Page 36 - The Hollywood Reporter (January 2020)

BEST PICTURE
Once Upon a Time

in Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino’s ninth feature has the director’s trademark

revisionist history and irreverent violence — but it’s also his most

emotional and personal film yet BY TYLER COATES

hen the
Hollywood
rumor
mill began
W churning out
reports that Quentin Tarantino’s
ninth film would be set in Los
Angeles in 1969 — and center on
Sharon Tate and the Manson mur-
ders — the director’s fans (and
critics) naturally assumed that his
next movie would be gruesome
and irreverent, likely incorporat-
ing some revisionist history just
like his previous best-picture-
nominated films Django Unchained
and Inglourious Basterds. While it VITAL STATS

certainly doesn’t skimp on those
familiar Tarantino qualities (par- STUDIO Sony
ticularly in its third act), Sony’s RELEASE DATE July 26
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is
WORLDWIDE BOX OFFICE
much more emotional and sweeter
$372.7M
than any Tarantino film before it. DIRECTOR Quentin Tarantino
Following Rick Dalton
CAST
(Leonardo DiCaprio) and Cliff You’ve worked with Quentin People have this vision of him
Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt,
Booth (Brad Pitt), a fading Tarantino for years, all the way as an auteur, [one who] wouldn’t Margot Robbie
Hollywood actor and his stunt back to Pulp Fiction. What stands allow anyone to give their input
TOP AWARDS
double turned driver, respec- out about this particular film? and suggestions. But when you
10 Oscar noms,
tively, Once Upon a Time serves SHANNON MCINTOSH Every movie you read his scripts, so much detail 10 BAFTA noms, 3 Globe wins,
as a love letter to a time of make with Quentin is special. It’s is on the page; everyone’s job
4 SAG Award noms
great change within the film such a personal, wonderful experi- becomes really clear on what they
industry and American culture. ence for everyone, all the crew. But want to do. He absolutely allows
With Manson girls — chief I think back to when I read [the you to bring your talent and your up in L.A., so to listen to the two
among them Pussycat, played by script] with trepidation, wonder- skills to the table. For example, we of them talk about their stories
Margaret Qualley — dumpster- ing where it was heading, knowing thought we wanted to shoot it in and growing up here … I mean,
diving off Hollywood Boulevard a bit about the subject matter. You 70mm, but as Quentin and [cine- there’s so much of Barbara that
and Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) always wonder until you get [to matographer Robert Richardson] he allowed her to bring to the
moving in next door to Dalton, the end], even though you couldn’t talked about the different table. But [everyone is] still really
the film offers a colorful and nos- imagine Quentin making that processes and the looks, it didn’t informed by the script.
talgic look at a long-lost era. But other movie. The whole journey seem the right way to go. For the
as producer Shannon McIntosh has been magical. They’re all great most part we shot 35, a little bit It’s a very nostalgic movie. What HOLLYWOOD: ANDREW COOPER/SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT (2). MCINTOSH: MICHAEL KOVAC/GETTY IMAGES FOR CHAMPAGNE COLLET.
explains to THR, Tarantino’s journeys, but this one was some- on 16 and even some on Super do you think it has to say about

latest (which picked up 10 Oscar thing really special because it’s 8. But that was Bob bringing to Hollywood in 2020?
nominations) offers his own such a personal story for Quentin. Quentin what he really thought 1969 was a great year for change
hopeful vision of Hollywood — a would be best for this movie in the industry, and for the world
stark contrast to the dark and How is Tarantino as a collaborator that would take place in 1969, at large. And we’re kind of back
violent reality of the Manson when it comes to actors on set, but also jump back to the back- to those things now. There’s the
murders, which changed the the craftspeople and even someone story of Rick Dalton. [Production theatrical experience versus the
cultural climate forever. in your role? designer] Barbara Ling also grew streaming experience. There are

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