KNOX GOES AWAY : Tuesday 22nd October 2024.

I saw the M Rated 'KNOX GOES AWAY' aka 'ASSASSIN'S PLAN' aka 'A KILLER'S MEMORY' earlier this week, and this American crime thriller film is Co-Produced, Directed and starring Michael Keaton who made his Directorial debut in 2008 with 'The Merry Gentleman'. This film saw its World Premiere screening at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023, had a limited cinema release in the US in mid-March this year, has so far grossed US$654K and has garnered mixed critical reviews.

The film follows a contract killer John Knox (Michael Keaton), who is estranged from his wife and son and lives alone, only interacting with other members of his industry and Annie (Joanna Kulig), the Polish sex worker who comes to visit him once a week on a Thursday, has done so for the past four years, and who shares his love of books. One night Knox meets up with his partner Thomas Muncie (Ray McKinnon) and announces that he has to cut their dinner short as he has to go to the airport to fly out to San Francisco for personal reasons and will be back in 24 hours. Muncie presses him for the reasons behind his flight but Knox just reiterates that it's personal. 

There Knox has an appointment with a specialist doctor and is diagnosed with a rapidly evolving form of dementia called Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. Knox asks him how long has he got, and the Doctor responds with weeks only. Back home, Knox quickly makes arrangements to cash out and retire from the business. Before that, he undertakes one last job with Muncie. 

During the job, after successfully killing his target but also unintentionally killing the woman who was with him in the shower, Knox accidentally kills Muncie in his dementia-induced state. He hurriedly stages the scene and leaves. Later that night, he is unexpectedly visited by his estranged son who he hasn't seen or heard from for many years, Miles (James Marsden), who tearfully admits to killing a man for raping his sixteen year old daughter Kaylee (Morgan Bastin), Knox's granddaughter. Miles is fully aware of what his dad does for a living, and so believed that his father was the only man he could turn to under the circumstances. Knox tells his son to clean up thoroughly in the shower, while he bags up all of Miles clothes.

Knox instructs his son to remain quiet to the authorities and to go about his normal business as usual. Knox later that night arrives at the crime scene and meticulously removes evidence that may incriminate Miles, while mysteriously storing them away for later use. Meanwhile, determined detective Emily Ikari (Suzy Nakamura) is on both murder cases, and resolves to track down the killer.

Knox later visits his long term friend Xavier Crane (Al Pacino), a former thief. Together, they hatch a plan to set Knox's family up for life while leaving the business behind, all while Knox battles his fading mental capabilities. Meanwhile, Detective Ikari links both crimes to a single perpetrator. 

She questions Knox with little or no clarity, and he later plants the evidence he had previously stored away around his son Miles' home, in an apparent act of betrayal. Miles is arrested for the murder of his daughter's rapist, and is visited by Knox in prison, where Knox accuses his son of ratting him out to the IRS in a tax evasion case several years prior, for which he spent six years in prison. 

Knox visits a cabin in the woods that he used to own but which his son sold two years prior. He breaks in and removes a stone tile from under a wood burning stove to retrieve a small pouch of diamonds. He then wanders off into the woods and gets lost but is picked up by a kindly hiker who calls Crane to come and collect him. Crane drives him home. 

Upon reaching home, he is confronted by a group of three heavy set burglars and Annie, who had become aware of Knox's dementia and the fact that he had been cashing out and ratted him out as a result. Overpowering them all and finishing them off each with a couple of rounds Knox confronts Annie at gunpoint and informs her that she would have gotten a one third share anyway, with the other two thirds going to Miles and his ex-wife Ruby (Marcia Gay Harden).

Despondent, Knox calls Xavier, who wishes him all the best before calling the Police as part of their plan, and telling them that Knox is at home with three dead bodies. He is arrested by Detective Ikari. The Police later discover signs that the evidence found at Miles house may have been tampered with, and planted there by Knox, leading to the conclusion that Knox may have framed his own son for the murder. When asked by Ikari on a possible motive, Miles, recalling his father's accusation of him in prison, responds accordingly, shifting the blame on to Knox. He is then released.

