Stream the Best Performances From the Stars of Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
We write about some of our favorite Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and Margot Robbie roles
One of Do You Like Apples’ most highly anticipated movies of the year hits theaters today! Last week, we wrote about Quentin Tarantino, the director of Once Upon a Time In Hollywood. This week it’s all about the stars of this very star-stuffed movie.
Did you know that Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, two of the biggest movie stars of the last 25 years, have never appeared in the same film until now? Did you know that Margot Robbie is portraying real-life actress Sharon Tate, who was murdered by Charles Manson’s cult in 1969? Did you know that Brad Pitt is 55, but doesn’t look a day older than 35? (Well, of course you did, because you have eyes.)
Anyway, we love to watch DiCaprio, Pitt, and Robbie in just about anything, so in honor of Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, we are recommending their best roles that are streaming right now.
Leonardo DiCaprio
The Aviator (streaming on Netflix)
Drew: When Leonardo DiCaprio starred in The Aviator in 2004, he was on a real heater. Notoriously selective with the movies he signs on to do, Leo has exclusively worked with established directors the last couple decades. From 2002 to 2006, he only worked with Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York, The Aviator, and The Departed), Steven Spielberg (Catch Me If You Can), and Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond). He submits quality performances in every one of those movies, but in The Aviator, you can really see him sweat.
Portraying aviation pioneer Howard Hughes, one of the most fascinating American figures of the 20th century, is a daunting responsibility, but Leo and Scorsese took the project head-on. They make Hughes’ life into the epic that it was, with Leo reportedly dedicating hundreds of hours to learning how to properly play the very eccentric man on screen. Hughes had a debilitating case of OCD, leading to panic attacks and a reclusive life later on. DiCaprio convincingly displays how Hughes’ disorder morphs from perfectionism as a young, fresh-faced millionaire to extreme isolation as he aged. Leo has always been a very physical actor, and he performs little tics and movements throughout The Aviator that foreshadow Hughes’ descent into madness later in the film.
Considering how fully committed Leo was to a role that would’ve intimidated other actors, it’s surprising he didn’t win the Oscar for this one. (That year it went to Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in Ray.) It’s not my favorite Leo performance, but it certainly seems like he is working extra hard to bring us along for the ride. In contrast to his Once Upon a Time In Hollywood co-star Brad Pitt, Leo is often anxious and full of electricity on screen (especially true in The Aviator), whereas Pitt prefers to don a more laid-back, nonchalant persona. This is the case in the new movie as well.
Shutter Island (streaming on Amazon Prime and Hulu)
Billy: Leonardo DiCaprio in one of his most understated roles. Leo is not the most subtle of actors and I love that about him, but this Scorsese film allows him to flex a muscle I haven’t seen from him much. He is playing a character that is slowly recognizing his own madness.
We have the backdrop of a murderer who escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane. Leo, playing U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels is investigating the matter. The descent into madness manifests itself through increasingly creepy imagery and flashbacks that help us understand the tortured soul of this character.
As with every Leo movie we have a couple scenes of explosive expression, but this one is much more quiet and that is why I think we all love him as an actor so much. He seems fearless with his choices and changes up our expectations for him. Continue the trend of watching amazing actors by watching one of his most different roles with Shutter Island. You will be fearful and by the end completely shocked because of the connection you have to Teddy Daniels. It is all because of DiCaprio’s understated performance.
Brad Pitt
Burn After Reading (streaming on Netflix)
Drew: In 2008’s Burn After Reading, we found out that Brad Pitt is really, really good at playing a total imbecile. That’s not an insult; real-life Brad Pitt seems like a pretty smart guy with impeccable taste in movies. It’s just that when he teamed up with the Coen brothers for this one, he very convincingly played Chad Feldheimer, an idiot gym trainer who’s in wayyyy over his head.
At this stage of his career, Pitt was just trying different things out. He was a major movie star coming off the commercial success of the Ocean’s franchise and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. He was also a major celebrity coming off his split with Jennifer Aniston and the Brangelina craze. Around 2008 and 2009, it seemed like he just wanted to experiment with his work, starring as a man who ages backwards in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and then appearing in his first Tarantino movie, Inglourious Basterds. In that one, he really kicks it up a notch as Nazi-hunter Lt. Aldo Raine, opting for an outrageous accent and speaking style. It’s one of the most fun performances of Pitt’s career.
