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Rob Ager's first impressions of MIDSOMMAR and ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
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- čas přidán 17. 08. 2019
- Devil's Advocate points for Tarantino and Aster:
Someone just messaged me on FB with a post about the ridiculous ending of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood being a deliberate mockery of Hollywood happy endings that differ to real life. I hadn't considered that but will be keeping it in mind for a second viewing. That's the kind of paradigm shift that is likely to make me come back with a much more favorable review.
I forgot to mention as well there's a scene in OUTIH where Pitt's character is offered sex by an underage girl and refuses. Undoubtedly Tarantino was offsetting any potential accusation of being pro sex with under age girls. Respect to him for including that.
As for Midsommar, I've heard it said that the whole cultist trip thing is the playing out of traumas from the opening scenes of the movie. I had that suspicion when watching it, though didn't elevate the experience for me. Worth considering during a rewatch.
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11:03 once upon a time in hollywood
Phil Skovby, Was Shite!!! Death Proof Baaaaaad!!!
@sebastian hale he's saying it is as bad as death proof. he believes it is at such a bad level it is "death proof bad", because in his eyes death proof was a terrible film.
Thank you
sebastian hale read more.
Thank you. Haven’t seen midsummer yet and don’t want any spoilers
Devil's Advocate points for Tarantino and Aster:
Someone just messaged me on FB with a post about the ridiculous ending of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood being a deliberate mockery of Hollywood happy endings that differ to real life. I hadn't considered that but will be keeping it in mind for a second viewing. That's the kind of paradigm shift that is likely to make me come back with a much more favorable review.
I forgot to mention as well there's a scene in OUTIH where Pitt's character is offered sex by an underage girl and refuses. Undoubtedly Tarantino was offsetting any potential accusation of being pro sex with under age girls. Respect to him for including that.
As for Midsommar, I've heard it said that the whole cultist trip thing is the playing out of traumas from the opening scenes of the movie. I had that suspicion when watching it, though didn't elevate the experience for me. Worth considering during a rewatch.
Oh one more thing ... that shirt i'm wearing ... it really ties the room together ...
Damn I really always wanted to see a serious movie based on the Manson case, did you know Manson wanted to meet Dennis Hopper about Hopper playing him in a movie? Hopper was just like Manson in Apocolypse Now and was about the same height. The Bruce Lee scene slandered Jeet Kune Do, but I`ve heard it was just a fantasy of Brad Pitt`s character or something, shame.
Mark Ant did you know if are the middle 2 letters in life..?
Well, even if the ending of 'Once Upon a Time...' was supposed to be a deliberate mockery of Hollywood happy endings, that still doesn't work for me. The '60s and '70s films were largely a break from that sort of nonsense, so this film still feels dishonest and trivializing of the Manson thing. As for 'Midsommar', I just didn't care about anyone in the film, at all. I didn't buy the cult and none of the characters evoked any feelings of empathy from me. Lovely cinematography, as you said, but I could have watched an hour of 'pretty' and been more satisfied.
OUTIH sucked but I think the ending was essentially the best part. Who really wanted to see Tate murdered?
@@dasein9980 Not me, by any means. I'm old enough to remember the Tate/LaBianca murders, and the last thing I want is to see a recreation of either. But that doesn't change the fact that I think this movie was both dishonest and trivializing.
I actually found the ending of "ONCE..." really moving. Unlike the friend I went with, I was familiar with the facts of the murder, so from the point where the sun started to go down, and The Rolling Stones' "Out of Time" (a version that was not actually released until 1975's 'Metamorphosis' compilation, which adds a layer of unreality) started playing I had this horrible, sad sinking feeling as I thought I knew where the audience was being taken. Then, QT let his version play out. To me, it was bittersweet as this is how you would want it to have happened, and you know it didn't, no matter how much happier this ending was. That said, Sharon Tate was still just a disembodied voice at the end, which was an interesting choice...
I started applauding when QT’s version started playing out.👏😁
I cried at the end of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
That a beautiful 9-month pregnant woman wasn't brutally killed is a fairy tale, was an emotional moment for me.
i cried too not sure why maybe because Rick got a second chance.
You guy's cried because you're authentic human beings-the scene with Leo holding back tears while checking to the child actress was sweet.Cut Print.
Ditto. I love the fact that Tarantino chose to pay it back by visually turning the tides against those monsters. There was no way to film it alternatively
I'm with you. I know the name is probably a reference to the "Once Upon a Time in China" film series in some way, but - like Django Unchained - I confess I liked the revenge the fantasy provided.
j spain Greene never seen once upon a time in China, but I’m assuming he was looking more at Sergio Leone’s once upon a time films
Just because a director makes a great movie that takes off doesn't mean the next one will be like or as good as the previous movie. Hereditary was an excellent movie.
Rob - Once upon a time in Hollywood is a great movie . You were expecting a realistic treatment of the Manson crime - that is on you . It is a fairy tale ( Once upon a time ) about the rise of the baby boomer generation and the changes in American culture that brought about for better or worse.
doesn't make it an enjoyable film though...
I loved the film.
Worse, you are looking for worse.
chuck--doesn't change Rob's essential point and the movie was soooo damn long
Thanks for providing your take on Midsommar. I’ve had a strong assumption that you wouldn’t like Midsommar, I consider Midsommar to be masterfully crafted into a story that’s completely compelling to me. I regard Midsommar more than Hereditary. Rob, I completely respect you and I look forward to supporting you when your analysis of Paimon from Hereditary is available. Although I disagree with you opinion of Midsommar, I’m still giving this video the thumb up (LIKE).
Thank you for putting me on to: Split Image. I’ll check it out!!!
Hollywood loves Polanski because he took one for the team. Like the mobster who serves his time without snitching.