A few weeks weeks later, Miles visits his father in prison. Knox, now having fully lost his mental faculties, does not recognise his own son and is later moved from prison to a medical facility, having only weeks left to live. Miles and his mother receive equal shares of Knox's fortune now split just two ways, ensuring the completion of his retirement plan. Annie, who is spared, is shown receiving Knox's library and opening the cover of 'A Tale of Two Cities'. Knox is seen staring out of a window in a catatonic state. 

'Knox Goes Away' is a slow burn neo-noir crime thriller that doesn't feature explosions, car chases, or OTT gun play or close quarter combat. Instead, Director and star Keaton has delivered a character study that is engaging and nuanced, tautly wound and clever all at once, while eeking out top notch, albeit low key performances from its cast. As for the storyline, it's a little convoluted and almost bordering on the unbelievable, but that shouldn't stop you from enjoying this race against the clock for this hitman with rapid onset dementia to redeem himself to the people he cares most about. 

'Knox Goes Away' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

    

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

HOUSE OF GUCCI : Tuesday 4th January 2022.

I saw the MA15+ Rated 'HOUSE OF GUCCI' at my local multiplex earlier this week, and this is an American biographical crime drama film Directed by Ridley Scott in his second film release this year following 'The Last Duel' released in Australia at the end of October. This film is based on the 2001 book 'The House of Gucci : A Sensational Story of Murder, Madness, Glamour, and Greed' by Sara Gay Forden. The World Premiere screening of 'House of Gucci' was held at London's Leicester Square in early November 2021, was theatrically released in the US in late November 2021 and here in Australia on New Years Day. The film has received mixed reviews from critics, and it has so far grossed US$127M from a production budget of US$75M.

The film is inspired by the shocking true story of the family behind the Italian fashion empire, Gucci, and opens up in 1978 in Milan, where we see Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) working as an office manager for her fathers small but nonetheless successful trucking company. At a birthday party, Patrizia meets Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver), an unassuming law student and heir to a 50% stake in the Gucci fashion house through his father Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons). In time Maurizio introduces Patrizia to his father, who in turn warns his son not to consider marrying the woman as he sees her as a social climber and only after his money, warning him that he will disinherit him if he goes ahead with a marriage. 

Ultimately Maurizio has little or no interest in the Gucci empire, and marries Patrizia anyway. Rodolfo kicks his son out of the family home and he lands a job at his now father-in-laws trucking business, where he says that he has never been happier. Patrizia later falls pregnant, and she sees this as a means for Rodolfo and Maurizio to reconcile their differences. She inadvertently tells Maurizio's uncle Aldo (Al Pacino) that she is pregnant. Aldo is delighted by the news and takes the couple under his wing, inviting them to New York. Aldo introduces Patrizia to his unintelligent and 'stupid' son Paolo (an unrecognisable Jared Leto), who aspires to be a Gucci designer despite his complete lack of talent. 

Thanks to Aldo, Maurizio and a terminally ill Rodolfo reconcile after being told the happy news that he is now a grandfather to their daughter Alessandra, shortly before Rodolfo's death. Rodolfo writes Maurizio back into his will, but fails to sign the necessary document transferring the Gucci shares to him before he dies. Patrizia fakes Rodolfo's signature, giving Maurizio a 50% share of Gucci.

Patrizia begins to hatch a scheme to obtain a controlling interest in Gucci by acquiring some of Aldo and Paolo's shares (the two hold the other 50% stake). She sees an ad on the TV for Giuseppina 'Pina' Auriemma (Salma Hayek), a psychic, whom she contacts for advice and guidance. She begins to manipulate Maurizio, who has little real interest in Gucci, into taking a more active role within the company. Paolo acquires proof that Aldo has been evading taxes in the US and so gives the proof to Patrizia in exchange for her promise that he will be allowed to design his own line, under the Gucci name. 

Aldo is later arrested by the IRS and sentenced to a year and a day in prison. Patrizia lies to the Italian Police and tells them that Paolo is not authorised to use the Gucci trademark, and so during a fashion show where Paolo is showcasing his collection the Police storm in and halt the show by force. Patrizia and Maurizio ask Paolo to sell them his shares, but he rebuffs them and cuts all contact between them.

