QT's fun and deadly valentine to 1969's La-La-land hits all the right marks with sparkle from Robbie, a knowing wink by Di Caprio and an Oscar worthy turn by Pitt

Rating: 9/10 (27 July 2019)

ONCE UPON A TIME ...IN HOLLYWOOD (2019) ***1/2 Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Timothy Olyphant, Dakota Fanning, Kurt Russell, Luke Perry, Al Pacino, Damine Lewis, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Mike Mo, Lorenza Izzo, Michael Madsen, Rumer Willis, Bruce Dern, Damon Herriman, Scoot McNairy, Clifton Collins Jr. , Rebecca Gayheart, Martin Kove, Clu Gulager, Brenda Vaccaro, Nicholas Hammond. Quentin Tarantino's love letter and fabled valentine to LA circa 1969 with fun cast focusing on has-been actor Rick Dalton (a wise tweak and knowing wink to how it could be for a movie star fading fast) and his best bud/stunt double Cliff Booth (scene-stealing Pitt having a field day) with the sun-dappled backdrop of La-La-Land and the shadow of Charles Manson looming on the horizon. Tarantino continues his success with a jukebox of vintage tunes, sweet rides and gobsmacked tourist postcard shots of Tinsletown's landmarks (all neon and bulging marquees as far as the eye can see). Robbie's sweet turn as Sharon Tate is lovely and QT wisely allows the late actress onscreen time as herself in a MATT HELM film and while his gift of gab sometimes sputters the last act is a humdinger and once again Pitt, I can't strongly recommend more highly for a Best Supporting Actor nom whether he's doting on his pit bull, kicking Bruce Lee's ass or tangoing with the sinister hippie family of Manson he proves his low-key charm has unbridled still waters running deep. One of the year's more entertaining films too boot.