Director/Screenwriter: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Al Pacino, Bruce Dern
Genres: Comedy, Drama
MPAA Rating: Rated R for language throughout, some strong graphic violence, drug use, and sexual references
Release Dates: 7/26/19 (Wide Theatrical); 11/22/19 (Disc/Streaming-Starz)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
I must confess that, while I very much enjoyed Inglorious Basterds and The Hateful Eight, I am not a Tarantino diehard; yet, I was excited for the prospect of seeing legendary actors Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio team up for the first time, in a film set in what many refer to as the Golden Age of Hollywood. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, as the trailers were entertaining but gave little away (which is what they should do, not spoil premises). And, thankfully, I was pleasantly and marvelously surprised that this movie became my favorite Tarantino flick, and one of my favorites of 2019. DiCaprio is brilliantly maniacal in a role that is as complex as anything he has ever done. His scenes with Pitt are particularly wonderful, and I only wish we hadn’t needed to wait this lot to see them chew scenery together. Between this film and Ad Astra, 2019 has been the year of Brad Pitt, who has given two of the best performances of his career (although vastly different ones). The climax of the film is simply sensational and, I must admit, quite hilarious in parts. Tarantino sure enjoys messing with history, and we love him for it.
A