Loved the hallucinogenic lsd like visuals midsommar had going on, the breathing flower on her crown is really cool. Hereditary was a better movie but midsommar is way more rewatchable to me because it's far less dour and more interesting visually
Yeah that part was really cool. Reminds me of some of my own hallucinogenic experiences back in the day. Problem for me with Midsommar was mainly the ending. Both Hereditary and Midsommar have gruesome endings but Hereditary's left me feeling kinda awestruck, Midsommar's just left me feeling kinda sick and depressed.
'The Lighthouse' is a movie I'm really looking forward to.
Me too. Looks great from the trailer.
@@ottohoulihan2743 It does.
High Life with Pattinson (from Claire Denis) was decent, now there's Ad Astra with Brad Pitt which could go either way going on the non revealing advertising (like BR2049).
s p oh I know right it comes out the day before my birthday it’s like my present!
@@cirquedude123 That is like a present - I hope it's as good as it looks to be.
OUATIH is about friendship. That's what I took from it, and it hit me pretty hard. It's actually really sweet. These best friends who will soon have to part ways. For anyone wanting a true crime look at The Manson Family I can see why the movie would be frustrating.
It was also a massive love letter to movies from that era. I can see why it wasn't everyone's cup of tea since there wasn't a whole lot of "plot", but the interactions between the characters were the real star of the show.
I loved the movie, but I do think it was a bit of a bait and switch based on the marketing. People went that thought it was going to be about the Manson family when that wasn’t the focus.
That's it... it's meant to be sort of a relaxed hangout movie, where you just wander around and hang out with these characters. Sort of what he did with Jackie Brown. Inspired by Rio Bravo.
Although Hereditary is the superior Astor film, Midsommar has a special little place in my heart. I quite enjoy the way the cult indoctrination kinda extends beyond the characters into the audience. All the bright summer scenes, the whimsy music, the festival activities... they have a way of masking the true horror of what’s happening. I feel this manifests most strongly when the viewers cheer for the boyfriend to die at the end. He might be a crappy boyfriend and a bad friend, but the dude was essentially raped himself before being burned alive as a sacrifice, yet it’s sometimes seen as a “Yas Queen” moment. I find it kind of charming that I need to remind myself “hey this is a horror movie” not because the horror isn’t there, but because I’m being placated into accepting what I see as normal or even justified.
Gotta say it's wild just how divisive Ari Aster's films manage to be on every level. You've got people who loved Hereditary and hated Midsommar, people who loved Midsommar and hated Hereditary, people who loved them both (me) and people who hate them both.
Alex Furnas Yeah, I love them both but for different reasons.
I loved both films
I thought they were both fine. Fine enough to watch once. Though his analysis of hereditary does have me interested in a rewatch. Well see
Hereditary was so stupid that I didn't want to watch Midsommer. I wasn't at all surprised that people overwhelmingly disliked it because Hereditary was style over substance (what miniscule substance it had anyway).
I hate them both lol
You definitely make a fair point about the ending trivializing the Manson case but I think that’s the point. Tarantino is using the magic of cinema to erase the ugly reality of what happened and give us a fairy tale. The film asks the question “what if this awful event didn’t happen? How would the course of Hollywood history be changed?” I personally loved the ending but I think it can’t be seen only once. It benefits from multiple viewings to see all the layers
Who knows, maybe they will grow on you like the Big Lebowski.
I sincerely hope so.
The Bruce Lee stuff doesn't bother me, its fantasy.
@John Paul So did most of Hollywood, that doesn't make them pedophiles, it makes them hypocrites and fools.
Does this honestly surprise anyone? People tend to defend others who remind them of themselves. Why do cops not want to go after other cops? Why do politicians not want to take down other politicians? Etc.
@Carl Green That's not an opinion, he either is or he isnt.
Yea I know. I hated big Lebowski the first 5 times. It was confusing and boring, and nonsense. But now I kinda enjoy it. It’s not excellent. But it’s enjoyable
I enjoyed Once Upon a Time in Hollywood...Pitt and Decaprio were great..DeCaprio is so funny as an insecure actor :)
You said it brother. I dug this flick. Then again I'm a fan of this era which helps a lot.
I was very disappointed with Midsommar. It was more style over substance, with no likeable characters and a weak plot.
You don't need likeable characters for a good story.
@@TheDominitri And this wasn't a good story.
It was gratuitous and nauseating.
TheDominitri you do when it’s a horror film
Agreed. I got the feeling that the director HATED his characters, especially the main character.
directors cut
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Damn, I really like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
What did you like about it?
RossardJames lt was epic. Nothing more nothing less
@@arnemyggen trying to be epic does not make it so
@@spudmckenzie5649 Truer words have never been spoken. Still, it's a 9/10 for me
@@arnemyggen I didn't hate it but definitely hated that I didn't like it more if that makes sense. I won't recommend it to any non QT fan and if Siskel and Ebert were around I wouldn't have a problem with the old thumbs down
please do rewatch midsommar. not only does it have a lot of Asters 'little details', but i think a lot of people missed the real subtext (hint: it's not about relationships at all). I did too but i was also disquieted by the happy/sad ending and couldn't figure out why. then this video put into words what i couldn't quite put my finger on: czcams.com/video/JjCh7lTVNwo/video.html
I 100% agree about Midsommer. You literally took the words out of my mouth, got nothing from it whatsoever... where as Hereditary blew me away
Midsommar was fantastic.
@@bookeblade Agreed. It’s too bad most people can’t see that.
@@bookeblade in what sense?
None of the characters in Midsommar are really that sympathetic whereas Hereditary has instant pull due to its family drama
I liked the ending of OUATIH as it made me feel the full force of the film being a "fairytale". Tate is alive at the end and all it made me think about was that she wasn't. It left a bittersweet taste in my mouth and I'm curious what I'll think on my second viewing, I hope it ages well.
