Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood (2019)

Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood (2019)

Written and Directed by: Quentin Tarantino 

Cast: Margot Robbie, Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Michael Madsen, Emil Hirsch, Kurt Russell, Luke Perry 

The god of cinema decided to make another one so of course I had to go see it. Movie buffs like me live for days like this, when a legendary filmmaker releases his new masterpiece upon an unsuspecting universe. As you can see, with every Tarantino film there comes a certain expectation of greatness for me. It goes without saying that I am a full blown Tarantino fan since day one, when I first saw Pulp Fiction back in ‘94 and felt a bucket of cold ice being poured down my cinematic back. But time has passed and as Tarantino himself has said, directors do not make their best movies in their heyday. And Tarantino is close to what he calls his ‘heyday’.  But whatever, I don’t subscribe to that idea, I mean, Scorcese is still amazing and he's close to hitting 80 as I write this. It’s true, that directing a film is a “young person’s game” but Tarantino isn’t that old yet. He still has it in him to hammer out a few good ones. So, was this one of his “good ones”?

 Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is as the title suggest, a huge love letter to Hollywood, filmmaking, actors and life in L.A. during the end of the 60’s. We follow Rick Dalton, an actor who’s afraid of being a has been and his stunt man Cliff Booth. Together they go from gig to gig hoping that it isn’t their last. Somehow, they end up getting entangled with Charles Manson and his gang of zelot followers. The rest is fun times in La La Land, Tarantino style. 

 I’ve noticed this thing Tarantino’s been doing with his films. He takes a moment in history and totally changes it as if saying “this is how I wish it had happened!”. Remember how he burned Hitler and all his cronies in Inglorious Bastards (2009)? Of course we all know that’s not how it happened, but that’s how Tarantino wished it had. Well, Tarantino does the same thing here with Sharon Tate’s murder at the hands of Charles Manson’s followers. It was a crime of pure hate and stupidity. Tate was pregnant and two weeks away from giving birth to her new child when these crazy Manson zombies killed her and her guests. Tarantino feels this was a great wrong, Tate was a beloved actress, she was loved for her looks and her talent and was a star on the rise. Tarantino decides to tell us the events that occurred that night, but in a completely different way, using Poetic Justice as his weapon. 

 Along the way, the film muses on the hardships of being an actor and trying to survive in Hollywood. What’s it like to have that pressure of delivering a great performance? What is the actors duty on a film or a television show? Tarantino also takes us on a stroll down Los Angeles 1969, with all the cinema marquees and automobiles from that era that you’d expect. I thought it was awesome how he brought that era to life, no digital effects to be seen I might add. A lot of scenes in the film are of characters just driving around L.A. streets so we can absorb the era. Granted, this film isn’t as profound as Inglorious Basterds (2009), there’s a decidedly lighter tone to the film, like a fun breezy vibe, a feeling enhanced by Brad Pitt’s character Cliff Booth, always smiling, his character serves as a counter part to the darkness of one of the films themes, Sharon Tate’s murder at the hands of the Manson Family.

 Tarantino, Di Caprio and Pitt get together once again and I have to say the results are fantastic. Di Caprio delivers another amazing performance to his repertoire. I’ve always thought that Di Caprio is one of the best actors of his generation from day one when he blew me away in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993) and to be honest he continues to do so to this day. Love his performance on Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood. A flawed, imperfect character struggling with his craft, worried about becoming useless in life. Brad Pitt turns in another loopy sort of happy go lucky stoner type, where nothing fades him, always the cool dude. His character reminded me of that stoner guy he played in True Romance (1993), it felt as if that character had grown up and become a stunt man in Hollywood. There are lots of cameos sprinkled all through out the film, we get Al Pacino playing a film producer and Kurt Russell as a stunt coordinator, in a way, it felt like he was perhaps playing the same character he played in Tarantino’s Death Proof (2007)? We also get a lot of Tarantino regulars like Zoe Bell, Bruce Dern and Michael Madsen, sorry, no Samuel Jackson this time around. 

 This is Tarantino’s 9^thfilm and there’s been a lot of talk about Tarantino saying that his next one, his tenth film, will be his last. Quite honestly I think they will milk that angle to death for his next film and make a profit out of it being “Tarantino’s 10^thand final film”, but I can almost guarantee that wont be the case. Tarantino’s love for cinema is too strong, a fact that’s evident by what we see in Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood. Tarantino has still got it and I don’t think it’s going anywhere, not even after he makes his 10^thfilm. But that’s just me and I could be horribly wrong so don’t quote me on that. As for Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, it’s a fun ride down the trippy 60’s. It’s a fun time at the movies that explores a dark chapter in Hollywood history while also exploring in a very entertaining way what it means to produce, act and direct films. A film buffs dream this movie is. 

