Margot Robbie Basks in the “Hollywood” Bygone Era in “Once Upon a Time”
In Quentin Tarantino’s critically acclaimed drama Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, Oscar-nominee Margot Robbie plays an idealized version of real-life 1960s ingenue Sharon Tate. She is married to Roman Polanski, whose film Rosemary’s Baby has made him the hottest director in town; they’re on every party list, living the high life.
Set in 1969, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood recreates the time and place of Tarantino’s formative years, when everything – the United States, the city of Los Angeles, the Hollywood star system, even the movies themselves – was at an inflection point, and no one knew where the pieces would land. All this is not entirely dissimilar from the changes buffeting Hollywood today.
At the center is Rick Dalton, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Rick had been the star of “Bounty Law,” a hit television series in the 50s and early 60s, but his prophesied transition to motion picture stardom never materialized. Now, as Hollywood moves towards a hippie aesthetic, Rick worries that his time has passed – and wonders if there’s still a chance for him.
At Rick’s side is Cliff Booth, a former war hero, now Rick’s stunt double, played by Brad Pitt. As their careers have evolved and their struggles increased, the one constant for them has been each other. Cliff has proven his loyalty to Rick over and over again, and vice versa – they are the only true family that either has.
Robbie says: “Rick Dalton lives next door to Roman and Sharon, and we’re just out of reach. All the things he thinks he wants – the real inner circle of Hollywood, all the glamor that comes with it – is so close and yet so far.”
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Review
For Tarantino, this set of characters was not only fascinating in their own right, but equally interesting because they represent three class levels of Hollywood. “In this town, these people can all exist right next to each other,” says Tarantino. “The idea of exploring that time, and that era of Los Angeles, and that era of Hollywood, with these different strata – that’s what attracted me.”
Margot Robbie has captivated global audiences with breakout performances alongside some of the most notable names in film. Continually evolving her diverse body of work, Robbie brings gripping narratives to life in coveted roles that speak to her powerful on-screen presence.
Robbie most recently wrapped production on the Harley Quinn spin-off, Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). She is producing and starring in the film. Warner Brothers is set to release the film in February 2020.
Mattel and Warner Brothers recently announced Robbie will star in the live-action Barbie. She will also produce the film under her LuckyChap banner.
Robbie starred in I, Tonya, as the titled character, Tonya Harding. She also served as a producer on the film under her production company, LuckyChap Entertainment and received an Oscar® nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, and a SAG nomination for her performance. The film tells the controversial story of Olympic figure skater, Tonya Harding, who infamously conspired to have her competition, Nancy Kerrigan, injured before the 1994 Winter Olympics. The film premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival and was released by Neon in December 2017.
In Philippine cinemas August 28, Once Upon a Time…In Hollywood is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.