You should read Tarantino’s novelisation of the film it’s really in depth and flows real well.
After rewatching Midsommar I liked it because It really reflects the nature of codependency. It’s curious how a codependent disordered person will often leave a narcissist and end up joining a cult (or culty church/religion/hobby group) to seek validation they never received in their intimate relationship . However I agree that the movie had too many jumbled aspects to highlight this allegorical theme.
I noticed that the main character Dani was constantly apologizing to everyone in every sentence until she was accepted as the May Queen. The validation gave her at least a temporary strength and she stopped apologizing. I guess if you strip away all the other elements of the film and focus on Danis emotional evolution it’s a better watch.
Additionally the use of aiowaska as a hallucinogenic drug therapy to process past trauma (being used for PTSD patients) is also an interesting parallel in this movie as hallucinogens play a massive role in the plot. Each time Dani takes the mushrooms it releases her internalized trauma - like expressing infection from a wound.
What I couldn't wrap my head around, was how a positive personal development can involve torturing and burning people alive. Even if it was meant to symbolize something like "putting the past behind you", it had a sick spitefulness about it, kind of like a revenge fantasy. Indulging in that sort of thing is kind of the opposite of a positive development. Maybe that contradiction was intended, but the meaning of it is lost on me.
She also stopped taking her medication (Ativan/Lorazapam - benzodiazepines), perhaps she was suffering withdrawals. She was taking those prior to her sisters murder/suicide so she probably was over medicating after (eyes wide open not sleeping in bed scene) When they went to Sweden she stopped and this is probably why she need the sleep aids from Josh. I feel this has something to do with it as Ari Aster intentionally included a shot of the exact medication she was taking. Between that, the hallucinogens, and everyone around her getting brutally murdered I think she just totally broke and gave in to the validation she was receiving as the more than likely preplanned May Queen role.
The directors cut of Midsommar delves into the relationship of the two characters a lot deeper than the theatrical release.
Ehhhhh it makes the relationship way more one-sided in favor of Dani and removes any sort of potential interest/ambiguity that the original ending offers
@@danielplainview2584 bastard in a basket
I greatly enjoyed "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", though I did notice it was a bit slow in parts story wise, though I didn't mind. I think it helps a great deal if you are nostalgic for the 60s and 70s, as this was a milieu story, for people that want to totally escape into a bygone era. There's a lot of people out there that hate the times we're currently living in, and pine for the "good ole days", so I don't think Tarantino is totally off the mark providing this kind of content. I agree that story wise it was a little bit light, maybe only having enough for a 90 minute, possibly 2 hour film, but for people that enjoy the escape, we don't mind a close to three hour feature. I also think it should be mentioned that "Once Upon Time.." harks back to "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968), and "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984), both directed by Sergio Leone, and perhaps is a bit of a homage to Sergio Leone and those movies as well, not to mention the way LA and Hollywood used to be, and perhaps how things could have been different.
Think it’s over indulging and pretentious to waste so much money and actors and waste like 1:30 hours of non story. It’s fucking ridiculous when you think about it. I watched a 45 min documentary about Manson And Hollywood that was more interesting than the film.
Another wasted opportunity. Also bruce lee was inaccurate as fuck. No idea what he’s doing there.
It's a milieu story. It's not going to appeal to a lot of people. Milieu stories are like "Lord of the Rings" and "Gone With the Wind". For people who want to escape into that milieu, they love it. If you're not nostalgic about the 60s or 70s, yes, parts of this movie will bore you to tears. But for people who are, they love it.
@A A The movie is set in 1969. If you watch enough TV shows and movies from different decades, you can almost guess which decade a TV show or movie you haven't seen before was made. Decades have a particular style that was in vogue.
As far as the alternate ending goes I absolutely loved it
Same here, shocked me at first, but then I clicked on to what he was doing, totally loved it
Hey Rob, just wanted to say that I've been following your channel for many years now and I love all of your work, your thoughtful opinions and insightful analyses on many great films. I definitely agree with you on these two films, they both were underwhelming and I really couldn't relate with any of the characters. I love your passion for film and I appreciate all of your great work. Thank you and cheers!
actually was blown away by Midsommar, didn't know anything about it and who directed it beforehand so had zero expectations, i think it's not plot based but more like a sensory experience. i don't think it's really a movie about cults or relationships but more about psychological transgression. also that none of the characters are meant to be likeable, i feel.
i recommend anyone who didn't quite like it in the first place to re-watch it with a less cartesian perspective :)
watched Hereditary last night and wasn't as much impressed by it, although i thought it was brilliant, it had more flaws in pacing than Midsommar in my opinion. i could tell there was a step up in his directing skills from that to Midsommar. it seems that Aster intentionally makes his characters flawed and vulnerable. he leaves the likeability up to the viewer and how they see the characters.
Toni Colette said that Ari Aster is the most prepared director she's ever worked with. She praised him for practically having the full movie already shot and edited in his head two years before they started filming. (cf. IMDb).
That is basically the textbook definition of a visionary... so there ARE visionary directors post 2000s, indeed :)
For Inglorious Bastards, a good idea is to ask "which do I prefer, Inglorious Bastards or Nation's Pride?"
Depends if one laughs along with Hitler as he views violence or laughs at Hitler as violence is done to him.
Oh, wait... ;)
OUATIH had it's moments but like another youtuber said; if you don't know anything about the Manson Family then it'll feel like a waste of time. As for the running time, Tarantino has carte blanche.
Maybe it's another one of those reasons why everyone was crowing about Blade Runner 2049, it came out during a time where there's a f***ing comicbook/Disney movie every other week.
Tarantino is not very deep. His movies equate to little more than adolescent fantasies.
Rob Ager, you should review Sucker Punch! That movie has so many layers most people didn't understand it at all and just took it at face value. The scene with the mirrors (that aren't mirrors but actually 4 actresses acting like they're in front of a mirror) is quite brilliant.