Rating: 5 out of 5.  

The Hateful Eight (2015)

The Hateful Eight (2015)

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demian Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Derns, James Parks, Zoe Bell,  

Right after I finished watching The Hateful Eight, I immediately tried pinpointing the films that influenced Tarantino while writing this one. I mean, most of his films are a smorgasbord of other films put together and blended into Tarantino’s own brand of storytelling. So anyhow, I swear to god, the two films I mentioned to my friend were John Carpenter’s The Thing (1982) and Tarantino’s own Reservoir Dogs (1992). I couldn’t see other influences other than those two. I mean, in general, sure The Hateful Eight is influenced by Sergio Leone’s westerns and also The Magnificent Seven (1960), but the two films that came to mind the most were The Thing and Reservoir Dogs. I haven’t seen enough Western’s to know exactly all of the films he was influenced by, but I’m sure there are a zillion of them. Funny how normally Tarantino borrows from other filmmakers to make up a new film, yet this time, he’s feeding on himself for inspiration! He’s turned into an Ouroboros, eating his own tail! But more on that later. 

While researching The Hateful Eight for this review I discovered that Tarantino himself quoted The Thing and Reservoir Dogs as his main source of inspiration. I think it’s so eclectic and fantastic, that Tarantino is inspired by a science fiction horror film to make his new Western! In fact, John Carpenter’s The Thing was the only film that Tarantino showed the cast and crew to give them an idea of the kind of isolation that he wanted to capture with The Hateful Eight. Tarantino loves The Thing so much that he cast Kurt Russell and had the musical score composed by Ennio Morricone! I love the fact that Tarantino recognizes the awesomeness of Carpenter’s The Thing; it’s always been a favorite of mine. What Tarantino distilled from that picture was that dreadful feeling that you're in the middle of nowhere and no one can save you. You can literally cut the tension in The Thing with a knife. I have to say Tarantino nailed it. During The Hateful Eight, you truly feel like you are in the middle of nowhere with these characters. Shooting the film in the middle of these lonely mountains, and having the story take place in the middle of a raging blizzard was a brilliant idea! It’s a successful setting for the sort of tension filled story Tarantino wanted to tell with this film. 

The Hateful Eight is all about this bounty hunter called John Ruth. He is on his way to a town called Red Wood, accompanied by his prisoner, an evil lady named Daisy Domergue. He’s taking her to town to collect his money and to see her hang. Unfortunately, on his way there, a raging blizzard makes him take refuge in a cottage called ‘Minnies Haberdashery’, a place where you could come in, warm yourself, get a drink and a bite to eat. When he gets there, the place is populated by a group of individuals apparently seeking refuge from the storm as well. Who wants to kill who and why? Will they all survive the blizzard?

Tarantino’s idea for this film was locking up a bunch of mean bastards in a cabin in the middle of a raging blizzard to see what sort of situation develops. This being a Tarantino film, you can bet your ass, whatever is going to happen is going to be some fucked up crazy ass shit. First things first my friends, when you go watch The Hateful Eight you have to be ready for a film that takes its time in setting up characters and situations, this film is in no hurry to end. But trust me, you can be assured all the set up will pay off by the time the film ends. You know how film critics are always bitching and moaning that there’s not enough character development in films today? Well, you don’t have to complain about that here because there’s plenty of it. In fact, every single character has a back story, and every single one gets their chance to tell it, with all the detail and set up in the world. So be ready for that. But trust me, once things get rolling, well there’s no stopping this gravy train. Things get bloody and nasty, quick! In fact, I know Kill Bill (2003) was practically filmed in blood, but damn, The Hateful Eight has to be one of Tarantino’s bloodiest affairs! It certainly is extremely graphic. Kudos to the guys at KNB Effects group for supplying that good old fashion gore! It blew my head clean off!

Tarantino has always made meaningful films with “something to say”, I kept wondering what The Hateful Eight was going to be really about. You know, in the midst of all the blood and guts, was it all going to be worth it in the end? Or was The Hateful Eight just going to be a lot of senseless violence for violence sake? Of course it was all going to mean something! Tarantino isn’t about making empty movies, I don’t think he’s ever been about that. When I go and watch a Tarantino movie I always expect them to be about meaningful subject matter or at the very least fun and entertaining. I mean, even Death Proof (2007), which seems like simple, yet fun homage to car movies from the 70’s said something about female empowerment. His earlier films had more of a fun vibe to them, but from Inglorious Bastards (2009) onward, his films have taken on an even more meaningful tone. On The Hateful Eight, Tarantino revisits his favorite theme, the theme that has reigned supreme throughout his entire career; that old demon humanity can’t seem to exorcise just yet: racism. I have to say that he does so in an indirect manner, it’s subtle. You’ll almost come away from the film thinking it was simply ‘a fucked up tale’, but it’s only after the film mulls inside your skull for a couple of days that you realize that racism is at the very core of the film! While many object to Tarantino’s repeated use of the word ‘nigger’, I think its honest filmmaking. What’s the problem with showing things they way they were? In fact, if it bothers you every time you hear the word or every time they treat a black person unjustly in his films, then I think Tarantino is doing his job right. It shocks you because it’s wrong, but it also shocks because there’s no denying these things happened and continue to happen in our world. So put that in your pipe and smoke it next time you want to criticize Tarantino for using the word nigger.

