Quentin Tarantino has developed a bit of a mixed reputation during the current #MeToo era. While he’s never been accused of misconduct, harassment, or assault, he has copped some heat over his poor treatment of Uma Thurman during the filming of Kill Bill, as well as admitting to not taking a stronger stand against Harvey Weinstein despite knowing about the producer’s assault allegations.
Margot Robbie knew all this when she decided to pursue the role of Sharon Tate in Tarantino’s upcoming film, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, and it’s something that’s weighed on her mind.
Maybe with less dancing.
Speaking to Vogue, Margot revealed that she was fully aware of Tarantino’s reputation and how that may seem a bit contradictory to her feminist outlook and all that she’s doing in bringing female filmmakers to the forefront through her production company.
“Will people view this decision as conflicting with what I’m doing on the producing side?”
Explaining further, Margot says that while she is grateful to be in a position of power where she has creative control and can help female filmmakers get their foot in the door, working with Tarantino was a “lifelong dream” and a career goal for her so it made perfect sense to her to work on Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, even if it appears odd on the surface to some people.
“On the flip side—and it doesn’t even feel like a flip side—it was my lifelong dream [to work with Tarantino], and I got to do it, and it makes me sad if people might hold that against me despite everything else I’m doing.”
It may seem a bit hypocritical but Margot has a point. What she does with her career doesn’t invalidate all the good she’s done and trying to do. Working on a Tarantino film is a career booster and it makes perfect sense for her to work with him from that standpoint, an experience that she describes as “greatest experience” of her life and the fulfillment of a personal goal.
We shouldn’t be holding her decision to be in Hollywood because it’s her choice and no one has the right to stop someone from pursuing their dream.
Perhaps this whole thing is best summed up with what Margot says about history and how we remember it during her time working on Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.
“Do you erase history because there were some bad parts? Maybe it’s important for us at this juncture to acknowledge the good parts as well.”
I totally get it, Margot, and I’m with you on this.