ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Release Date: Malaysia, 15 Aug 2019

Genre: Drama / Comedy

Running Length: 2:41

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant

Director: Quentin Tarantino 

Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD is nothing like anything being released recently from the Hollywood factory. There isn't really much of a plot. As an audience, I was just kinda "hanging out" with the two leads; Leonardo and Brad, throughout the almost 3 hours movie length. However, the final hour of the movie really paid off with an unexpected jaw dropping "Holy SH*T!" ending! 

When Tarantino announced he would be doing a movie with Charles Manson in it, he wasn't lying when he said this was NOT a movie about Charles Manson. 

I heard of "Charles Manson" but I really didn't know much about him until this movie. If I knew more of what he did and his movement, I'm sure I would have enjoyed this movie more. So here you go if you don't know who the Manson Family is: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manson_Family Read this before you watch this film. 

Instead, this movie is about middle-aged fading star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his buddy/stunt double, Cliff Booth (Pitt). Set in 1969 during the flower power Vietnam War years, this fairy tale like movie intersects with real historical tapestry, giving us a contrasting look at larger-than-life movie gods and their hedonistic life vs. a more cynical common American society. 

What I like about this movie is its comedic moments especially of the violent variety (although the level of violence in this film is significantly restrained compared to Tarantino's other movies). Tarantino also had some fun here with the audience with his signature treatment of tension and suspense as it plays out counter to what we expect. 

DiCaprio and Pitt are perfect here as buddies. I did enjoy "hanging out" with them. The rest of the performances are on-point too. 

And the set design here is perfect. This film feels like the 60s. I believe this sixties atmosphere is also contributed by Tarantino's decision to shoot this movie on film (and the camera movements). It does make a difference in the output - it looks older and warmer. 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood might be too long and meandering for some. It's a little self-indulgent too, as expected since we're talking about QT here. But thankfully it's saved by great performances, an excellent atmospheric 60's Hollywood set design and brilliant memorable moments. 

It's true. Quentin Tarantino is really passionate and loves cinema movies with all his heart. 

RATING: 8/10  

THE NICE GUYS (2016)

Genre: Thriller / Comedy
Running Length: 1:56
Cast:Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Kim Basinger
Director: Shane Black
Screenplay: Shane Black, Anthony Bagarozzi

In my opinion, Shane Black (once upon a time the most sought after and highest paid screenwriter in Hollywood; Lethal Weapon series, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Last Action Hero) is perhaps a better writer than a director. The narrative of THE NICE GUYS has all the elements of a fun and quirky "mismatched buddy cop" movie coupled with a Tarantino-esque approach to humour. But the end product ended up not as engaging as what the trailer promises. I reckon perhaps Black was unable to draw the best out of his talented actors, especially Ryan Gosling.

Fans of Gosling will probably hate me for this, but in this movie he was overdoing the gags and was just trying too hard to be funny. As a result, his performance was bordering on the silly lawak bodoh kind. Again, I don't blame Gosling but the director.

Set in the mid 1970s in LA (think Boogie Nights), Gosling plays a down-on-his-luck detective who teams up with Crowe, a hired messenger who delivers his messages with his fists. Their job is to track down the runaway daughter of a District attorney (Kim Basinger) who's involved in the sleazy underbelly world of the porn industry. Gosling's the brain of the operations while Crowe's the brawn; both characters are flawed but they are well, nice guys.

Of course, to make this film worthy of a cinema release, their seemingly simple mission is very quickly escalated into an outrageous one involving mermaids, dead bodies and a giant killer bee. Overall, it's a welcome throwback to the good old fashioned 80s/90s commercial action movies made for adults; free of superheroes and CGI galore. But somehow, it's not as edgy as I expected it to be eventhough it's peppered with some laugh out loud moments.

Rating: 6.5/10