Technically speaking, this film is beautiful. It gets extra points for going the old fashion way of shooting on location! In fact, it gets bonus points for doing everything old fashion, like using actual film and shooting on 70 millimeter. Hell, it gets extra points for telling an intriguing yarn, filled with characters that seem alive, intense and raw. The drama is there, so much so that the film, much like Tarantino’s own Reservoir Dogs (1992), feels like a theater play. Most of the film takes place in one location, just like Reservoir Dogs, and both are about questioning loyalty and spilling your guts…both literally and metaphorically. This is not to say that The Hateful Eight is a carbon copy of Reservoir Dogs, but the similarities are there. But with the old, there’s something new and the new comes in the form of new actors appearing for their first time in a Tarantino film, for example, Jennifer Jason Leigh who just chews the film up. I loved her intensity, her craziness and her willingness to just go nuts with her character. She really chews up the screen, same as everyone involved. And wow, you'll love Walton Goggins after this movie. Kurt Russell works like magic here, he aint the good guy, in fact, nobody here is the good guy. Everybody is freaking despicable, hence the title.

Final words on the whole thing is that this is very much a Tarantino film, you’ll hear that dialog and you know it’s a Tarantino film, you’ll hear his voice both through his dialog and literally, because at one point Tarantion actually becomes the narrator of the film! Ha! Brilliant! I loved that! I love it when Tarantino breaks the rules! He’s like “I’m telling this story!” I’m glad that Samuel L. Jackson convinced Tarantino to make this film even though the script leaked before the film was made. You see, once upon a time Tarantino was furious that his script was out there for all to see before he had even shot the thing, so he swore he wouldn’t shoot the film. But his cast convinced him otherwise and voila! We got another masterpiece from good old QT. The thing about Tarantino is that he wants you to remember that cinema is a place to hear stories, to talk about ourselves, to get lost in the reflections of humanity. There’s no rush here. You came to the cinema? You dragged your ass out to the movies? Then here’s a film to make it worth your while. I will always love Tarantino for making films that you don’t immediately forget the minute you walk out of the theater, please, Mr. Tarantino, keep it going kind sir! Keep reminding us why films matter!  

Rating: 5 out of 5         

   

Tooth and Nail (2007)

Title: Tooth and Nail (2007)

Director: Mark Young

Cast: Michael Madsen, Vinnie Jones, Rider Strong, Michael Kelly

Review:

I’ve noticed that filmmakers behind post apocalyptic films always try to add their own twist to them. For example Stake Land (2010) mixes vampires with the apocalypse, Waterworld (1995) is the apocalypse brought on after the polar caps have melted, Tank Girl (1995) is the ultimate grrrl movie while still remaining post apocalyptic, The Terminator franchise adds time travel to the mix…and so on. With Tooth and Nail, the film that I’ll be discussing today, they’ve gone and mixed a post apocalyptic film with the a-typical slasher film. The result is interesting, though not altogether innovative.

On Tooth and Nail we are presented with the idea that the world has gone to hell because one day we ran out of gas. In this movie having no gas for cars or electricity equals total world destruction. Now if that’s believable or not doesn’t really matter, what matters is the point that the film is trying to make. How obsessed our society is with oil; how much of our society depends on it and what will happen if we ever run out of it. These are all interesting ideas the film presents us with; no doubt. I’m all for using cleaner and safer forms of energy; oil will have to go at some point. So after that’s been established we meet a group of survivors who call themselves ‘The Foragers’. Basically, they are a small group of people who’ve gathered in an abandoned hospital. Together they are trying to regain normality. They even have a leader, a scholar type by the name of ‘Darwin’ who wants’ to attempt to rebuild the human race. He’s got a job for everyone to do; one picks the wood, the other one gathers water and so forth. Unfortunately, Darwin isn’t thinking about ways to protect his group. And so ‘Viper’ the hot headed dude in the group is all worried about what will happen if someone comes with bad intentions. And he is right! They should be preparing. You see, a part of humanity has adapted to this awful end of the world scenario and now the’ve started feeding on their own kind! That’s right! There’s a group of cannibals on the loose! it isn’t long before these cannibals show up at the hospitals door steps…and they’ve brought their hunger with them!

