Fact and fiction blur in Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Though to say the film is about Manson is incorrect, his screen time is a blink and you’ll miss it scene.

Rather, the Manson Family – of crazed hippie girls – play a sort of side plot to fictional characters Hollywood actor Rick Dalton, played by Leonardo DiCaprio and his stunt double and general PA Cliff Booth, played by Brad Pitt.

Alternative endings

The introduction of these two fictional characters into a real-life story ultimately rewrites history and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood becomes a “what if” alternative ending to the past.

At two hours 45 minutes long, this film ambles along at a rather languid pace, much like the stuttery Texan cowboy drawl of character Rick Dalton – atypical to the usual Tarantino film known for its snappy dialogue and lightning-quick action. In fact most of the action is reserved for the last 30 minutes in a climatic ending displaying the usual humour-tinged blood and guts violence associated with the director – oh! and also a few cans of dog food.

The film expertly captures the nostalgia of Hollywood in the late ‘60s seamlessly collaging real life with an all-pervasive audio backdrop of music and radio and TV ads from the era with fictional movie scene flashbacks from Rick Dalton’s career.

DiCaprio shines

DiCaprio as Dalton absolutely steals the show, expertly capturing a sensitive ageing TV-turned-movie star coming to terms with his fading career. The scene of the explosive pep talk he gives himself in his trailer is outstanding – humorous, painful and pitiful all at once.

While Pitt embodies the epitome of Tarantino testosterone as the laid back rough and tumble stuntman with a mysterious, dark past.

Sidenote: If you’ve got a thing for feet as Tarantino surely does, you’re in for a tootsie, foot fetish treat, there seems to be an inordinate amount of shots given to hoisted bare feet – from hippie to film star.

All in all an enjoyable, albeit too long, homage to Hollywood and an altered history.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood open in SA cinemas on 30 August 2019.

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