Yes! Agreed, brilliant film! Snyder's movies in general deserve deeper analysis as he evokes paintings, sculpture and religious text in complex ways like Kubrick but doesn't get the same respect or analysis from Ager (or much of anyone for that matter)
Any film that ends with: 'it was all just a dream ' is pure shit from the start off. Lazy storytelling.
@@distortioncharizardalive lol muh themes
@@DronkenDrenthen But Sucker Punch starts as a supposed dream. Also it's not a dream. Also why limit what art can be?
@@SpuddyWesker Idk what you want me to say to that.
Biggest problem with Midsommar is that is 30 minutes/an hour too long. Felt like it could have cut a lot of fat off the story. If it was shorter and more subliminal then I think it would have worked. It’s too on the nose at parts, however I did find it very creepy and was disturbing in some parts so it wins in terms of that. I think it was just far too long and struggled to maintain the momentum
Midsommar was like a really pretty picture postcard that never got written
I managed to see Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut this week. One of the best experiences I’ve had in a cinema. I’d really recommend you see it in the cinema if you get the chance
I love the long cut anyway so not sure I need the half way version
I liked Midsommar. It's a great movie about codependency. It also captures greatly the spirit of real Swedish midsummer parties - singing nice songs and dancing around poles. In the neighboring country Finland we think the Swedish way of celebrating midsummer is crazy and spend our own midsummer parties just drinking heavily, burning stakes and fighting.
I've known friends who were at Finish midsummer festivals and you guys can't talk lol! 'A load of Scadies wandering around, pissed outta their heads at 10 am' was how they described your festivals!
@@davidlean1060 That's pretty accurate 😅
@@tonitsi78 The lad who was there loved the weirdness of it all actually. Coincidentally, he is fair haired and fair skinned himself, so he look like a local!
Still might see them but waiting for home release. I hope The Lighthouse will show locally.
Tarantino is a good director but he shouldn't be allowed within 100 feet of the editing room.
great point
Amadeus Debussy oh because you’ve sat in the editing room with Tarantino while he edited frames huh? Stfu
@@MikkyTranscends I don't need to have, I can see the results.
Amadeus Debussy in order for your original comment to make any sense at all.. you’d be saying that you’ve seen versions of Tarantino films that were edited without him around?? .. (which don’t exist) Because how else would one know he can direct a great movie, just can’t edit it correctly afterwards? lmao that’s absurd..They’re HIS films🤷🏻♂️
Your statement was just senseless tbh and I had to call you on it. He’s a terrific storyteller/entertainer IMO and you clearly know JACK SHIT about the filmmaking process. #besafe #cinemaforever
@@MikkyTranscends I know a scene that should have been cut when I see one, and QT's films are full of them (cough, cough Deathproof anyone?). That said, I like his films, I just think there's a lot of superfluous stuff in some of them.
Maybe it’s because I ‘m born and raised in Los Angeles, but I absolutely adored OUATILA.
Two things worth looking into: Rick Dalton is a failed mirror reflection of Steve McQueen. Indeed, I think the Great Escape scene is meant to echo what happened to Eric Stoltz on Back to the Future.
As for Cliff Booth, I believe he’s supposed to be a stand in for Gene LeBell who knew Bruce Lee quite well. Also, I’ve heard Pitt took a lot of influence from Tom Laughlin aka Billy Jack.
Hi. This is a REALLY important question (well it is for me at least!) and I would love an answer to it from someone who knows the area... Is there, or isn't there, a serious dissonance between images presented, and nice luxury mansions/estates/apartments and so on, and what you can see outside the door? ...In terms of, apparently, what is it - 30,000+ chronically homeless people in L.A.? Just what is going on, and how are Hollywood producers and writers dealing with the gut-level contradictory indications?
@@interqward1 The short answer is yes, but because of how crowded the city has become in the last ten to fifteen years, it's becoming a problem that can't be so easily ignored.
Most Hollywood people, that is the ones who make the real money, live in either the Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, or Calabasas, places far from any homeless for the most part. So, the homeless problem in L.A (60,000 folks strong) isn't even in their orbit. The police in those areas make damn sure homeless don't come anywhere the money is firmly planted. So, no, the best you'll ever get out of them is crocodile tears.
That said, back in the 90s, the homeless used to have a lot bigger area to roam, most of Downtown L.A. (with the notable exception of Bunker Hill) has been their playground along with much of Venice Beach. However, since there's been a strong effort to redevelop those areas into high end real estate, (think Luxury Lofts in downtown and Silicon Beach in Venice) the homeless have been forced into a smaller and tighter areas. This is a big reason why you're hearing about all the diseases being spread.
It doesn't help matters that a large percentage of the homeless are genuinely mentally ill and/or have serious drug addictions. When Reagan defunded all the mental health hospitals ( it didn't help that most of them were run like shit) the mentally ill were just let out onto the streets.
We've also had a real problem with hospitals and even other cities shipping and dumping their homeless over here because we supposedly have the facilities to handle them.
On top of that, a law passed a few years ago that let a bunch of non-violent offenders out of prison early. Many of them have ended up on the streets here.
While there's finally been a push by L.A County and L.A City to do something about it, (IMHO) it's not getting off to a great start. While, the county in going to start building some mental health facilities, the actually act of sheltering all these people is still a hot potato that no politician really wants to handle. The city is spending 12 million to shelter only 150 homeless, so you can get an idea about efficient this is all going.
Fun fact: All the shit a homeless guy carries around is his private property, so you can't just throw all those shopping carts full of junk in the trash.
@@josephmarble2371 Thank you so much for answering so comprehensively. It's more or less a 'study' that you posted but it also shows that if 'ordinary' people 'out of the power loop' as it were can come to grips with the fundamental factors of the situation - well, as you pointed out: the money that is being spent to shelter only 150 calls into question the efficiency and integrity too, of the exercise, maybe.
