By Luis Reyes

Director/writer Quentin Tarantino’s most talked about and anticipated film, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to huge acclaim, will open in the U.S on July 26 with an unusually high number of Latino actors, but only in supporting roles. Veteran actors like Clifton Collins Jr., Marco Rodriquez, Ramon Franco, and stuntman /actor Eddie Perez. are joined by newcomers Alfredo Tavares, Gabriela Flores, Carolina Vargas, Miranda dos Santos, Raul Cardona, Gilbert Saldivar, Mayra Alejandra Garcia, Bruce Del Castillo, David De La Garza, Dave Silva, Ricardo Felix Rojas, and Dyani Del Castillo.  

The first movie Tarantino movie without Weinstein, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood promises an exciting crime mystery where he brilliantly intertwined fictional characters with real-life people — mixing in a backdrop of the Manson murders that rocked Hollywood in 1969!

Though most of the roles are small and are bit parts such as a Mexican Vaquero, stereotypical bandidos in a recreation of a western movie scene, bartenders at the historic Musso and Frank’s restaurant and a Manson girl called Pebbles, it is symbolic that Tarantino included Latinos in his film about Hollywood in transition in the late ’60s.

In fact, these limited roles are what was available to Latino actors at that time and were as they were represented on film and television in that era. Latinos were a constant fixture especially in the heyday of the Western. So in retrospect, the Latino presence was limited to such genres as the Western but there was plenty of work in these roles and occasionally a significant actor would emerge such as Gilbert Roland, Ricardo Montalban, Rita Moreno, Henry Darrow, and Linda Cristal among many others, the most prominent star being Anthony Quinn.  

Once Upon a Time In Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Leonardo Di Caprio, teaming two of the most charismatic Hollywood leading men of today. The film features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines. The screenplay by Tarantino is based loosely on the relationship between the late film star Burt Reynolds and stuntman/director Hal Needham along with superstar Steve McQueen and how they collide with the notorious Charles Manson murder of actress Sharon Tate (played by Margot Robbie) and her friend, hairstylist to the stars, Jay Sebring (portrayed by Emile Hirsch) in the Hollywood Hills in 1969. 

Tarantino has spared no expense and has faithfully recreated Hollywood and Los Angeles of the late 1960s with hairstyles, wardrobe, art direction, period cars, and actual locations.

 Jacqueline Fernandez is the head makeup artist for the production and among her credits are the films Widows, Ant-Man and Alita: BattleAngel. She is also the personal makeup artist for actress Michelle Rodriquez and is commencing work on Fast and Furious 9.  

As to the film’s backdrop of the Charles Manson Hollywood murders on August 8-9, 1969, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, only adds to the film’s riveting suspense. Tarantino brilliantly brings to life — Sharon Tate and hairstylist Jay Sebring, working at their craft, living their lives and then they were slaughtered by the insane Charles Manson cult. Others murdered were Folger’s coffee heiress Abigail Folger. Those who missed the party but were supposed to attend was actor Steven McQueen and music producer Quincy Jones.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is a Columbia / Sony Pictures release and is sure to be an Oscar contender this year in many categories. 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
A Quentin Tarantino Film
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margo Robbie, Dakota Fanning, Maya Hawke, Timothy Olyphant, Margarate Qualley, Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Luke Perry, Damian Lewis, and so many others.

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