Italian Police raid Maurizio's house and attempt to arrest Maurizio for forging Rodolfo's signature. He evades them by riding over to the border with Switzerland on his motorbike and has Patrizia and Alessandra join them a few days later. In the meantime Maurizio has renewed acquaintances with his old friend Paola Franchi (Camille Cottin). An argument later erupts between Maurizio and Patrizia, and Maurizio decides that he is tired of his wife's influence over himself, as well as the company. 

He orders his wife and daughter to return to Italy and begins an affair with Paola, which Pina has apparently sensed. When Maurizio's business plans begin to impact the company negatively he seeks assistance from equity company Investcorp, through which he hatches a plan to acquire shares of the company from a now-impoverished Paolo. Aldo is released from prison and Paolo tells his father what he has done. Aldo is incensed. When Investcorp offers to buy Aldo out, he refuses until Maurizio reveals himself as the deal's instigator. Completely dejected and betrayed, Aldo reluctantly sells the shares and cuts all ties with Maurizio.

Patrizia tries to reconcile with Maurizio, but he is not interested in the slightest. Later, he asks Patrizia for a divorce through his long-time assistant Domenico De Sole (Jack Houston), which Patrizia angrily refuses. Maurizio is looking to revitalise the brand image of Gucci and so recruits (almost as a last resort because every other 'name' had turned them down) up-and-coming designer Tom Ford (Reeve Carney). Ford's collections are well received at his launch fashion show and prove successful, but Maurizio has so thoroughly mismanaged the company's finances that Investcorp's leaders feel compelled to buy him out, offering him US$150M and replacing him with Ford and De Sole. Patrizia becomes so angered with Maurizio that she asks Pina to help her kill him. Pina puts Patrizia in contact with some hitmen 'from Sicily' and a few days later, the hit-men shoot Maurizio to death in broad daylight outside his office. 

Afterwards we see Patrizia and Alessandra knocking on the door of Maurizio's residence, for it to be answered by Paola. The pair share a tearful embrace, and then Patrizia orders Paola out of her home, immediately. In the closing scene we fast track two years, and in a courtroom the Judge presides of Patrizia, Pina and the two hitmen. The Judge asks a question of Patrizia Reggiani, who replies, 'my name is Patrizia Gucci'. Just before the end credits roll, the screen reveals that Aldo Gucci died of prostate cancer in 1990; Paolo Gucci died almost penniless in London in 1995; Patrizia was sentenced to twenty-nine years in prison, and Pina and the hitman and getaway driver received sentences of 25 years or more for the murder. Gucci is fully purchased by Investcorp who turn the business around and make it into the fashion empire it still is to this day, while no Gucci family members remain at the business today.  

'House of Gucci' reminded me in some small ways of the 1980's American TV soap opera series 'Dynasty' and 'Dallas' and seeing all those rich folk squabble and squander their millions of dollars and scheme their way in and out of each others business, more often that not with dire consequences. This is Lady Gaga's film make no mistake and for her portrayal of Patrizia there has to be an Oscar nod in there I'm sure, while Al Pacino as Aldo and Adam Driver as Maurizio also make compelling performances. As for the unrecognisable Jared Leto as Paolo, his performance is so over the top camp and impish that it's no wonder he was prepared to go full undercover so as not to be recognised! This is a highly entertaining film about love and loss, backstabbing and betrayal, money and murder all delivered neatly with the full gloss and panache that is Ridley Scott's trademark, who at the age of eighty-four is still churning out movies that command your attention, are engaging and have something to say. At two hours 37 minutes this film is over-lengthy at the mid-section before stumbling towards the finish line, but that said, 'House of Gucci' is nonetheless an enjoyable, sharply dressed romp of fashion and greed that ultimately brought the House of Gucci down, but not out. 