I mean, you also sound like maybe not just any 'ordinary person,' either though frankly... : )
...Now, if only we could raise some production money, eh. I mean for films though, not solving all the present social crises.
A point concerning Polanski, Notice how Tarantino included that scene of Brad Pitt turning down the advances of an underage girl?
Yes, I'd forgot to mention that, but it stood out when watching the movie.
@@robag555 I believe that scene is a real experience Tarantino had, seems way out of place. Very creepy as well.
Tarantino also went out of his way to put her ass in the middle of the camera and show her armpits to us: He sexualized her character. So, the anti-pedo interpretation is pretty unlikely.
Why do you think he included that scene?
I had high hopes for Once Upon a Time, but it fell short. Still, the plot was so loose and meandering, I felt that Tarantino intended it as an homage to a Hollywood and a time in America that no longer exists rather than a conventionally structured film. I was hugely impressed by the costume, set decoration, etc. But that is all achievable on sets. Where he blew me away was that long drive scene where he showed late 1960s, early 1970s America. Since I grew up in those times, it was a time machine for me and I wished it were possible to be in the same car . The performances were great. All of that said, I would have liked a film with more narrative structure. When I realized that Tarantino was departing from the historical events of the Tate-LaBianca murders, it was jarring. But I came to the same conclusion you did, like Inglorious Basterds, Tarantino was depicting how he wished things had gone down. I think that is emphasized by what the cult chick who winds up being hit with a flamethrower in the pool was put through before finally dying. In real life, she was one of the most loathsome of Manson's followers and participated in the murders with real enthusiasm.
How you felt about the end of OUTIH is how I felt about the end of Inglorious Basterds and even the end of Django Unchained. Fanciful and crowd pleasing but ultimately trivializing.
I love Tarantinos "what if" endings. Welcome break from the usual shite. I sure as hell didn't want to see what really happened in that house.
OUATIH had too many overlong scenes that studios and fans only accept because it's QT. That annoys me a bit. Pitt at Spahn Ranch was amazing. Some good lines but, in general, an okay film.
I think the next time you review Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, pay close attention to the wealth gap between Leo's character (the star, the actor) and Brad' character (the guy doing the grunt work), and their roles in the final act.
Ohh that’s a good point
midsommar wasnt about relationships!! it was about finding a home
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.. is a modern American cinematic masterpiece! I just hated the rushed V.O narration..
Yeah. If you have to resort to narration in a film with this running time then you fucked up.
I shared very similar thoughts on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood upon seeing it and leaving the cinema. I will admit however that I haven't been able to stop thinking about it for the past 5 days or so. I feel like there's something in there - some sort of deeper subtext that I can't quite pin point. I find Tarantino is too smart a filmmaker, and is always very deliberate with everything he does to create such a sort of aimless film. It's really standing out amongst his filmography, as there is no plot what so ever and is just set around 2 'days in the life' of three different characters in 1969, where there is no driving story, and is merely random scene after random scene. I watched Robbie Collin's BBC review for the film, and he really loved the film and spoke in quite some detail about his thoughts on the subtext about the film that has me reevaluating what I saw. To briefly summarise, he talks about how these are 3 people living their day to day life, totally unaware that a huge event (the Manson murders) is about to happen right at their doorstep - literally. It was also a huge turning point in the industry as the American New Wave is taking over the industry, and as you say in the video, the murders put an end to Hippie culture. Then Sharon Tate's scenes are all specifically there to show her just being a super humble and lovely person, to the point that - sort of comically - she invites Leo's character up to her house after three people were just killed in his home. And although it's kind of silly, it's also kind of heart breaking to think that even after such a horrible event she was still so loving and kind, when in reality we know what really happened to her. So I think there is a deeper level of subtext to the film, however I think Tarantino expects a lot from us an audience to already have a huge amount of knowledge on the year, 1969 for it to really come through.
@farenheit041 Yeah, I'm still on the fence about it, so I find everything you say still valid. There's a huge amount of things I wish were done differently that I think would have significantly improved it, but none the less I'm still stuck thinking about the film as it is.
SPLIT IMAGE 1982 was the cult movie. Saw it a couple times on HBO in the 80s. Liked James Woods’ performance. Kept thinking about it while watching Harvey Keitel deprogram Kate Winslet in HOLY SMOKE!
I was split on Midsommar, I’m still curious about the director’s cut that’s coming out soon (it’s 30 minutes longer).
I think you're focusing too much on Manson in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He was in the movie for about 30 seconds and Sharon Tate was a complete red herring. Her character could have been cut out of the movie entirely and it wouldn't affect the outcome. The real story of the movie is a semi washed up actor trying to find his place in Hollywood. Brad Pitt is just struggling to stay involved in that scene. Its a character study. The Manson story felt tacked on.
Have you seen the Suspiria remake? I loved it, & I would LOVE to hear your opinion on it, or an analysis!
Rob, long time fan and love all your content. I've just come back from watching Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. While Tarantino didn't pursue a dry or serious societal reflection of the Manson murders, it seems like he instead re-wrote Hollywood history where the movie industry is the winner. Perhaps he is saying that the Manson murders are part of the mythology or now, a fairy tale, of Hollywood, and Tarantino is reclaiming the narrative.
This doesn't mean that the film is absent of social commentary. First take I noticed three distinct social classes, with Polanski's crew at the top, Dalton as the middle class, and the Manson hippies as the lower classes. Might be on the nose but there could be something there.
I'd add Cliff Booth is part of that lower class, the one doing the grunt work (including in the big finale)
I personally liked OUATIH. Especially because of Leo's Acting, He frikin killed it!
Yeah it was loads of fun to watch imo.
