It's Tarantino's Valentine to 1969

Rating: 9/10 (9 February 2020)

Quinton Tarantino is perhaps today's director with the greatest love affair with past greats and not-so-greats. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a washed-up actor with Brad Pit playing his long-time stunt double. Their chemistry is apparent and Tarantino throws in enough '60s references to show his love of the era, from clips of shows like Mannix and The FBI to the brief appearance of such song's as Billy Stewart's cover of Gershwin's "Summertime" to early Deep Purple (who were much bigger in the US than the UK). But "Once Upon a Time" is a fairy tale, with the Manson subplot taking a sharp right turn from reality. Also casting Bruce Dern and having special effects master John Dykstra working together nearly50 years after they did "Silent Running" is a great touch. Like all Tarantino, it will divide opinions--as is shown by the ratings and reviews here. I found it thoroughly enjoyable and one of Tarantino's best.