‘Once Upon A Time in…Hollywood’ | 3 out of 4 Stars | Rated R| 2hr 40min
By Kyle Osborne
Quentin Tarantino’s ninth feature film is like a big ass, vintage Cadillac: the ride is so smooth and easy, you may not notice or even care how long it takes you to go…not very far.
It is early 1969- Leonardo DiCaprio is Rick Dalton, once a huge TV Western star whose light is lately dimming a bit. Brad Pitt plays Cliff Booth, his longtime stunt double who, these days, is the kind of “professional assistant” that has never gone out of style in Tinseltown. Laid back and loyal.
Rick’s new next door neighbors are Sharon Tate and Roman Polanski. In real life, Ms. Tate would have just six months left of her young life before dying a brutal, horrific death at the hands of Charles Manson’s disciples in their home. In this Tarantino blend of fact and fiction things may or may not follow history and I would never spoil things. But it must be said that whatever becomes of the people from that summer night in ’69, Tarantino is in no hurry to get there. We’ve got miles of easy riding to go before a final act gives us a hyper-violent, and thoroughly satisfying, climax and close.
In the meantime, the Manson story line bubbles in the background while we follow this believably simpatico stuntman and his more angsty charge. Ditto Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate. She is, of course, a great actress, but her presence here is mostly in glimpses.
DiCaprio and Pitt host a series of scenes, sometimes as a twosome and sometimes not, that are rich in period detail and showbiz nuggets. Tarantino is the movie director for people who love movies and though it’s not among his very best, this is still a film for movie lovers. There are so many winks and nods and inside baseball references that this might just be the rare movie whose most appreciative demographic is those of us over 40. Or so. Approximately…ish.
The cast is so large that it would take too much space to name check them all- here’s a roster, they are mostly cameos, and nearly all worth a smile. I especially fell in love with Pitt’s dog, Brandy.
Turn up the AM radio and let the wind blow through your hair as you cruise through a perfect facsimile of 60s LA. The less you care about the destination, the more you’ll enjoy this ride.
Kyle Osborne