'House of Gucci' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

THE IRISHMAN : Thursday 14th November 2019

'THE IRISHMAN' which I saw on the big screen at my local independent movie theatre while I still could earlier last week, has already been hailed as Martin Scorsese's finest film in twenty odd years. This American epic crime drama film which is rated MA15+ is Directed and Co-Produced by the acclaimed Scorsese and based on the 2004 memoir 'I Hear You Paint Houses' by Charles Brandt. After languishing in development hell for about ten years, 'The Irishman' was confirmed as Scorsese's next film following 'Silence' in 2016. De Niro and Pacino were confirmed to star as was Pesci, who came out of his unofficial retirement to star after being asked allegedly fifty times to take the role by his good friend De Niro. 'The Irishman' saw its World Premier screening at the recent New York Film Festival, has received widespread critical acclaim, went on a limited cinematic release from early November and is then available via digital streaming on Netflix from 27th November onward. The film stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Ray Romano, Stephen Graham, Harvey Keitel, Bobby Cannavale, Jesse Plemons and Anna Paquin amongst others, has a run time of 209 minutes and cost US$159M - being one of Scorsese's most expensive films to date.

The film opens up with the camera panning down the hallways of a nursing home, past orderlies, patients sat in wheelchairs or hobbling around on zimmer frames, eventually settling on an ageing white haired man sat in a wheelchair and holding a walking stick. This is Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a WWII veteran who saw active duty in Italy (where he learned to speak Italian), France and Germany serving 411 days in total. He begins recounting his life post his discharge from the 45th Infantry Division, as a mafia hitman.

In Pennsylvania in the 1950's, Sheeran aged in his early 30's begins his civilian career by driving meat delivery trucks and starts selling off some of the sides of beef to a local gangster, who has a liking for quality cuts of steak. After getting accused by his company of theft, lawyer Bill Bufalino (Ray Romano) gets him off a conviction against all the odds after Sheeran refuses to give the judge any names of who he was selling to. That evening the pair go to a local club hangout to celebrate and there Bufalino introduces Sheeran to his cousin Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci), the head of the northeast Pennsylvania crime family, and Angelo Bruno (Harvey Keitel) the head of the Philadelphia crime family. Sheeran and Russell hit it off instantly, and consequently Sheeran begins to do odd jobs for Russell, including the occasional murder.

In time Russell introduces Sheeran to Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), the head of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, who has financial ties with the Bufalino crime family and is at odds with fellow rising Teamster Anthony Provenzano (Stephen Graham), as well as increasing pressure from the federal government. Hoffa forms a close bond with Sheeran and his family, and Sheeran becomes Hoffa's main bodyguard while he is out on the road travelling the country, visiting the local Teamster branches, and speaking at rallies.

In 1960 John F. Kennedy is elected into the Whitehouse. Bufalino is thrilled with this news but Hoffa sits on the other side of the fence and is none too pleased to say the least at this latest turn of political events. Conversely, when JFK is assassinated in late 1963 Bufalino is distraught with the news, while Hoffa can hardly conceal his joy - to the point that above the Teamsters offices where he sees the US flag is waving at half mast, he instantly has it raised to its full height.

Kennedy's brother Robert F. Kennedy, is named Attorney General, and forms a 'Get Hoffa' campaign in an attempt to discredit Hoffa, who is eventually arrested in 1964 for the attempted bribery of a grand juror, jury tampering and fraud in two separate convictions and was sentenced to thirteen years in prison in 1967. While in prison, his replacement as the head of the Teamsters Frank Fitzsimmons (Gary Basaraba) begins overspending the groups' accumulated pension funds and making loans out to the mafia. Hoffa's relationship with Provenzano, who was himself arrested for extortion, and winds up serving his sentence in the same facility as Hoffa at the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Pennsylvania deteriorates beyond repair while they are inside. Hoffa is eventually released via a Presidential pardon from Richard Nixon in 1971 just four years into his sentence, although he is forbidden from taking part in any Teamsters business until 1980.

Despite the terms of his early release, Hoffa begins his plans to resume power as the head of the organised unions. With Sheeran he travels down to Florida to seek Provenzano's endorsement, but that meeting goes far from well, with the two getting into a brawl. In turn, Hoffa's growing disrespect for other Teamster leaders and related crime family interests begins to concern Russell Bufalino.

