A Testament to the craft, a vision of splendor...

Rating: 9/10 (12 January 2020)

"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a classic. The onslaught of negative reviews since The Golden Globes have done nothing to hinder my opinion of the film.
It can be considered a slow-burn, in the likes of "Easy Rider" or "Rosemary's Baby" - And I believe that is on purpose. This is QT attempting to grasp the grandeur of the golden age of cinema. That being said, "Once Upon a Time.." will work best for those who are keen on the art of cinema, and understand the pulp of the 1960's.

Too often do we build expectations of something that are built off of other's experiences, only to be let down when our experience does not match.
I recommend going into "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" without any expectations. Do not expect a Tarantino movie, as he is constantly reinventing himself. Do not expect a Best Picture winner, because truly, that is not a real definition. Do not expect anything at all. This is a film that will cleanse your pallet, and if you let it, will fill you with atmosphere. It was created with a love for the craft of cinema, in itself, that even the most devote of moviegoers will find joy in.

We see 1960's Hollywood; the titans of America, the movie stars and those pulling the strings, in the height of Hollywood's influence. The acting is out of the park. The plot is a full circle (which other reviewers seem to be missing) which aims to prove the most mundane events can shape a person, and even give them new purpose.

Overall, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" does what it aims to do perfectly - which is; transport us to Hollywood in the 1960's, amongst rising and falling stars, amongst pain and plight in America, with characters we feel we have always known, with a bit of the old Tarantino twist.

Just like Rick Dalton, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is a true, American classic, sometimes overlooked, but not soon forgotten.