MovieChat Forums > Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019) Discussion > Not awful but ultimately feels pointless...

Not awful but ultimately feels pointless (no real spoilers)

posted 6 years ago by illnagas (457)
51 replies | jump to latest

I admire QTs passion but I’m not sure he’s got much to say so he keeps stuffing movies with movie references, feet, and shocking violence. But frustrating this time because there’s almost no story to get into, just bits and parts.

Most of the bits aren’t necessarily awful or incompetent but about halfway thru it felt like QT didn’t really have anything to say so he’s repeating old tricks and self indulgence.

Leo was fine but Pitt (or maybe his character) was probably the best. Robbie only gets a moment or two but she’s fine. Great cinematography, etc but wish he’d actually tell a story.

Edit: I should give him credit for not also relying on another crutch: where every scene is essentially a negotiation with competing soliloquies.

[–] brux (14840) 6 years ago

You described just what I thought on saw on viewing the trailer.

[–] illnagas (457) 6 years ago

Well I guess I was hoping he would try and grow a little bit more as a director but apparently he is what he is. Maybe I should’ve learned by now

[–] TaRaNRoD (1579) 6 years ago

This was like his least violent film. I saw it yesterday and not quite sure how I feel about it yet. I too had this feeling of emptiness after my viewing. And Margot Robbie's character felt kinda useless to me.

Great cinematography, this I agree. But overall, I'm not sure I'd rank this one among his best movies.

[–] illnagas (457) 6 years ago

Yeah I’m still chewing on it so to speak but I definitely have my impressions. Maybe I’ll see it differently later.

And that’s a legitimate point about Robbie. It almost seems like she was a red herring because Tate’s presence creates an audience expectation as to where the story is headed. Her scene in the theater stood out to me but other than that I’m not sure

[–] ebhaynz (3759) 6 years ago

I'm very sad to hear this but not shocked. I never did forsee what QT could do with a 1969 Hollywood + Manson that would make an interesting movie.
One reviewer did say that this might be one of those movies where it'll get better over time but right after seeing it it was just "good"

[–] illnagas (457) 6 years ago

I guess it’s another QT movie but in a different setting. Maybe I was foolish for expecting something more but it felt like there were a few 10-15 minute segments where stuff happens but are basically pointless tangents.
Hopefully I’ll read a good essay or review that will change my point of view but overall I’m on the fence

[–] maximmm (3405) 6 years ago

I guess it's like ocean's 11 - it was good, but every other ocean's ### was absolute bullshit where you knew watching the films that the whole purpose of shooting this films was for the actors to chill together - because the films themselves had no decent script and acting was half arsed.

In general, anytime you have so many big stars in one film, the film ends up being utter crap. Expandables is another example of this trend.

[–] illnagas (457) 6 years ago

I was actually unaware of some of the cameos but even those felt pointless

[–] Indiscipline (775) 6 years ago

Dude, if you put a Tarantino film alongside an Ocean's or Expendables film your opinion is already irrelevant. Don't even bother coming around anymore.

[–] ultravioletx (10237) 6 years ago

It was well directed and well acted, but the story was meh.

The movie didn't need to portray all the women as annoying. Pitt's character murdered his wife? Well, she was annoying. Now lets watch him be the hero. Really? Thats what QT needed in his revenge fantasy? hmmm.. ok I guess.

[–] Dudestein1958 (153) 6 years ago

I don't think all women were portrayed as annoying. It just so happened that the Manson Family had a large number of women who were more than a bit unhinged. Even years later some continued to attempt murder. Twice they tried to kill Gerald Ford.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21709) 6 years ago

Exactly. Everyone on that farm was annoying, including the men. I did not think Tate was annoying at all.

The reason no one wants Cliff on the set is because it’s rumored he murdered his wife and that’s all it is, a rumor.

[–] Dudestein1958 (153) 6 years ago

I enjoyed that little flashback with Cliff and his wife on the boat and him holding that speargun pointed generally at his wife while she berates him over who knows what. I think the hint was that he did kill her, but that is no fully explained.

[–] Threadkiller (3089) 6 years ago

Pitt's character murdered his wife?

And here everyone else was doing so well in keeping with the "no real spoilers" theme of this topic

[–] ultravioletx (10237) 6 years ago

Just another reason why the story was meh. It wasn't a plot point that meant anything. They didn't use it to show him as a character that needed to be redeemed. Its an act that shouldn't be redeemable. But lets make her annoying, so that way nobody cares.

As for spoilers, its in the middle of the thread. If you're going to be perusing a thread while being sensitive to spoilers then you are doing something you aren't supposed to be doing. The rule is to not put them in the title. Thats pretty much where it ends.

[–] illnagas (457) 6 years ago

I agree it was a plot point that didn’t really mean anything. There’s probably at least a couple of those in the movie. It almost seems like QT has a table covered in index cards each with a different plot point, ie “guy killed his wife” then tries to loosely tie them together

[–] Threadkiller (3089) 6 years ago

It's still a legit spoiler regardless of its apparent lack of affect on the plot or Pitt's character

[–] LTUM (1071) 6 years ago

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[–] Dudestein1958 (153) 6 years ago

Everything you've written is fair and my impression is a bit different as to what this film was about. This may sound crazy, but I think this film was about QT himself and his place in the Hollywood lore. It's a Meta Hollywood story. It's about aging and losing some of ones shine and stardom as the next generation moves in and takes there place. Look at some of the cutaway clips Rick Dalton's past stories and compare them to QT's filmography.