During a testimonial dinner held to honour Sheeran, Bufalino tells Sheeran to confront Hoffa and warn him that the heads of the crime families have deep concerns with his behaviour. Sheeran has already attempted such conversations in the recent past, and believes that Hoffa is too head strong and too determined to heed his warnings, despite their close bond. Hoffa then discloses to Sheeran that he knows what Bufalino and the other dons don't know, and further claims that he is untouchable because if anything ever happened to him, they would all end up in prison.

In 1975, while driving their way to the wedding of Bill Bufalino's daughter in Detroit, Russell tells Sheeran that things have gone far enough with Hoffa, and his death has been authorised. The two drive to an airport where Sheeran boards a small private jet to Detroit, leaving Russell waiting in the car for Sheeran's return after the planned three hour round trip. Sheeran tells Hoffa he will be in town early in the day, but arrives later in the afternoon. Hoffa, who had scheduled a meeting at a local diner with Provenzano and Anthony Giacalone (Patrick Gallo), is surprised to see Sheeran arriving in a car with Hoffa's foster son Chuckie O'Brien (Jesse Plemons) and Sal Briguglio (Louis Cancelmi). They advise Hoffa that the meeting was moved to a house where Provenzano and Bufalino are waiting for them. Sheeran assures Hoffa that everything is fine and joins them in the car. Upon entering the house, Hoffa realises that no one else is there and that it's a set up. As Hoffa turns to speak with Sheeran, he shoots Hoffa twice in the head, dead, before laying the gun on the lifeless body in the hallway, and making a quick exit.

In the fullness of time, Sheeran, Russell, Provenzano and various others are eventually convicted on various charges not related to Hoffa's murder, and one by one their lives all succumb to life behind bars, expect for Sheeran who is eventually released and placed in a Philadelphia nursing home. He tries to make peace with his alienated daughters, but Peggy (Anna Paquin) never forgives him for Hoffa's disappearance, who of all Sheeran's associates and friends, Peggy was the closest too and most at ease with. Sheeran died of cancer on December 14, 2003, aged 83, in that nursing home.

'The Irishman' is an epic mob gangster film in terms of its run time, its fine ensemble casting especially from the three principle leads who are all in their mid to late 70's (as is the Director), its storytelling narrative, its production values and of course its Direction from the master of his craft, Martin Scorsese. Make no mistake, this is not as hard hitting as 'Goodfellas', or 'Casino', but is a reflection on one mans rise through the ranks of a Pennsylvania crime family and the Teamsters Union and for whom no job, no crime was too much. It's the story of a man who struggles to verbalise his inner feelings or his emotions, but is not afraid to let those feelings manifest themselves in acts of extreme violence, without showing any remorse or regret for his actions. It's the story of how age creeps up on all of us, with a telling line by Sheeran as he sits in his nursing home contemplating his end of days 'you don't know how fast time goes by 'til you get there'. And it's the story of how this man in particular counts the painful costs of a life of crime - not through remorse but regret in dying alone in a nondescript nursing home having alienated his daughters. And its a history lesson (some or all or none of it may be true) involving Presidents, the second most powerful man in America at the time, the mafia, those on the periphery and how they are all intertwined. There are some carefully placed one liners that will make you laugh out loud, there is plenty of blood letting, random acts of violence, and the dialogue is straight out of the mobsters playbook. De Niro, Pacino and Pesci are all on fine form here, as is the strong supporting cast who all give 100%. The one negative about this story is how a more meaty role wasn't included for a female lead - Anna Paquin as the disapproving daughter who ultimately turns her back on her father is the only female character who shines in her all too brief on screen appearances. Certainly worth the price of entry is you can catch it on the big screen somewhere, and failing that be sure to catch it from the comfort of your own sofa at home when it streams on Netflix from the 27th of this month.

