電影《從前，有個好萊塢...》影評：In Times of ChangeThe Hollywood of Earthly Delights
從前 有個好萊塢...影評*註：本篇實為電影分析，並不是電影評價
這篇分析是上學期電影研究的期末作文，本來打算得分好的話再分享上來。
但最終我也不知道自己得了多少分，不過還是放在這裡作為紀念吧。
文章本身和標題的靈感來源於文藝復新時期的荷蘭畫家Bosch的The Garden of Earthly Delights。
In broad narrative terms,Once Upon a Time in Hollywood(2019, dir. Quentin Tarantino) follows a classic Hollywood plot with clear goals and resolutions. Yet, more specifically, the film involves Tarantino's highly stylized network narrative. In the final moments of the golden age of Hollywood, the film portrays three partially fictional characters, Sharon Tate, Rick Dalton, and Cliff Booth, in a historical backdrop. Under the central theme of different social classes in the change of time, the television features as a motif. Moreover, each protagonist symbolizes the higher, middle and lower levels, respectively. Gradually, the story unfolds by presenting distinct settings for every character with an emphasis on the class hierarchy at the end of television's golden age.
As a motif, television directly represents the different classes and the profound transition in Hollywood. Intriguingly, Tarantino seems to intentionally take this motif away in the scenes of Sharon, who never stages in or watches television throughout the film; however, as a film actress, she appears to the most socially recognizable one. This symbolic annihilation of motif suggests and emphasizes the fadeout of televisions and takeover of films. In Rick and Cliff's storylines, the television plays a more significant role. Both are casts in TV shows, and mostly for Western iconography. Besides the relationships between the television and the protagonists, the television also comes into view at Spahn Ranch, where hippies are watching TV programs. As the story unfolds, we can see that middle-class Rick gives up on the television, and tries to catch up with the movie trend by performing in spaghetti western movies, even though he despises such films in the beginning. Cliff, as an underclass, is washed away as the new era arrives. Also, at the end of the film, the television becomes the prime motive for the assassination. In general, the television becomes an 'inferior' and outdated existence, frequently appearing in middle and lower class households and exerting a more substantial yet negative influence on lower-class members.
Symbolism in this film offers divergent perspectives of Hollywood from three typical social classes. Each of the three protagonists, Sharon, Rick, and Cliff, is symbolic of a classic upper, middle, and lower social background, as the film encloses the daily lives of the three thoroughly. We notice the different aspects of Hollywood by observing their ways of living from the start. At the topmost, Sharon seems to live a happy-go-lucky life, attending the luxurious party in Playboy Mansion. She symbolizes the wealthier class in Hollywood, even possibly the wealthiest. In other words, she reflects a capital-driven image of Hollywood by showing an extravagant, lavish lifestyle. Moving down by one level, Rick's life is a quieter one, being often only companied by his stunt double. He tokenizes Hollywood's middle class. Particularly, Rick has a stereotypical working-hard-but-not-getting-ahead middle-class image, stumbling to maintain the current conditions, striving to move up, and worrying about the future. Further down, Cliff profiles Hollywood's underclass, which associates with manual labor the most. Interestingly, while living at the bottom of the pyramid, he is closer to the middle class than other lower-class members (i.e.the hippies) due to his relationship with Rick; thus, he's position is closer to the working poor. However, we can consider him an underclass since he is unemployed during the plot time. From his perspective, the viewer sees a financially deprived, anti-elite, and turmoil Hollywood at the dusk of the golden age. Overall, the film uses the characters as symbols to depict Hollywood from different viewpoints.
With the general setting restores the Hollywood back in the day, the specific settings throughout the film for each protagonist match the theme and realize narrative functions. During the exposition, the film demonstrates their places of residence as outlines of their social backgrounds. Sharon has the largest house, directly showing her status. As Sharon's neighbor, Rick's home appears to be less impressive. Cliff, at the bottom of the pyramid, lives in a trailer. As the story develops, the settings reveal more about each character's problems by paralleling their 'one day in the life' across space. Sharon spends her day mostly at a movie theatre, where it portrays an audience-actor relationship. Indeed, we see that she seeks recognition and approval from others' reactions. However, the telephoto lens constantly blurs audiences in the background; the viewer only acknowledges their existence when they cheer and laugh. By only emphasizing Sharon's appearance, the mise-en-scene stresses Sharon's position at pyramidion, whose wealth and power stand out among the masses. Around a similar time in the story, Rick works onLancer'sset. The makeup trailer looks mediocre, small and compressed, giving a feeling of stress and breathlessness. When the director comes in and takes more room, the makeup trailer looks more repressed and suffocating. A more packed space shows Rick's submissive position, as he has to follow the orders he loathes because of the squeeze he has as a middle class. Particular in the era of change, it is hard for him, a has-been, to get employed. Compared to Sharon's surroundings, the environment seems more crowded, which evinces Rick's lack of personal space and highlights the physical and emotional constraints. Meanwhile, Cliff is at Spahn Ranch, where he used to film once-prominent westerns; now, it looks wild and shabby. This locale is the most filthy, crowded, and hostile one. Even though the ranch is vast, the site is filled with unfriendly hippies and a lack of trust, creating a closed framed. The former movie ranch outlines the stereotypical underclass by presenting aggressive crowds from the bottom of the pyramid. Also, the settings for each protagonist in the airplanes elaborate on the hierarchical social classes more directly. With a split screen displays Rick and Cliff's staying in distinctive travel classes, there is a clear boundary between their standings. In comparison, we remember that there are scenes of Sharon partying in a private jet if we recall the beginning of the film. Besides, after flying back from Italy, Rick moves to a condo; the more crowded space implies his career downfall. Later, although the plot ends with Rick visiting Sharon's house, the audience may expect the story to continue if one takes the change of Rick's setting metaphorically, where Rick enters the upper-class and perhaps will soon re-employ Cliff.