Maligned masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (17 August 2019)

Probably Quentin Tarantino's most restrained film in terms of pace and dialogue to date, making it feel like his most mature work to date. There are many of the Directors trademark conceits including the jumping narrative, the film within the film, the homages to much loved cultural inspirations. Especially for fans of the Hollywood period it was set in or the older folks like me who caught the end of it's output on TV growing up.
The dialogue and scripting is less frenetic and feels more naturalistic, far less contrived than that in many of his previous films. The pacing and narrative benefit greatly from this as the imagery and atmosphere come to the fore, the whole film as experience is a far more relaxing and absorbing than others which required fix attention.
The pastiche homages to TV show and film genres works brilliantly, and the scenes from the film within the film though brief they are very engaging. All the actors deliver superb performances, not an off note among them....the film delivers quite a few laughs, some touching and thrilling moments.
Some critics seem to be looking for spurious reasons to negatively review the film including describing the performance of Margot Robbie's in the role Sharon Tate as just being fodder for the male gaze? ...such a slanted politically skewed take on a performance that was in fact quite touching and engaging, definitely the Heroine of the film.
I think with time the positive opinion of this film as one Tarantino's finest will grow and grow.