A Dive into Cinematic Pseudo-History

Rating: 8/10 (26 August 2019)

Tarantino is a master of his craft. That probably goes without saying at this point. We have seen it 8 times before and we have seen it for a ninth time now. I think whether you enjoyed the plot of any of the films is one thing, but to not see the cinematic artistry would be a sad oversight. Each scene and action and piece of dialogue is crafted in a meticulous and careful manner. It's really clear to see that Tarantino pays close attention to almost everything he does.
What is the most impressive and interesting to me is the ability to set the period. From the cars to the building facades to the music to the clothing, everything feels like it should be in that time period. I have to be honest, I didn't live then and there. As with anything set in the past, there is the lens through which we gaze back and the nostalgia or criticism that clouds our judgement and makes us see it differently. We will never be able to perfectly recreate the times in the past, but we can try. And Tarantino has done an incredible job of it. It feels like 1969 in every way that it possibly could, and never strays from that.
The sound design does an incredible job in this regard. It is often hard to tell the music from the sounds of the world. Is that song coming from the radio? Can the characters hear it or is it just me? It keeps you in the world and in the frame of mind of the characters. What did they hear in 1969?
As for the actual story-line, I see from other reviews that there is disagreement around it. I understand that. Tarantino films can be polarizing. Sometimes there is too much dialogue and drawn out scenes. Sometimes people say that there is no point of a scene or that the story is too slow. I don't personally agree with that, but I accept and understand it. Sitting through a nearly 3 hour dialogue heavy movie is not for everyone, and that's okay. But to me the payoff is worth it.
Knowing about Sharron Tate and Charles Manson's family is immensely helpful in having fun watching this film, as others have pointed out. It helps to create that dramatic tension and the build up, questioning what is going to happen. Tarantino is masterful at defying expectations, even in seemingly historical events. As we saw in his 2009 film Inglourious Basterds, we cannot take anything for granted and we cannot predict where Tarantino is going to take the plot. This makes it so exciting and thrilling to watch.
We got what we expected out of Tarantino. Amazing dialogue with slow and drawn out soliloquies and conversations. Out of place dubbing that somehow works with the film. Gratuitous violence and blood that makes you laugh at the ridiculousness of it. Amazing acting from an amazing cast. For me, it's what I wanted and what I got. I wanted something more from The Hateful Eight (2015) and I got it in this film.