Once Upon a Quentin Tarantino: We Love Him, We Love Him Not?

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

“On the QT, and very Hush, Hush” is a line from LA CONFIDENTIAL, and that’s what’s happening in Hollywood right now in reaction to Quentin Tarantino’s much-ballyhooed 9th film, ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD. By anyone’s standards, to resurrect the ghost of a slain pregnant woman killed by the Manson Family on Aug. 9, 1969, is questionable. (Anniversary of Hiroshima bomb drop date, Aug. 9, conincidence?)

Especially tossing new star Margot Robbie into this gruesome/winsome role. But she’s bookended by bona fide A Listers Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, who plays lead Rick Dalton, aging Western movie star.

So what’s not to like about a cringeworthy Playboy Evergreen Generation look-back to Old Sexist Hollywood? It is true to the period, after all.

Well, ain’t nothing good about dredging up the Wonder Bread Love American Style limitations that come along with this depth charge into the deep bedrock of Uncool Hollywood… However, clocking in at $51 M USD after five days and counting, QT is having a big bang box office bonanza, so audiences are voting with their money, honey. (Add gratuitous pat on the Playboy Bunny butt here.)

Hey, QT is QT, the guy most dig for his ability to pair mind-falteringly perfect LP’s with his movies. In fact, Tarantino recently shared some top playlist from his films in an interview.
Yet, the fact that Roman Polanski, the late Sharon Tate’s husband, is still roaming the visa hell of not being able to enter the US, and with him the dark shadow of ROSEMARY’S BABY-style rumors about the half-century ago slaughter of his then-wife and child?

That kind of makes ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD suspect as project, never mind Pitt, DiCaprio, and Robbie endorsing the thing by starring in it.

So, all that’s left is your review, as you elect to see it, or not see it – just as many H’wood insiders have that “We Love Him, We Love Him Not” reflex on Mr. Quentin Tarantino, auteur.

Here’s London Premiere Footage for the Hell of It:

[Editor’s note: Screenmancer takes umbrage at the photog eyeroll reaction to Lena Dunham.]

This Is ONCE again QT Number 9, Sunshine…

Click here for more, if you dare… ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD.

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