Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

When will Quentin Tarantino make a family friendly film?

I'm thinking never.

Tarantino's ninth film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, starts off rather benign. It tosses aside all restraint in its home stretch. That's when we witness the most memorable ending of the year.

Once upon a time, in Hollywood, there lived Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his best friend/stunt double/gofer Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Rick was the star of the 50s Western Show Bounty Law, but he's a has-been on February 8th, 1969. Producer Martin Schwarz (Al Pacino) suggests filming a Spaghetti Western or two. Rick sets his hopes on his new neighbors: Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and her husband, Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha).

The next day, a lot of stuff happens. Rick has a villain gig on Lancer. Sharon watches herself in the spy-spoof The Wrecking Crew. Charles Manson (Damon Herriman) visits Sharon. Cliff encounters the Manson Family when he drives a follower home to the Spahn Movie Ranch. It's an ordinary day. Little do Rick and Cliff know how big a role they'll play in history six months later when the Manson Family sets out for blood.

All of this plays out for two hours and forty-five minutes. But it was worth it. The best scene is during Rick's Lancer gig, when he strikes up a conversation with his precocious method actress co-star, Trudi (Julia Butters). Even at her age, Trudi sympathizes with Rick's feelings of obsolescence, reflected in the novel he's reading. It's a very nice scene.

Cliff's day is rather ordinary. A few odd jobs around Rick's house, plus a flashback to when he fought Bruce Lee (Mike Moh) to a draw. He's a chill dude, but don't push him. Sharon Tate is a sunny presence, while The Manson Family are ominous storm clouds. Anyone familiar with history knows what awaits Sharon in August ...

... But this movie isn't that loyal to history. The climactic brawl sees Cliff, his dog, Brandy, and Rick, turn the tables on Manson's followers when they invade Rick's house. They never get a chance to go after Sharon. It's an audacious, somewhat overlong display of ultra-violence. It's a fantastical comeuppance for the perpetrators of one of history's most vicious murders. It's not for everyone. It needs to be seen to be believed.

Now for the technicals. Cinematographer Robert Richardson presents an alluring view of 1969 Los Angeles. Some of his shots are astounding: Cliff speeding through the city is one highlight. Some impressive Gumping inserts Rick into The Great Escape and The F.B.I. There's some great production and costume designs to realize Tarantino's vision of the sixties. There's also a nice set list of sixties music on the soundtrack. There's also the trippy hairdos if you need to be convinced when it's set.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood presents Tarantino's fantasy of the sixties. It's quite long, but the cast made it work. The film's ultra-violent climax will stick to you like a knife to the side. Who knows if it's one of Tarantino's best films. But this is one of the best films of the year, so far. See it if ultra-violence and ultra-lengths don't scare you.