy editing. Tarantino incorporates creative film making within a film based on the 1960s.  This film took me by surprise in its portrayal of Hollywood. It is sometimes seen as a setting of scandals, self-absorption, fame and corruption, but Tarantino’s directing skills and creativity made me realize there are more layers to just living in Hollywood. Hollywood is a place for celebration on one’s success, with or without fame and money. Cliff Booth (Pitt) lives an easy life in Hollywood with no high paying job. He celebrates Rick Dalton’s success of his movies, and they both live and celebrate life in Hollywood.