Even though director Quentin Tarantino hasn’t begun shooting his next film, he’s already comparing it to his 1994 classic Pulp Fiction. During a recent interview, Tarantino discussed Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and what audiences can expect.

In 1992, Tarantino released his debut feature Reservoir Dogs, which is widely regarded as one of the most iconic indie films ever made, and certainly one of the decade’s most influential productions. Made for only $1.2 million, Reservoirs Dogs exceeded its budget cost by earning $2.8 million at the box office, however it ultimately became a cult classic through word of mouth and video rentals. With its shifting narrative, clever dialogue and extreme violence, Reservoir Dogs paved the way for Tarantino’s most popular film, 1994’s Pulp Fiction, which shares similar themes and ultimately earned over $200 million in theaters. Additionally, the film announced a bold new directorial voice in cinema. Tarantino (along with co-writer Roger Avary) won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for their work on Pulp Fiction.

Per Deadline, Tarantino made a surprise appearance last night with Leonardo DiCaprio at CinemaCon 2018 in Las Vegas. At Caesar’s Palace Colosseum, the duo hyped their new collaboration, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which shares aesthetic themes to Pulp Fiction, according to Tarantino. The stylistic news immediately pinpoints a specific visual and tonal vibe, this coming after months upon months of speculation about the Los Angeles narrative that will reportedly take place in 1969. After releasing a Western with 2015’s The Hateful Eight, Tarantino will now return to his gritty Southern California origins, and with DiCaprio and Brad Pitt set to star.


In recent months, Tarantino has received criticism after Uma Thurman recalled the director’s troubling behavior while filming Kill Bill. He’s also made headlines for making Charles Manson part of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’s narrative. Last November, however, it was reported that the infamous Manson murders would only be a “background element.” The Weinstein Company was originally supposed to produce Tarantino’s new film, but he later chose Sony Pictures after the Harvey Weinstein scandal. During his CinemaCon appearance, Tarantino compared DiCaprio and Pitt to Robert Redford and Paul Newman, while his “sizzle reel” reportedly did not include Margot Robbie, who has been rumored to portray Sharon Tate, one of Manson’s victims.

So, what’s your take on the new Tarantino film? On one level, the director’s core fan base will be more than pleased to learn about the Pulp Fiction vibe, however the filmmaker’s aggressive style may not necessarily translate to box office success. With so-called “elevated horror” becoming more popular, along with action-oriented filmmakers that lean more towards psychological horror than real-life horror, we’ll have to see what changes Tarantino makes, if any at all.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood release date: Aug 9, 2019