However, you could argue he’s having even more fun in Burn After Reading. Here is an A-list star playing a supporting part in a minor Coen brothers comedy, and it totally works. Chad Feldheimer is a trainer at Hardbodies Fitness Center who stumbles upon a disc left at the gym by CIA analyst Osborne Cox (John Malkovich). Mistaking the disc as “secret CIA shit,” Chad and Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand) decide to exploit Osborne for money.
No one is better at writing empty-headed characters than the Coens, but you still need the right actor to pull it off. With his highlighted hair and red Hardbodies uniform, Pitt is that actor here. While he only appears in a few scenes, he steals every one of them. Playing opposite the aggressive intelligence of Malkovich, Pitt shines when his character tries to be spy-cool on the phone and in person with Osborne, coming off as a doofus instead. He has some incredibly quotable line readings for only getting limited screen time.
This isn’t the Brad Pitt performance that will be referenced in the opening line of his obituary, but it is probably the one that will make you laugh the most.
Thelma and Louise (streaming on Hulu)
Billy: Bill Simmons wonderfully encapsulated Brad Pitt’s career in one of his episodes of the podcast The Rewatchables. He probably would have been one of our all-time best character actors, but was too good looking and therefore thrust into movie stardom. His talent as a character actor is evident in the movie Thelma and Louise.
He plays a beautiful drifter named J.D. who is “trying to get to school” and hitches a ride with the titular Thelma and Louise. This performance must have been what got him the role as Aldo Raine in Inglourious Basterds. J.D. is a country boy through and through who is confident, quirky, and charismatic, which this character needs because of the little screen time he has. Pitt takes advantage of every shot he is given and only strengthens the film, which perfectly encapsulates his career. So incredibly memorable because of his looks, charisma, and rare talent that keeps your eyes glued to the screen.
Margot Robbie
I, Tonya (streaming on Hulu)
Billy: There are few actresses who came on to the scene as abruptly as Margot Robbie. It helps that you are in a Martin Scorsese movie in your first major role and act circles around some of the best actors in the world. Thankfully that performance opened up many opportunities for her and her best performance is in I, Tonya. She plays Olympian Tonya Harding who famously had a mob hit arranged for her competitor Nancy Kerrigan. Or did she?
Robbie plays such a complicated character. She hits all the endearing and sadistic notes that Harding had in her real life. Ruthlessly competitive, but an incredibly magnetic personality. In real life, Robbie has the look of someone who is made for figure skating. Which is why I thought she would not be able to pull off this role. Harding’s edge was that she wasn’t the prototypical figure skater. Robbie proves me wrong with one of the best performances I’ve seen this decade. She gives doubt to a once clear story and creates empathy for a woman who is seen as villainous. An incredibly impressive feat from such a young actress.
Streaming TV Corner
The Office Episode of the Week
Drew: “Happy Hour” (Season 6, Episode 21)
If your favorite episodes of The Office are when Michael screws everything up and makes everyone uncomfortable, “Happy Hour” is an underrated pick. First, Michael acts like it’s Christmas just because the whole office is going out for happy hour. Then, everything is actually going pretty well until Michael realizes he’s on a date with Pam’s friend. After a quick outfit change in the parking lot, we get Date Mike, the horribly awkward and obnoxious version of Michael Scott (which is already pretty horribly awkward and obnoxious to begin with). Pam’s delivery of “Why are you wearing a hat now?” is fantastic, and then Date Mike starts playing air guitar with the pool stick. Classic Date Mike.
Links to get you hyped
Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers may be the most perfect piece of casting in all of 2019. Here’s the trailer for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and make sure you check out the documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, which we recommended back in February.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are teaming up again, this time on a script called “The Last Duel” that they co-wrote with Nicole Holofcener (Enough Said, Can You Ever Forgive Me?) about the last legally sanctioned duel in France. The great Ridley Scott is in line to direct.
It’s honestly amazing it took them this long to make a sequel, but Zombieland is finally back! The entire original cast is returning and this time they added Rosario Dawson, Zoey Deutsch, Luke Wilson, and more.
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