Another Tarantino winner! [+82%]

Rating: 8/10 (27 November 2019)

As is the case with most Tarantino flicks, the first half of Once Upon A Time in Hollywood sets the tone and builds the characters up nicely while the second half puts them in seemingly messed-up situations (in this case, real-life) with spectacular grindhouse results.
The film revolves primarily around Rick Dalton, a Hollywood actor who believes that his career is experiencing a downward spiral, and Cliff Booth, his friend and longtime stunt double. Tarantino has painted both characters, played by two of Hollywood's biggest stalwarts DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, with sufficient shades/strokes for viewers to want to get invested in their lives. He attributes a backstory to the two characters and carefully places them next to the Polanski residence in 1969 LA. What a masterstroke!
I read somewhere that the climax was what Tarantino wrote first and that shows! What a brilliant stretch of events the last 20 minutes is! It's everything you'd want in a Tarantino film by default - screenplay pulpiness, grindhouse feels, adrenaline-pumping action in a limited setting, Robert Richardson's captivating cinematography, and a rock & roll soundtrack that kicks major butt! Like in The Inglorious Basterds, he twists events to suit his wicked fantasies and comes up with a very intriguing ending.
What Tarantino is a master at, is developing characters through well-written scenes. For instance, if you look at Rick Dalton's interactions with his 8-year-old co-actor Trudi Fraser, it sheds significant light on his breakdown (and the eventual boost of self-confidence). Another unmissable scene is Cliff Booth's visit to the Spahn Ranch and the subsequent events that transpire. One also cannot forget Booth's brief altercation with Bruce Lee, in a stretch that takes the realism/fiction blend one step too far. Margot Robbie, as Sharon Tate, is commendable! She doesn't have many lines but the short scenes that she features in, speak for themselves.
In any case, Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is a must-watch. It comprises all the 'isms' that viewers associate Tarantino with. The retro-yet-contemporary feels, the fantastic-looking late 60s sets, the pop-culture references (and in fact, plenty of connections with Tarantino's own flicks) - it'll all leave a mark in your head! Tarantino has matured incredibly well and his solid crafting skills continue to impress. When you have a cast and crew sharing Tarantino's vision, the results are (obviously) stupendous!
Verdict: Must-see!