Tooth and Nail was part of the ‘8 Film to Die For’ that the folks at After Dark Films started back in 2006. These After Dark films are hit and miss bunch; you might catch a fairly good one, or a really crappy one. They tell you that these films were ‘too scary’ to be released in theaters, when in reality they were simply not deemed worthy enough for theatrical release. But this doesn’t make them any less fun to watch.  I’ve enjoyed some of the films they’ve released like for example The Gravedancers (2005) a film from Mike Mendez the director behind the demonic ultra cheap-o good time The Convent (2000). Tooth and Nail was part of the second batch of ‘8 Films to Die For’ that came out in 2007, and it’s neither good, nor bad. It simply is what it is, a post apocalyptic slasher with a couple of ultra gory deaths.

The problem with some ultra low budget post apocalyptic films is that because of their budgetary limitations, it is often times difficult for them to convey the end of the world. It takes a truly gifted and imaginative filmmaker to pull this of on a small budget; but it’s not impossible, it can be done. Just look at Six String Samurai (1998). Often times directors will choose to shoot their post apocalyptic films in the dessert because it’s easier, you don’t have worry about showing decaying buildings or anything, just the dessert. Kind of like the same way that many slasher films take place in the woods, because filming in the woods is cheap and it cuts down costs.

Unfortunately Tooth & Nail takes place in a city, and the buildings don’t look post-apocalyptic enough. Tooth & Nail does good by starting the film with real life news reel footage of chaos in the world, which is a good trick used by a post apocalyptic films to convey chaos and disorder in the world; for example Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead (2004) does this. We even get some cool shots of burnt decaying corpses inside of smashed up cars. The problem for me with Tooth and Nail is that the characters in the film simply look too squeaky clean to inhabit a post apocalyptic world. This is the same problem I had with another post apocalyptic film I saw recently called Carriers (2009). Characters just look too clean! In Tooth & Nail even the interior of the building that the foragers stay in looks too new, too clean, too organized, not enough rot and decay. A post apocalyptic world needs to be rotting, old, decomposed, not squeaky clean. Guys need to have long beards, girls should have their hairs all messed up and not wear any make up. Everyone should be smelly and dirty. But not on Tooth and Nail where the characters seem to have time to even shave.

Too pretty for the apocalypse

Slasher films aren’t by definition an intelligent bunch of films, quite the contrary, these are films that simply exist to scare you with the killer hiding behind the shadows and shock you with their grizzly, gory deaths, nothing more. In this sense, Tooth and Nail succeeded because the deaths are pretty gory. This film actually reminded me of a slasher film from the eighties, you know, the kind that doesn’t cut away when the time comes to show some gruesomeness. It seems to me that those days are bygone; American horror films of today are no longer truly gory, at least not the theatrically released ones. They may try and be, but they always cut away at the exact moment when we’re supposed to be seeing some gore. Best example of this was that ultra shitty Friday the 13^th remake (2009). I hated that one because every time Jason’s machete was about to inflict some damage, the film would cut away to something else. Tooth and Nail doesn’t do that, the gore is there and it’s plentiful. Unfortunately, when that’s the only thing that’s good about your movie, then you’ve got a pretty shallow movie. I’m not saying Tooth and Nail has nothing to say, it’s just that it says very little. As a bonus we get Vinnie Jones and Michael Madsen playing two bloodthirsty cannibals, but their performances in this movie are closer to cameos, since they only appear sporadically through out the film. Madsen and Vinnie don’t really contribute anything to the film. The main gripe I had with this movie was that its villains though vicious, had no personality whatsoever. Personality wise, the good guys themselves where just as bland as their villains.

The real idea, the real theme that Tooth and Nail is rooted in is the quintessential ‘survival of the fittest’. In this film what we really meet is a bunch of weak individuals; even the guys in this group aren’t the strong type save for one, the one called ‘Viper’, the hot headed one. What these characaters don’t realize is that civilization is long gone and that the world they are living in has changed. They actually recognize that they are the weak link, that athe bad guys are stronger, more numerous. Hell, even knowing the have weapons, they still dont have faith in themselves, they live afraid to fight, afraid of change, which is something we should never be afraid to do. Fight for whats right, for our survival.  I also liked that at one point, all males disappear and it’s up to the women to fend for themselves in this big bad world. The femaels in the film discuss how much they'd prefer the stronger men of the group to protect them, but at one point, the protection of men dissapears, and then it's up to the ladies to show they have what it takes to survive in this world on their own. They stop depending on the men for protection when they realize that no one is going to save them, but themselves. It's now a dog eat dog world and if you don’t adapt, you die. And this is really the one idea that I did like about the film.

Rating: 2 1/2 out of 5