Powerful especially in recreating another era

Rating: 7/10 (11 November 2019)

Hollywood, 1969: Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) had a lead role in a hit TV western in the 1950s and early 1960s. Since leaving that show, he is having a hard time finding decent work. Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) is Rick's friend and former stunt double. He also acts as Rick's chauffeur as Rick has had DUI charges. The fictional element of the time period is mixed with true events: Rick's next-door neighbours are actress Sharon Tate and her husband, director Roman Polanski.
Director/writer Quentin Tarantino has done a superb job in recreating the atmosphere of 1969. Those of us who were alive at that time, no matter how young, are left awestruck with sudden memory recall of people, places, and things that seemed completely erased from memory. The level of detail is praiseworthy enough yet there is also a recall of atmosphere that recreates the era sometimes even better than watching films from that time period.
DiCaprio, always dependable, gives another standout performance easily conveying the insecurities of a "has-been" desperately trying to make a comeback. As DiCaprio is constantly in demand without ever experiencing a lower status, this is true acting.
Much like Tarantino's "Inglorious Basterds", this current film mixes fiction with historical events with very surprising results. This adds to the thrilling suspense in the final sequence to those of us aware of history and are led to more than a few shocks and not just the extreme violence (this is a Tarantino film after all).
"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" has many great segments. While they clearly relate to each other, there is a feeling at the end that the film was more a sum of great parts rather than a great whole. The length of over 2.5 hours seems excessive as well. But the segments themselves are very well made especially the final one that leaves much afterthought that follows the thrills. - dbamateurcritic