My thoughts exactly about once upon a time in Hollywood. Plus why was Margot Robby in the movie and her character? The movie was too long, the first half of the movie was all over the place and Bruce lee was disrespected which surprised me coming from Tarantino.
Margot Robbie was basically a macguffin once you realized where the plot was heading. Hollywood has become nauseatingly pretentious over the last 20 years and it seems like Tarantino is just happy to be able to proclaim himself the king of pretentiousness lately. I think the Bruce Lee part was undoubtedly a slap on the face to Lee but I can also see that Tarantino was trying to hint at his bizzaro fantasy ending with the odd way he was portraying some of Hollywoods great characters from that era.
Agreed on all points. Except for seeing it again. I have no desire to watch Once Upon a Time...In Hollywood again. Tarantino has lost something as a filmmaker. That thought was prevalent when I left the theater and I also found myself comparing it to Inglorious Basterds, of which there's a night and day difference in quality. It seems to me this film is catered more to baby boomers feeling nostalgic about the '60s because that is really what this film offers the most of.
I was curious if you thought anything of all the cars in OUTH? It felt like 40% if the movie was just car shots. At about the half way mark I started trying to figure out if the cars were meant to symbolize something due to the sheer volume of focus.
Rob I totally agree with your comments regarding Vincent Bugliosi’s book ‘Helter Skelter’. I read the book back in the early 70’s and had the opportunity to hear him talk about the case (and the movie) when he visited my university. Its been a long time but I recall the book to have been very thorough and very detailed.
In regard to your comments regarding ‘OUATIH’ I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed all the references to the TV shows and actors and characters that were introduced during the first half of the movie. I’m older than you are so perhaps it’s because I grew up with these things that I find it so enjoyable to see the goofy interviews with celebrities and the references to shows I used to watch. It did occur to me when I saw the movie that these things might not play out so well for a younger generation and in fact, my son told me that one of his students saw the movie and was completely bored since he didn’t know who Charles Manson was (let alone all the 60’s references). As for the Polanski comments I think he was presented not so much as a cool or ‘swashbuckling’ character but as an upcoming director, which he was at that time. Also, the incident with the underaged girl took place after the murders. Finally, I’d say it would have been impossible to include Sharon Tate without including her husband. Finally, I don’t understand why exactly why you give QT a pass for the ending to ‘Inglorious Basterds’ a pass on its ending but not OUATIH’? Your explanation just doesn’t really convince me.
Best channel on CZcams! Don’t necessarily agree with everything said but, always love hearing your perspective on film.
I am with you on your analysis. Not blown away by the source material . Love your break down of the Exorcist - a novel and movie whose themes consume me.
I love your insight into films and have watched your stuff a lot...although I can’t agree with you on Midsomer. I personally loved it I feel it delved into the psychology of betrayal and was riddled with deep symbolism. The cult represents her place in society, or reality in general. Perhaps the characters weren’t relatable to you but I could relate to the main character and she reminded me of a younger me, the desperation of an injured psyche to find a place in the world and the stability of relationships. Thanks for content.
I loved Midsommar so am a bit disappointed Rob didn't like it either which makes me now question if its as good as I thought it was. Then again, he didn't like The Revenant.
Plus you can’t smoke lsd
I couldn't tell you which one was worse. Midsommar, The Revenant or Big Top Pee Wee.
“I didn’t really like either of these films” same.
I would argue that midsommar has very relatable characters for young people in Gen z/ young millennials. I could go on and on about the major themes of emotional abuse and codependence that Dani goes through in this movie that is entirely relatable. However I will say that Midsomer is far more frightening than hereditary to me because at the end I almost questioned my own sanity and beliefs when I had a moment where I thought that the cult did her a favor and was actually good. The whole movie is manipulating and like a fever dream/ bad trip, which makes it so much more frightening.
Which "Wicker Man" did you mean you didn't like? I liked the Edward Woodward one quite a bit. That scene with the love song in the diner is so poignant!
The film could've been tighter, but I did feel the mystery and build-up. I didn't see the Cage version, because I generally don't like his work.
After this video, I"m going to try and find "Split Image." I think Peter Fonda would make a great cult leader character. I loved him in "The Limey" too.
Midsommer have a higher score on IMDb than Heriditary. WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON!!!???
Rotten Toms and IMDB seem to have really bad bias toward new movies. I strongly suspect film studio moles flooding those cites with fake positive reviews.
I loved both films. They're awesome. Tarantino changed the history to create a story. He did the same thing in Inglorious Bastards and nobody complained, was he trivializing nazism then?. The title is "Once upon a time..." and the sequence inserted in the final credits is selling the "red apple" tobacco. In this tale a pregnant mother, a woman that he loved, is not slaughtered. In his tale, dirty, creepy hippies take on the cowboy's ranch because the old cowboy is blind and slept, so his nostalgia recalls the cinema from a previous time, and also a certain kind of people (that America) that is dead or about to die, like the cinema world he defends . Pitt and Dicaprio are great in the portrait of a deep friendship, of two men facing failure and decadence with elegance, integrity, and irony. The rest is a beautiful love letter to the movies, with a gorgeous production design and cinematography
Midsommer is one of the best psicological terror movies I've seen. No character depth? What if the whole plot is developed in the main character's head, while she's high on drugs, shocked by the huge tragedy she's gone through and frustrated and angry because she's not finding any external support? Isn't that deep enough for a character?. That movie is one of the most disturbing experiences I've lived in a movie theater.
There's more themes in these movies, just mentioned a few ones to defend them because they certainly don't deserve this contempt, being as great as they are.
Is Midsommar a jungle fever and cuck wussy movie?
@@patkay5036 English is not my mother language, so forget about slang. Translate into Christian and I will provide answer to your weird question.
