Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), (Directed by: Quentin Tarantino) is both a love letter to the golden age of cinema and a meditation on change, nostalgia, and fading stardom. Set in 1969 Los Angeles, the film follows two parallel storylines: Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), a struggling TV actor whose career is slipping into obscurity, and his loyal stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), who navigates Hollywood with quiet charm and a mysterious past. At the same time, we glimpse the life of actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), living joyfully in the Hollywood spotlight, unaware of the Manson Family lurking in the background.
The film is quintessentially Tarantino: long, dialogue-driven scenes, meticulous recreations of 1960s LA, and sudden bursts of violence. But unlike his more tightly plotted works, this one feels looser, more meandering, almost like a hangout film. It’s less about narrative momentum and more about soaking in an era, old movie sets, neon-lit streets, Western TV shows and drive-ins.
DiCaprio gives one of his best performances, capturing Rick’s insecurity and desperation with vulnerability and humor. Pitt is effortlessly charismatic as Cliff, exuding confidence and cool, while Robbie’s Sharon Tate is luminous, a symbol of innocence and optimism.
The climax is pure Tarantino: shocking, brutal, and darkly funny, rewriting one of Hollywood’s most tragic real-life stories. By reframing history, Tarantino transforms what could have been a tale of loss into one of bittersweet wish fulfillment.
At nearly three hours, the film demands patience, but for those willing to sink into its rhythm, it’s a rich, melancholic experience. It’s not just a movie about Hollywood, it’s a movie about movies, about the myths we tell, and about the people who live in their shadow.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood may not be Tarantino’s most explosive film, but it’s one of his most heartfelt, a dreamy ode to an era, filled with humor, melancholy, and cinematic magic.
Best Quotes & Lines
Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio):
“Alright, that’s too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?”
(on set, freaking out while drinking and forgetting lines — both funny and sad).
Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt):
“You’re Rick f**in’ Dalton. Don’t you forget it.”*
(the perfect best-friend pep talk).
Rick Dalton:
“I’m a has-been. My career is over.”
(DiCaprio nails Rick’s insecurity and desperation here).
Cliff Booth:
“Fair enough.”
(his casual, cool reaction after Bruce Lee challenges him — short but iconic).
Rick Dalton:
“You’re living next door to… Sharon Tate? Holy s**, that’s Roman Polanski’s house!”*
(Rick realizing he’s neighbors with Hollywood royalty).
Cliff Booth:
“Don’t cry in front of the Mexicans.”
(hilariously blunt when Rick breaks down after forgetting his lines).
Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie):
“It’s so much fun! When I see myself up there, I have to remember that’s me. That’s me!”
(her sweet, wide-eyed excitement watching her own film in the theater).
Trudi Fraser (Julia Butters, the child actress):
“That was the best acting I’ve ever seen in my whole life.”
(adorable and touching—makes Rick cry).
Tex (Austin Butler):
“I’m the devil, and I’m here to do the devil’s business.”
(directly referencing the real Manson murders, before Tarantino flips the script).
Cliff Booth (finale, facing the Manson Family):
“Nah, I was dumber than that. I was high… on acid.”
(delivered with perfect stoner calmness right before chaos).
