Tarantino's love letter to Los Angeles - And Sharon Tate

Rating: 9/10 (15 August 2019)

Well where to start. This was surely something very different and in many ways very un-Tarantino, which is not a bad Thing as I liked that he gave this film a different Approach. It was also my most anticipated film of the year so of Course my expectations where extremly high wih it, especially since I am quite familiar with the Manson Murders myself.
What is this movie? It is not a Biopic. This is the first Thing audiences have to understand before seeing it. It is a true love letter from Quentin Tarantino to Los Angeles and the "good" old days of Hollywood. And it is a personal love letter to Sharon Tate.
Audiences and criticized it for the lack of a narrative plot it has. And they are Right, the film doesnt really. In fact there are many Scenes that could have been shortened or even cut when we just look at the narrative but it was not Tarantino's Intention to make a plot-based film. It is his Memory-piece. His "Roma" so to say.
He emphasized on the characters rather than plot and Boy he did! Both leading characters Cliff Booth and Rick Dalton are extremly exciting and you Keep Looking Forward to see what this dynamic due is doing next. It of Course helps that the Performances of Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt are undoubtly Career-best turns and absolutely Award worthy in every regard. Especially Pitt soaked his role up as he never did before. You Keep forgetting it is Brad Pitt you are watching on screen. And DiCaprio's greatest Moments is when he is playing his different characters. Exceptional Performances in any way.
Margot Robbie perfectly interpreted Sharon Tate. No, she doesn't say a lot in the film. But the way she adapts the character in such lovely Details brought Tate back to life for at least a few Hours and it was such an angelic-performance by Tate to really nail the Person Tate was. The rest of the appearances are rather small.... many characters come and go when they pass the paths of our three leading characters. The most noteable of those small roles / cameos are for sure Bruce Dern who was extremly hilarious and Margaret Qualley who embodied the perfect "Manson Girl". Not to Forget the great turn of Young actress Julia Butters and also Mike Moh and Damien Leweis deserve a shout Outs for their very small roles. Al Pacino perfectly fits his role as well and it was intersting to see Dakota Fanning in a role like that.
Another thrilling aspect of the film is the cinematography. Pitch perfect Images and camera ankles. Also the way Los Angeles is portrayed in dawn or night are among the most atmospheric imageries I have seen in a Long time on screen. The Soundtrack is absolutely Fitting the atmosphere and was well Chosen for that period, too. Great editing and writing, too.
And then that ending came..... oh Boy that ending. Well, see it yourself.
Don't expect a film with a clear plot line but expect a real journey in time back to 1969.