Category: Film

Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

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Numerous amounts of violence, extremely memorable characters, and unpredictability are just a few of the staples of a movie by beloved American directer Quentin Tarantino. Many of his films, such as Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, have become classics and have given him high recognition among movie lovers and critics. His newest original piece, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, has all of these qualities and more. It has the feel of an old 1960s Hollywood film, while still being delightfully entertaining for audiences today.

Although not constantly packed with action, Tarantino gives us witty dialogue among unforgettable characters, and scenes that make viewers feel as though these are lifelong friends welcoming them into their homes and their lives. In an age of blockbuster action films with unrealistic heroes and fictional situations, this movie is quite refreshing and different from anything on the big screen today. It is simple, yet satisfying with a feel-good vibe throughout. Laughter is an absolute given, as Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt play off of each other extremely well.

In this film, DiCaprio depicts an emotional and at times, insecure actor named Rick Dalton who feels as though his career is ending. He takes everything very seriously and is quite hard on himself, resulting in hilarity as well as a realness and depth to the character. On the other hand, Pitt portrays a struggling stunt man named Cliff Booth who hardly takes anyone or anything seriously. His devotion and friendship to Dalton makes him quite lovable, while his various destructive antics and mysterious past make him funny yet realistic. These two actors bring these characters to life in a way that no one else could. Their friendship with one another is so great it’s impossible not to leave the theatre with a smile on your face; wishing you had a friend like Rick Dalton or Cliff Booth.

It would be impossible to discuss this movie as a whole without mentioning its accompanying soundtrack; a perfect blend of timeless hits and undeniably retro favorites from this period of time. Including artists such as Neil Diamond, Paul Revere & the Raiders, and Simon & Garfunkel, these funky tunes are played all throughout the film; more specifically on the car stereo while Cliff Booth drives. This unique collection of songs truly makes audiences feel thrown headfirst into Hollywoods golden era, and adds a sense of nostalgia for a period many never got the opportunity to live through.

As a longtime fan of Tarantino, this film did not at all disappoint. He puts his own signature twist on history, resulting in a shocking yet satisfying final act. It is safe to say that this is one of my favorite movies of the year so far, and I can’t wait to get in my time machine once more and travel back to this glorious display of 1960s Hollywood.

Jordan Peele’s “Us” and the Evolution of Horror Films

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I have been a huge fan of horror movies for as long as I can remember. I vividly recall the very first horror film I ever watched; “The Ring”, and I remember my older sister terrifying me and calling me on the phone, leaving me a very cryptic “seven days” message. Ever since then, I have been completely enraptured by the genre and the adrenaline-pumping rush these movies always give me. A few of my favorites include “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “The Shining”, constantly keeping me on the edge of my seat, no matter how often I watch them. No matter what the horror movie, there is one emotion I can always expect to feel, which is fear.

However, there is a whole new age of horror films on the horizon that movies such as “The Witch” and “Hereditary” have introduced audiences to. Jordan Peele has followed the footsteps of these movies before him, and has given his newest film “Us” a similar tone and feeling. It’s all about that feeling like you’re watching something that you really shouldn’t be. This new era of horror has made me feel something that I never imagined I would enjoy feeling so much during a movie, something I wouldn’t imagine I’d ever enjoy feeling at all; complete uncomfortableness.

In “The Witch”, it’s the scene at the very end when the goat begins speaking as the devil and the young women float up into the air. In “Hereditary”, it’s when the mom is eerily hovering in the upper corner of her sons bedroom. That uneasiness that physically gives you the chills and makes you feel like you might be literally cursed after watching a scene so bizarre and unnerving. No cheesy jump scares, no loud and eery music, but something so much more chill-inducing. In Jordan Peele’s “Us”, it’s practically every single time the character Red is onscreen.

Red was quite literally created to make us as viewers feel uncomfortable and like we should turn away, but at the same time physically unable to tear our eyes from the screen. In the movie, the Wilson family learns that there is a family of doppelgängers on the hunt and hungry for their blood. Although this family looks identical to them, they do not sound or act much like them in the slightest. In fact, the only twin who is able to talk is that of Red, who speaks in a voice that is horse and painful to hear. This voice, accompanied by the strange, sporadic movements she makes whenever she walks, as well as the uniform giant scissors and red jumpsuits “the tethered” all wear, is a recipe for a strange and uncomfortable, but extremely entertaining and enjoyable experience.

It must be said that “Us” is not a fantastic movie just because it plays into this new era of uncomfortable horror, but because of the amazing acting and scenes that were so brilliantly shot and directed. For example, my favorite scene is towards the end when Adelaide and her tethered Red are fighting below in the tunnels. During this scene, Red is using her dancing skills to move around Adelaide and to swiftly and gracefully avoid her punches and attack her with skill. While showing the fight, flashes of both Adelaide dancing up above and Red dancing down below are mixed in and the parallels between their movements are shown. It is extremely graceful and entrancing to watch, and very much adds to the depth of both of these characters.

Something must be said about the amazing score for this movie as well, written by Michael Abels. The music is both haunting and beautiful, creating the perfect ambiance for the film. It is one of the few film scores that I actually want to download and listen to in my free time.

“Us” is a movie that I want to watch again and again, knowing that I will pick up on some new, little detail each time that I do. Not only does it gives viewers that sense of “modern horror” uncomfortableness, but proves to be an excellent and original movie all around.