Wonderful ending, but movie rely's too heavily on ponderous scenes of DiCaprio.

Rating: 4/10 (26 July 2019)

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD relies too heavily on screen time given to the acting of Leonardo DiCaprio, which is fine but overly familiar. Brad Pitt fares better with the scenes written for him and if you added up the total running time of Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate it would clock into just under 15 minutes. The movie would have benefitted with less DiCaprio forever proving he's a good actor and more of Robbie's presence. To the millions who have grown up with the Manson killings this movie is extremely satisfying and surprisingly moving at the end. The ending will stay with you. I can only think the much ballyhooed "Tarantino's love letter to 1969 Hollywood" is exaggerated by critics eager to get their quotes on TV and in headlines. The 161 minute running time gives you fleeting glimpses of 1969 Hollywood at best and not enough of them. When in doubt Tarantino leans on long scenes of DiCaprio. He's the padding of the picture. I wanted more glimpses of 69' Hollywood and less "actors scenes". Oh, and much more of Margot Robbie.