The warping mirror that is Hollywood

Rating: 9/10 (18 August 2019)

I deliberately didn't read, listen to, or watch any reviews of this film before watching it. Let Tarantino tell me himself, let the movie speak. And so it does. Superficially, there is a tale of thwarted acting ambition, precarious employment, precarious life, gallows humour, trouble and strife (beautiful wives often coming with some hard to live with personal habits/traits they can do nothing about), the contrast between the 'haves' and have not's', outward appearances and the very different internal dialogue of certain characters...much more in fact. This, as we all knew before we stepped into the movie theatre, is a film we will revisit many, many times. It has plenty to keep us entertained for decades. Tarantino manages to conflate fact and fiction in a very entertaining, if gruesome, tale. His story references the Californian Tate and LaBianca murders, the Manson Family cult, the film careers of Burt Reynolds (who had, ironically been cast by Tarantino as the blind recluse at the Manson Family ranch, George Spahn, in this film but died) and Hal Needham, Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood, a precocious child actor - possibly Jodie Foster etc, and all the while referencing his own (Tarantino's) filmography - e.g. the reading of pulp fiction, 'Dogs' , music references etc. I haven't awarded a 10 only because this film cannot convey it's full message in one sitting - this isn't necessarily a fault but, by the very fact that this film has to be seen more than once sets it apart. It's a grim tale with some horrid truths wrapped in it. This is not everyone's cup of tea. I enjoyed it though.