Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood (UHD Blu-ray) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Sony
Release Date: December 10, 2019
Rating: R
Film: 3.5/5

Plot
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer/director and features an all-star cast with Margo Robbie, Julia Butters, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Luke Perry, Austin Butler, Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch, Bruce Dern and Al Pacino—and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.

My Thoughts
I’ve not been a fan of all of Tarantino’s films because I generally find them a bit too violent for my tastes. In that regard, this film is tame by comparison to his other offerings. Much like Inglorious Basterds, this is a retrospective film with an alternate view on a tragic historical event. Namely, the Manson murders in Hollywood in August of ’69.

I was on the fence about liking the film most of the movie because I think the screenplay is a bit bloated and with a runtime of 162 minutes it drags in too many places. That being said, the acting is phenomenal, and the final act is executed amazingly well and had me laughing out loud on many occasions. While not my favorite Tarantino film, it does have its moments.

Video 9/10

Audio 9/10 (DTS HD-MA 7.1)

Special Features:

• Additional Scenes
• Five behind-the-scenes featurettes (Blu-ray)
• Blu-ray + Digital Copy

Conclusion
My son absolutely hated this movie, but being only 21, I don’t think he understood the historical significance of the time period depicted. I found the film to be better than average, but like most Tarantino films, most people either love it or hate it based upon what I’ve seen. Regardless, I found it to be a tad long but ultimately entertaining and the acting is top shelf. Recommended. 



Reference Review System:
 JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High Definition Front Projector
 (Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
 Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 88” 16x9 Fixed Screen
 Anthem AVM60 Audio/Video Processor
 ATI AT527NC Powering Bed ChannelsATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
 Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
 System Controller: URC MX-980M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
 Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
 SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
 HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
 SVS SB-3000 Subwoofer
JL Audio Dominion D110 Subwoofer x 2 (stacked) 
 Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
 PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[AVSCraig]

This is on my list to pick up. That is a bit too long is par for the course - look at Kill Bill! 

[David Vaughn]

This is on my list to pick up. That is a bit too long is par for the course - look at Kill Bill!

All of his movies are long...some go by quicker than others though. For example, Inglorious Basterds and Pulp Fiction both fly by, even though they are quite long. 

[AVSCraig]

All of his movies are long...some go by quicker than others though. For example, Inglorious Basterds and Pulp Fiction both fly by, even though they are quite long.

If Kill Bill had been one movie like it was supposed to be, it would have been really long! I'm sure the studio said " cut it down " and then - voila - it became 2 movies instead of one !

[AVSCraig]

Watching this tonight, with a packed house full of movie guests ! 

[David Vaughn]

Watching this tonight, with a packed house full of movie guests !

Be prepared to laugh your ass off in the third act. If you find the movie a chore to watch due to pacing, just know that the ending is totally worth it. 

[AVSCraig]

I know how Tarantino works, so I'm in for the duration ! 

[AVSCraig]

I loved how Tarantino ended this movie ! Great ending. Another " fractured fairytale " ! Everyone liked it - one guest wants to come back and watch it again. Seeing as I moved to Southern CA in 1969 at age 13, this was a hoot ! 

[David Vaughn]

I loved how Tarantino ended this movie ! Great ending. Another " fractured fairytale " ! Everyone liked it - one guest wants to come back and watch it again. Seeing as I moved to Southern CA in 1969 at age 13, this was a hoot !

Wasn't the Leo scene at the end in his robe just classic..."Effing hippies..."

We couldn't stop laughing during that scene and I loved how he put that old movie prop "that got too hot" to great use. LOL

[AVSCraig]

Wasn't the Leo scene at the end in his robe just classic..."Effing hippies..."

We couldn't stop laughing during that scene and I loved how he put that old movie prop "that got too hot" to great use. LOL

That dog might have outdone the dogs in John Wick 3 ! Damien Lewis looked damn close to Steve McQueen ( some of those "re-imagined classic movie clips were a hoot ). And the Bruce Lee scene was hysterical ! I don't get the controversy - it's a " fractured fairy tale " - not a documentary !  

[Dylan Seeger]

I've watched the film twice. The second time was with my parents who were teenagers during the time period of the film. I'm 30. So while I have a good understanding of Charles Manson and what happened, my dad told me that there were a lot of little easter eggs of nostalgia throughout the film that only people who lived through it would fully understand. Despite this, I still really enjoyed the film.