I agree. While I like HEREDITARY more, I thought MIDSOMMAR was pretty comparable. Kind of disappointed that Rob couldn’t pick up on all of the details on MS. I also never felt the time on MS.
I feel like Inglorious Basterds was a mix of an elaborate effort to troll critics and to test them. Tarantino presents what historians and American film audiences take to automatically be the "good guys" (A tight knit unit of Jewish American soldiers) and presents them as being (as the title suggests) totally devoid of heroic/virtuous traits (save perhaps for a bit of valor, which is not absent in their enemy) with minimal, almost cartoonish motivation (a disconnected scene featuring the "Jew Hunter", the sole "justification" for the acts of slaughter and torture (war crimes) they commit) contrasted with what historians and film audiences are conditioned to believe are the "bad guys" (who, with the one exception, are depicted as virtuous). Throughout the film, seemingly irrelevant dialogue about film as a media for war propaganda communicates to the audience what Tarantino was trying to test critics to see if they would make anything of it. Predictably, critics are mouth-breathers and just watched it as a subpar action movie that they liked because the director has a name. Everyone failed the test.
Inglourious basterds was great, but I also don’t necessarily think your interpretation holds true.
Yea inglorious was an action movie. A funny one
Wait so you’re saying that in inglorious bastards have the Nazi hunters be the bad guys whine the actual Nazis are the good guys? That’s your interpretation?
Damn you seem to have low IQ and you clearly are a Nazi.
Sooo, who next to enact pop-culture revenge upon Quentin?
In the film Sharon Tate’s boyfriend type was described as “12 year old boy.” The little girl who kneels down in front of Dicaprio is called “pumpkin puss.” Then when she is sitting on his lap, he throws her down but she isn’t hurt because she instinctively wore padding even though her being thrown down wasnt in the script and was improvised. Also Pitt’s character saying “I’ve avoided jail for a long time and it won’t be underage poontang that puts me there.” ...so I think there is quite a bit of narrative about Polanski and pedophilia happening under the surface in the movie.
Yeah "pumpkin puss" was just fucking weird.
hello Rob, there was a request for your opinion on Kill List, i second that request! it left me pretty rattled although i am not sure i like the ending, it is almost over the top bleak (and film itself is very very dark as well ) so i cannot really bring myself to watch it again...
I haven't managed to get a copy yet.
Inglorious Basterds was utter trash.
Tarantino hasn’t done anything good since the 90’s.
Why do you think so? Does it make you feel special?
It felt like "what if" pron to me. Alternate history angle is kind of interesting, I guess. I enjoyed the part where the German officer caught the spy using the wrong fingers for three, though.
@@mechelemede4579 the thing is he didn't. He caught them immediately when he saw them cause one of the Basterds had his face in the newspapers after he turned on the Nazis. Also, the SS guy made the film critic guess a character from a then popular German movie which he knew the spy couldn't have seen cause he was a Brit. He wanted to play with them just like Landa did. Notice that it's just that actress'es assumption that the 3 gave them away. The reason SS guy reacted to that was like him being disappointed in them failing so stupidly. Another thing is that his job was directly related to knowing all the high ranks dislocated in France one of whose uniforms was worn by a Basterd, so saying that he "only knows the ones worth knowing" was again toying with them. The last thing is that the film critic spy lies about being in a movie not knowing that it was recently reran at the cinemas(Shoshanna's one having an ad about it outside) which gives him away as well. So, yeah, the SS guy had known it much earlier than that 3 gesture.
@@UnitedFeodor Ah, it's been a while since I've seen the movie. Thank you for the correction. ^_^
@@mechelemede4579 well, it doesn't exactly stand out on the first watch except for the guy who was in the newspapers maybe.
I adore the Wicker Man. Every part of it. I don't find it boring in the slightest. The music, the atmosphere, the mystery, it all works well together, and I also view it as a comedy because the most amusing part of it is watching Sergeant Howie get puritanically offended at everything. It's great fun.
Hello Rob, I posted a question on your video " How to Cure Acid Reflux and Helicobacter Pylori infection (without antibiotics)," I found the video so good. I followed your link and see 2 versions of the Mastika Capsules: 250mg and 500mg. Can you tell me which version you used? you tripled the manufacturer's dose to 12 capsules a day to get such a good result. I want to know how many mg a day you took, Rob. Please reply, Thank you very much.
The scene in Midsummer where the main characters are tripping on shrooms was very well done. Thought the movie was fairly engrossing. Can't wait to see what he does next.
I can agree with you on Midsommar, it's meh. No Hereditary by a long shot. That was and will be a hard one to top.
Hollywood is in my top 3 QT films. Just so enjoyable for me and I've watched it over and over. Only saw Midsommar once. I appreciate and respect your critiques and thank you for sharing.
Rob i think you should watch hateful 8 again. First time i saw it i didnt like it. Then i watched it again and i liked it, watched it a 3rd time and loved it. Now its my favorite tarantino film. I think you could do a great analysis of the war time themes present in the movie. You could also do a great cross analysis between hateful 8 and john carpenters the thing, as that movie was a strong influence on tarantino in making hateful 8.
The second time I watched it (Midsommar) I wore headphones and the sound design really pulled me in.
@Rob, do you think the additional gravitas of Collette and Byrne influenced your positive impression of Hereditary and showed up the casting of Midsommar somewhat? I agree the support casting was pretty bland in Midsommar, but the lead actress was great. I think Hereditary is technically much deeper, but I adored Midsommar too. Beautiful film. Yes, it's a break-up film, and Aster reveals as much in interviews, so it explores grieving from a different experiential perspective. Brings the horror of abandonment to the surface so strongly. Very different, but also a fine film for mine.
The ending of Once.. makes total sense when you consider it's a fairy tale and Sharon Tate becomes the princess that gets saved.