'The Irishman' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a potential five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

ONCE UPON A TIME IN . . . HOLLYWOOD : Tuesday 20th August 2019

'ONCE UPON A TIME IN . . . HOLLYWOOD' which I saw this week is rated MA15+ and finally arrives amidst much fanfare and pre-release hype. This is the long awaited eagerly anticipated ninth film by Director, Writer and Co-Producer Quentin Tarantino who I'm sure needs no further introduction. This comedy drama film saw its world Premier screening at the Cannes Film Festival back in late May where it was in competition for the prestigious Palme d'Or, saw its general release in the US on 26th July and last week in Australia and the UK. On a production budget of about US$90M the film has so far grossed US$184M and has garnered largely positive Reviews. The film stars an ensemble cast that takes in Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Luke Perry, Al Pacino, Bruce Dern, Dakota Fanning, Emile Hirsch, Timothy Olyphant, Damian Lewis, Damon Herriman, Scoot McNairy, Rummer Willis, Kurt Russell, Zoe Bell, Michael Madsen, James Remar and Quentin himself lending his voice.

It is February 1969, in Los Angeles, at the hey day of hippie Hollywood where everything is changing, including the film industry's Golden Age. As the former TV star of a popular '50's Western series called 'Bounty Law' Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double and best friend Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognise anymore and are struggling to find any meaningful work that will restore Dalton's star status. In a pre-arranged meeting in a bar with Casting Agent Marvin Schwarz (Al Pacino), Dalton is told in no uncertain terms by Schwarz that although he is a big fan, his Hollywood career is soon to be washed up and he should consider working in Italy on Spaghetti Westerns for which Schwarz has connections with whom he is happy to leverage. Dalton initially scoffs at the notion, believing that Spaghetti Westerns are the very bottom of the food chain.

Booth has worked with Dalton for nine or so years and is a war veteran who lives in a trailer with his well trained and attentive Pit Bull dog, Brandy, drives Dalton around town, housesits while he is away, fixes up things around his house and relies on him for work due to inside industry rumours that Booth killed his wife. Dalton has a crisis of confidence over hearing this news from Schwarz, and arriving back home, Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and her new husband Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha) pull up in the driveway besides Dalton's house on Cielo Drive, and drive into their rented home right next door to Dalton's. This boosts Dalton's confidence once again, as he is hopeful with Polanski as his new neighbour, that he can wrangle his way into his good books and land a starring role in one of his upcoming movies.

Later that evening Tate and Polanski join a lavish party at the Playboy Mansion with many of Hollywood's A-listers. There they join Jay Sebring (Emile Hirsch) a Hollywood hair-stylist and former boyfriend of Sharon Tate's, and Steve McQueen (Damian Lewis) who in voice over tells of the love triangle that exists between Sebring, Tate and Polanski. Meanwhile back home Dalton drinks himself into a stupor while rehearsing his lines for a shoot the next day. Booth picks up Dalton early the next morning and drops him off at the studio. Not needing his services for the remainder of the day Dalton asks Booth to fix the television aerial on his roof which blew over the night before in a storm. 

From on top of the roof while repairing the TV antenna Booth has memories of a sparring match he had on the set of 'The Green Hornet' with Bruce Lee (Mike Moh) after Lee, in front of the entire crew, was boasting that his hands were insured as lethal weapons and no man could beat him in a bout. Booth needless to say, proves him wrong but their fight is interrupted by stunt coordinator Randy (Kurt Russell) and his wife Janet (Zoe Bell) who is also a stunt coordinator who publicly chastises Booth for being a wife murderer. 

Also from on top of Dalton's roof, Booth sees Charles Manson (Damon Herriman) who drops by the home of Polanski and Tate looking for record producer Terry Melcher, who used to live there but has subsequently moved elsewhere, and is turned away by Sebring. With his work done, Booth is driving Dalton's car when he sees an attractive young hitchhiker named 'Pussycat' (Margaret Qualley) who is a member of the Manson Family, although Booth doesn't know it yet. She is seeking a ride out to the Spahn Movie Ranch out in Chatsworth, California. Picking her up, and agreeing to drive out to the ranch for old times sake, Booth explains that he is a stunt double and back in the day they shot several episodes of 'Bounty Law' there. 

