Like many fairy tales, there is a conflict between the good and the bad

Rating: 7/10 (18 August 2019)

In addition to feeling like this was made in 1969, it's set in a perfect recreation of Hollywood in that year. In this, careers have highs and lows, sometimes due to circumstance, sometimes due to mistakes made.
There's a lot of great stuff here. It is absolutely true that Tarantino continues his self-indulgent streak of recent years, but he does still master the craft. I do find some key choices made to be very frustrating. It wasn't necessary to yet again center the story on straight white men, and their fears of being replaced by other Caucasian dudes. We know Quentin is very capable of focusing on women. He's even been able to tell stories that focus on something is relatable as money problems, rather than merely having them be the lead in a movie that may as well have had a y chromosome star. So why does, what is in part a love letter to Sharon Tate(RIP), present her in such a superficial way? It's an insult to both her memory and to a ridiculously overqualified Margot Robbie(who of course nails it). We see her happy about her films being well received, hanging out with friends and the like. Why is she not given real plot, something to do, granted three dimensions?
When she's in this, what we're seeing is basically what it looks like when you close your eyes and focus on a person you're deeply enamored with: there are no flaws. Why not let her go through what the fictitious Rick Dalton(played to hacking, coughing, ranting perfection by DiCaprio) does? That would be more of a tribute. The only real reason that she appears in this, especially as much as she does, is for it to go with the numerous appearances of Manson family members: it inspires a sense of dread in the viewer. As some worried when they first heard this project announced, we spend a lot of time scared we will ultimately be subjected to the director, infamous for plentiful depictions of extreme violence, carefully recreating the grisly murders. I won't give away whether that is what we get or not, and like many things about this, it is polarizing. However, as others have noted, it is deeply misjudged by QT.
There is a lot of strong language and bloody, intense gore in this. I recommend this purely to the biggest devotees. 7/10