Spoilers obviously:
I kinda guessed that he'd do an alternative history bloodshed ending (similar to what happened to the Nazis in Inglourious) but I thought it was handled rather well and was genuinely hilarious and poignant. There was no way in hell they were going to have Sharon Tate murdered, let alone it being depicted, in this film and the idea of the Manson family killers being spurred on to kill media figures who inspired them to be violent growing up was genuinely interesting. As a side note, I thought Once Upon A Time In Hollywood was Tarantino's most mature film since Jackie Brown, and the two films are comparable in a lot of ways. For instance, they both explore characters who are getting older and don't feel like they are as useful as they once were - both films also share a slow, meandering pace.
For those viewers who are interested in watching 'Split Image' it is available to watch for free now for Amazon Prime members until August 31.
When watching your analysis on Saving Private Ryan, Inglorious Basterd’s kept popping up in my head.
Have you rewatched Midsommar? I am really surprised at your take on it considering you videos on Hereditary. Thought it was fantastic. Tons of deeper meaning to many shots in the film and Will Poulter is one of the best comic relief characters I’ve ever seen. Loved it
"Split image" (1982) seems the be the Dennehy, Woods, Allen movie ager is talking about? (at about 3:30).
Imdb says that Ari Aster wrote the script and directed both Hereditary and Midsommar. Personally I loved Midsommar, even more than Hereditary, because it's such a special movie!
Yeah I think Tarantino blew a good opportunity to tell a really good story. When I saw the black and white trailer at the very beginning of the film I thought, "Great, more camp." Maybe my opinion will change with multiple viewings but in my opinion his last good movies were Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs. I'm being pretty harsh I know. Also the Polansky thing kinda creeped me out too.
Those are his best. Tough acts to follow.
I bought Helter Skelter on Audible, great so far. Thanks Rob.
Ager is totally allowed to be wrong every now and then.
Yes the majority allows him to be wrong. Sometimes!
Don’t fuck up rob. Or everyone will come to your house and torch it.
All hail !!!!!
Films like these were made for spoilers , I've got free movie tickets & still disinterested in Q.Ts' picture show , & I don't have time to dick around checking comments , so I don't know if anyone has pointed it out yet , but one aspect of this "personal" filmmaking is the parallel between pitt/decaprio & the director's relationship with his producer Lawrence Bender , characters of their own creation , anachronistic in their own world , surviving by working in front of & behind the scenes of revisionist fairy tales . And that is a bloody baller shirt .
the common denominator with Tarantino films is always talking heads and arguments.
the best that can be said for ONCE UPON A TIME is it's a good black comedy laugh.
I think the most telling bit of Once upon a Time in Hollywood is the title card at the end of the film. Its a Fairy Tale, an act of cinematic mercy before Tarantino retires, or sells out and makes his Star Trek film. This is of course a Metatextual take, and whether that affects how you approach the movie definitely varies, but its all I could think about leaving the theater.
Hey! Good to see this. Thanks for this and the conversation.
Right there with you on QT's Hollywood. Not nearly enough story for 3 hours. Cheap, gimmicky ending. Missed opportunity. You spell it out all wonderfully, and respectful to him. Though I liked Hateful 8, in recent years QT seems to be tripping over his own self-indulgence.
I'd really like to know if you thought the director's cut is the better or worse version of Midsommar.
If you read and enjoyed Helter Skelter, you should make it a point to read Tom O'Neill's book Chaos - you'll be captivated to learn much of the other side of What Went Down!!
I was disappointed by OUATIH. Pretty much all of the big actors in the film are cameos, the entire focus was on Leo and Brad, whose stories were kinda boring. Usually Tarantino's films follow the story of several characters which eventually intertwine. OUATIH felt like a missed opportunity.
Now MANDY
THATS A MOVIE
He already made a post saying he hated it.
Its different but that doesn't mean it's great. I think we are all thirsty for anything other than the mindless assembly-line boardroom drivel that Hollywood keeps pushing out. I liked Mandy but it's not close to perfect. I think it will always be a neich cult film.
Awesome feed back I do agreed with what y’all are saying for sure !
Crappingcat I’ll watch it now
Once upon a time in Hollywood took me 2 or 3 watches to get it. I think it's an inspired film. The performances were stunning. The casting was excellent. The music was well chosen. The dialogue was brilliant.
Rob - what ending were you after? Sharon Tate et al get slaughtered...and then what...? I think the way the Manson family were portrayed as lost children was very thought provoking
When I heard that Tarantino was making a movie about the Charles Manson murders I first thought this movie was going to be a serious dramatic movie but all expectations went through the window when I watched the trailer
I think in a way Tarantino is a slave when it comes to expectations from the audiences and movie critics , when Jackie Brown came out, It received lukewarm reviews so he quickly backed away from that style when he made Kill Bill and onwards, shame because if he didn’t give a fuck about people’s opinion this movie could’ve been a real nutcase of a story, I don’t like when filmmakers want to pander the audience
Jackie Brown is his best film. Re-watched it last weekend.
Hattori Hanzo agree
"Acolytes of horror" did an interesting analysis of Midsommer, there's a lot going on in the movie.
Meh, other than his lighthouse video I don't find myself agreeing with his takes that often. But he is a talented dude and I subscribed because I like the format and the effort he puts in.
@@danieljohnston2379 I thought his perspective on The Lighthouse was quite interesting and thought provoking. I could see more going on in Midsommer than the depth he went in though. I don't actually like the movie though.
Interesting thought Rob. What do you think about David Fincher.s Mindhunter series? Have you seen any of it?
Mindhunter series I very much liked and looking forward to the next one. Had already read a lot about several of the cases and profilers so it was great to see them faithfully done in fiction form.
It's a good show. One aspect of S2 that bothers me is that Wendy is apparently only used to shoehorn a lesbian angle into the story. Too forced. Still a good show. Lot's of atmosphere and great music selection.