Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

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Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Tarantino, 2019) 

Analysis

Genre:

  • comedy 
  • Comedy-drama

 

Narrative:

 

  • Binary opposites — comparisons 

 

Narrative range (unrestricted/restricted) 

 

Barthes — enigma codes

 

Construction:

  • Most of the shots are filmed from a car or in a transportation of some sort (plane) 
  • The shots don’t show the characters until the end 
  • Cuts in between the different stories to show their perspectives 
  • Show, don’t tell
  • Cross-cutting suggests the events are happening simultaneously 

 

 

2 different stories of celebrities: comparisons through cross-cutting  

 

  • A star — Margot Robbie 
  • A celebrity - Leo and brad 
  • 2 different cars/transportation — plane and cars 
  • They all reach their destination — house and the bar
  • 2 different shoes — brands, subculture, interests, etc. 
  • Drinking and smoking and partying — In the plane and the smoked cigarettes dropped out of the car

 

Margot Robbie’s character — the star:

  • Partying on the plane (possibly coming from an international flight abroad) 
  • Important or at a high position as she has other people collecting her baggage for her
  • Has her own plane for herself, therefore showing her importance
  • No security or protection
  • Lots of paparazzi 
  • Has a vintage car
  • Dresses very lavish and luxurious
  • Has other staff looking after her belongings (including her partner), whilst she’s in the background attending to her dog
  • Privileged and wealthy
  • Clean and respected 

 

Leo and Brad’s characters — celebrity(plural?):

  • Mural/artwork on the wall at the start — cuts to him and brad getting into their car 
  • Brad is driving and Leo is in the passenger seat 
  • They’re driving a yellow regular car 
  • Leo is wearing a brown leather jacket with a gold necklace hanging around his neck 
  • Leo’s smoking whilst in the lavatory 
  • Brad is wearing a black shirt with a denim cover and sunglasses inside — begs the question as to why he’s wearing sunglasses inside? Maybe to shield himself from others recognising him 
  • Leo’s always in front of Brad, therefore suggesting he has more power than him and even he isnt driving. Could be that he’s his bodyguard or personal protection (contrasts with the star as she has others doing things for her)
  • Leo is drinking whilst brad is not
  • Messy and unorganised 
  • Leo is larger framed onscreen  

 

Comparisons and similarities:

  • Leo’s and brad’s car is vintage and is typical for the setting — enclosed with the closed roof 
  • Margot’s car is vintage and is much faster, therefore standing out — free with the opened roof 
  • Same mural/graffiti from the start and shown at the end — link — at the same place 

 

Cars:

  • Leo’s car is vintage and he isn’t driving the car, but gets into the car first. His car fits into the setting. His car is completely covered, therefore connoting he’s enclosed or a confined person. 

 

 

  • Robbie’s car is a sports car, that looks expensive, and stands out from the rest of the cars on the highway. Her hair is blowing in the wind and her roof is open, therefore connoting that she’s free. 

 

 

Shoes:

  • Brad Pitt is wearing cheaper, more worn-out and softer shoes - still shot 
  • Margot is wearing lady shoes with high heels — moving shoe shot  
  • Leo’s wearing more expensive shoes — still shot 
  • Margot is shown through a moving shoe shot, with her and her partner in sync, suggesting their a perfect couple and have a fast-moving life
  • Brad and Leo aren’t sync, brad is always behind Leo, as though he’s following him — shoes are pointing away from each other, suggesting disconnection from one another (separation) 

 

Drinking:

  • Only one drink is poured for Leo and it’s alcohol
  • Brad is drinking healthily and more visually out-there 
  • In the time they’ve had their drink, it cuts to the other character and it shows how her lifestyle is quicker as they get more done in the time, whilst the drink is being poured and drunk. 





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