Quentin's "Roma"

Rating: 9/10 (6 August 2019)

The Good: The headline said this is Quentin's "Roma". By this, I mean that not much happens plot-wise in this film other than the end, as we mainly follow the characters throughout their lives. While some may say that this is boring, I would argue that the lead characters are so engaging that this does not matter.
Case in point, Rick Dalton, a has-been actor fighting his demons, is a complex character brought to life by Leonardo Dicaprio. His casting in this film is brilliant as he shows an air of patheticness not usually associated with his persona. What I particularly appreciated about the character is that he appears to have a stutter when he is not acting, and the movie never definitively answers what causes it? Is it his alcoholism; nerves and anxieties of being a has-been; something else? This casting also contributes to the themes of the film, which shows and tells us how appearances to the audience make or break careers.
This brings us to Sharon Tate, the rising starlet brought to life brilliantly by Margot Robbie. While there has been some controversy over the amount of lines Robbie was given, I would argue that her role in this film is not at all diminished by this. She portrays the innocence and joys of acting, and her silent acting brings a pathos to the film, especially as we the audience know what is going to happen to her in real life.
Finishing off the trio of powerhouse acting is Cliff Booth, who brings immense likeability to his role. This shades his character, as we find out early in the film that he may have killed his wife. Bringing tension to every scene he is in, as we are not sure about his stability, and also shades his violent outburst at the end of the film; was it really self-defense for him, or something he has done before? In addition, this also adds even more to the theme of public perception that is throughout the film.
Finally, it has to be mentioned that the production of this film is top-notch. Quentin and the crew went above and beyond to catch an era, and while I was not born remotely near the 60's, the love for the time period is apparent in every little detail the film captures.
The ending has drawn lots of controversy, which I still have not drawn a verdict on. For what it's worth, this violent scene is very quick and not drawn-out, as reviewers have made it out to be, and is surprisingly funny in the context of the film with an excellent callback. Ultimately, the scene feels like it is condoning rather than celebrating Cliff's actions, and Quentin's past films have shown that he is not someone to be squeamish regarding violence.
The Bad: The only actively bad thing about this movie are the constant shots of feet in this film that is a very off-putting decision.
Movie Highlight: Cliff at the compound. What a great scene filled with rising tension where I had no idea of what would happen.
Conclusion: Another Quentin Tarantino masterpiece. Go watch this movie if you love artsier movies or the 60's era in general.