Reactions to Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood have made their way online. This summer, the Oscar-winning director is back with another offering that promises to be as wild and ambitious as anything he’s done before. After taking on crime sagas, World War II, and revenge thrillers (just to name a few topics), Tarantino now turns his lens to the movie business itself. Set in 1969, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follows longtime friends Rick Dalton (a fading TV star) and Cliff Booth (Rick’s loyal stunt double) as they look to navigate a changing landscape and possibly reclaim their former fame.
Given the talent on both sides of the camera (Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie headline the cast), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood entered 2019 as one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Excitement for the film only grew when it was a late in-competition selection at the Cannes Film Festival, where Tarantino won the coveted Palme d’Or for Pulp Fiction 25 years ago. And now that the film’s screened, reactions are popping up on social media.
Several Cannes attendees weighed in with their thoughts on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, being careful to adhere to Tarantino’s no spoilers request. You can check out some of the responses in the space below:
For anyone who’s been following Tarantino’s career for a while, these mini reviews shouldn’t come as a surprise. The director has always been a bold and unique creative voice, and it sounds like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood delivers plenty of what viewers have come to expect from Tarantino’s work. Many people seemed to enjoy what they saw, praising Tarantino for his thoughtful examination of the film industry, paying homage to a bygone era in his trademark fashion. Without getting into too much detail, some journalists implied elements of the film would be divisive (which, it should be said, is nothing new for Tarantino), so it’ll be interesting to see how it plays for a general audience come July. In particular, the tease about a huge payoff is very tantalizing.
Interestingly enough, there’s a growing consensus Once Upon a Time in Hollywood also serves as Tarantino’s most emotional and charming movie. The director’s always been highly entertaining, but usually isn’t synonymous with Spielbergian warm and fuzzy feelings. The latest trailer hinted at a sweet dynamic between DiCaprio and Pitt, so perhaps their bromance has a touching angle to it that’ll connect with audiences. All in all, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is poised to be an energetic blast bolstered by great performances (Pitt sounds like the MVP), outstanding production design, and more of Tarantino’s catchy dialogue.
Key Release Dates
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Release Date:2019-07-26