This ends up to me to be his own version of what Fellini did with '8-1/2'. Notice how the poster notes this is his 9th movie?

[–] ebhaynz (3759) 6 years ago

Great point about QT's fading(somewhat) star. Yes, he gets a lot of attention when his new movies are initially released but lets face it all these Avenger type movies are crushing traditionalist souls like Quentin more and more every day. Quentin has talked about retiring after this movie, maybe making one more. I think it'd be cool if he just calls it a career now, he doesn't need to prove anything to anyone.

[–] Dudestein1958 (153) 6 years ago

You're right about the soul crushing aspect of all these superhero movie franchises. I myself don't go to movies anymore. But as I mention the Fellini 8 1/2 pov I'd like to point out that Fellini went on to evolve into a different filmmaker. It was a turning point for him, and perhaps one for QT.

I was frankly very turned off by the level of violence he reached with Kill Bill Part 1. I think that was a turning point too.

[–] ebhaynz (3759) 6 years ago

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[–] Mrmojo4700 (21709) 6 years ago

QT first touched on these themes through Stuntman Mike in Death Proof as well.

[–] illnagas (457) 6 years ago

What’s the connection between 8 1/2 and his 9th film?

[–] Dudestein1958 (153) 6 years ago

8 1/2 was made by a filmmaker at a crossroad in his career. Fellini was more than halfway through his career and was seen as one of the great directors of his generation. A leader in the genre of Italian Neo-realism, he started to feel constrained by it. 8 1/2 was about a fictional director at a crossroad in his career and suffered a crisis of confidence in his own talent and feared like many creative people do that he was a fraud and had nothing more to offer. This was a film more about process and exploring his own mind.

In many ways, Once Upon A Time does the same thing. When we see the film clips of Rick Dalton's past films, we are seeing clips that sometimes parody the films of QT, but always reminds us of films in his CV. Through Rick Dalton, who goes through the same crisis of confidence to the point he breaks down crying in from of that 8 yr old girl in that western set.

[–] illnagas (457) 6 years ago

I get all that but you seemed to be implying that the numerical closeness of 8 1/2 and his 9th film was a connection

[–] Dudestein1958 (153) 6 years ago

No, that is a superficial connection only to the extent that most all advertisements mention that this is QT's 9th movie. The title '8 1/2' came from the fact that it was Fellini's 8 1/2 film, one of his earlier films was a shared credit and he saw that one as a 1/2 of the film. If he took full credit then the title would have been 9. There was, of course, the Broadway Musical titled "Nine" based on Fellini's 8 1/2.

[–] CraigJamesReview (1815) 6 years ago

I agree, it has its moments but ultimately feels indulgent, shapeless, and too safe in it's storytelling. I kept saying to myself that Hollywood in the 60 and 70's especially was a much more controversial place than the dream sequence he is making it out to be here.

Have a short review of this movie if anyone is interested. Enjoy! Review here - https://youtu.be/oem63khueyY

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

better than another superhero movie.

[–] CraigJamesReview (1815) 6 years ago

yes, but still I expected a lot more from this film than the love letter it winds up being.

[–] LTUM (1071) 6 years ago

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[–] illnagas (457) 6 years ago

Interesting point about QTs romantic point of view of the 60s/70s. I’ll have to check out your review

[–] sut6432 (2928) 6 years ago

I really liked it! I knew what to expect going into it. It was definitely a QT movie. I laughed my ass off, and was compelled by the tense scenes. I thought DiCaprio and Pitt were fantastic, with some great supporting performances.

I thought this was actually a lot more mature than his other films. Way less violent, with more comedy. As always, love his musical choices.

I loved the ending too, and it was very unexpected to me.

So I got was I was going in for, and that's a great thing. I left very happy with what I saw. It's also just so refreshing to have a big movie release that isn't a remake of a remake, or a sequel, or a damn comic book movie...and I'll stand by that statement! Holy shit...an original movie!!!

[–] Wuchak (8852) 6 years ago

or a damn comic book movie

I know what you mean; I'm finally sick of 'em. Enough is enough.

[–] illnagas (457) 6 years ago

Your last couple sentences were why I went to the movie. I do believe Q is in touch with a different style of movie making that was prevalent in Hollywood’s heyday. Hopefully others will pick up the torch and lead us away from comic book movies and remakes

[–] Dudestein1958 (153) 6 years ago

QT is one of the last of the Film Auteur's to be working. Unfortunately, everything now is actors standing in front of green screens interacting with CGI special effects. Who needs a director that works with actors? What we have as Directors are people managing what happens during CGI segments.

[–] Dudestein1958 (153) 6 years ago

I'm glad I'm not the only one getting sick of the Super Hero gangbang movies. Freakiest trend for a generation completely out of touch with the world. It used to be even a superhero movie was about 1 character. Now its got to be every damn one in some surreal superhero universe. I stopped going to movies. 'OUTIH' was the first new movie i've gone out to see in a while.

[–] Mrmojo4700 (21709) 6 years ago

Same here. The last movies I’ve gone to see in recent years have been retro showings. I think The Hateful 8 was the last current move I’d seen before OUTIH.

[–] modica (4169) 6 years ago

Don't worry, sooner or later superhero movies will go away.

[–] Dudestein1958 (153) 6 years ago

I also got that feeling that this was a more mature film than his earlier work and most all of the violence was at the end.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

agreed

[–] yatzo376 (7752) 6 years ago

👍 Same here! very entertaining eye candy, especially for viewers who grew up during that era.