• x019 April 12 – LA County – Los Angeles, CA
• x004 May ?? – Meeting – Los Angeles, CA
• x017 May 21 – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Premiere) – Cannes, France
• x014 May 22 – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Press conference) – Cannes, France
• x053 May 22 – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Photo call) – Cannes, France
• x002 May 23 – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Press junket) – Cannes, France
• x006 May 28 – Airport – Venice, Italy
• x068 May 28 – Venice, Italy
“I want to thank the jury from the bottom of my black heart,” the director said when collecting the prize on behalf of the pooch named Brandy.
Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has claimed its first award.
The darkly comic film — starring Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie — had its world premiere in Cannes on Tuesday, where it was well-received by critics. But the movie’s first honor was not for the A-list lineup or legendary director, but instead for a four-legged member of the star-studded cast.
Brandy plays the pit bull pet of Pitt’s character, Cliff Booth — an animal with some considerable screen time who plays a crucial role in at least one scene. She won the Palm Dog award for the best performance by a canine in a film.
Although Brandy didn’t make it to the south of France, Tarantino himself caused a stir when he unexpectedly turned up to the awards ceremony on Friday to collect the dog collar prize.
“I want to thank the jury from the bottom of my black heart,” he said. “At least I don’t go home empty-handed.”
• x037 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood – Trailer 2 (Screencaps)
• x046 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (premiere) – May 21 – Cannes, France
Quentin Tarantino is in my face. He’s smiling, polite. But still, in my face. Nose-to-nose like.
“Listen,” he says, and he starts fast-twirling his index finger in a tight circle, like he’s winding dental floss around it. “I’ve come up with a few questions that could be really good for you to ask.”
His voice is hushed, conspiratorial, but since this is Tarantino, it’s also stage-whisper loud. And naturally, the words tumble out of his mouth with an urgency I would, in any other encounter, describe as Tarantino-esque. But in this case, that’s redundant.
We’re on the patio of a house in the Hollywood Hills. A minute earlier, I was alone under the eaves, looking at Tarantino, Brad Pitt, and Leonardo DiCaprio standing near the pool, all of Los Angeles unspooling into the horizon behind them. For a moment, I found myself staring at the three of them, thinking, Well, damn. Don’t exactly see this every day.
I’m waiting for them to finish being photographed so that we can talk about how they came together to make Tarantino’s new movie, Once Upon a Time in. . . Hollywood, and what they learned through that creative process. Today will be the first time all three of them have been in the same room since they wrapped production in November. For the past six months, Tarantino has been racing to finish cutting the film, to premiere it at Cannes. Still, he found time to phone me two days ago, to give me some backstory on the film’s development. Yet it seems since then, he’s also had time to think about what we could discuss.
“But here’s something important,” he says. “I don’t want it to seem like you are asking a question.”
Read more. It is an amazing (long) interview with a beautiful new photoshoot featuring Brad, Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino! I am excited. Be sure to pick up your copy! If you are able to scan it for SimplyBrad.com, please email me :)
• x010 Esquire 2019