Upon arriving at the ranch, Booth enquires about old man George Spahn, the owner of the ranch and whether he is still around. Pussycat tries to persuade Booth to stay, but he quickly becomes  suspicious of the large number of hippies seemingly squatting on the property, and suspects they are taking advantage of George. Booth insists on checking up on Spahn in his old ramshackle homestead and despite Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme's (Dakota Fanning) objections the now eighty year old and blind Spahn (Bruce Dern) is dismissive of Booth's concerns and orders to leave him alone having been woken up from his afternoon nap. 

Meanwhile, Sharon Tate has been out for an afternoon stroll, when she comes across a movie theatre showing her latest release 'The Wrecking Crew' with Dean Martin starring as Matt Helm. She makes her self known to the box office attendant and is granted complimentary access to the theatre to watch herself up on the big screen. The audience reaction to her scenes is positive, which makes the young Actress very happy. 

Dalton scores the role of a villain in the pilot episode of a new Western themed series called 'Lancer', where waiting for the cameras to roll he strikes up a conversation with his eight-year-old co-star, Trudi (Julia Butters). During one of his scenes with James Stacy (Timothy Olyphant playing Johnny Madrid Lancer), a hungover Dalton struggles with his lines. During a break in filming while Dalton collects his thoughts and after beating himself up in his trailer, Dalton returns to the set and gives a stirring powerful performance that impresses the shows Director, Sam Wanamaker (Nicholas Hammond), and Trudi, boosting Dalton's confidence once more.

Upon returning home from the days shoot, Booth and Dalton settle in to watch Dalton's guest appearance on an episode of 'The F.B.I.' over a couple of beers. The phone rings later on and Schwarz books Dalton to star as the lead in Sergio Corbucci's next Italian shot Western, 'Nebraska Jim'. Dalton takes Booth with him for a six-month shooting period in Europe, during which time he appears in two additional Westerns - 'Kill Me Now Ringo, Said The Gringo' and 'Red Blood, Red Skin' plus a European spy comedy - 'Operazione Dyn-O-Mite!', and ends up marrying Italian Actress Francesca Capucci (Lorenza Izza).

Upon their return home to Los Angeles, Dalton informs Booth he can no longer afford his services given his lavish life style while on location in Italy and now that he has a wife to support too. So after nine years together they agree to go their separate ways. They go out for drinks to mark the occasion and later return to Dalton's home, where Booth smokes an acid-laced cigarette given to him previously by Pussycat, while taking Brandy out for a walk. Meanwhile, Charles 'Tex' Watson (Austin Butler), Susan 'Sadie' Atkins (Mikey Madison), Linda 'Flower Child' Kasabian (Maya Hawke), and Patricia 'Katie' Krenwinkel (Madsen Beaty) pull up outside, in their smoke billowing and blowing Ford Galaxie, in preparation to murder everyone in Tate's house. Dalton hears the racket from the car, comes out, and angrily orders them to leave with a jug of freshly prepared Margahrita mix in his hand. They reverse out, and park up just down the street and out of view but Atkins hatches a plan to return and kill Dalton instead.

Kasabian, under the guise of having to return to the car to retrieve her knife which she had left behind, deserts the group and drives off. The remaining three carry on with Atkins' plan. They break into Dalton's house and confront Booth, who recognises them from the Spahn Ranch. While Booth is held at gunpoint by Watkins who proclaims 'I'm the Devil, and I came to do the Devil's business', he orders Brandy to attack and the dog instantly obeys his master and pounces into action ferociously biting Watkins in the crotch, then the arm, the hand, the leg and the face before returning to his crotch leaving Watkins in a bloody heap on the floor, at which point Booth shoots him dead. Booth then orders Brandy to attack Atkins who was already disabled by a can of dog food thrown squarely in her face, and is now being dragged around the floor writhing with a mad Pit Bull biting away liberally. Krenwinkel meanwhile was punched to the ground by Booth has got up and lunged at him sticking a knife deep into his thigh. Momentarily both are stunned, but Booth quickly regains himself and despite the knife protruding from his upper leg, repeatedly smashes her face against a telephone, glass picture frames, a wall, a coffee table and the cement surround of the open fireplace killing her. Atkins, who has now gone completely nuts and with gun in hand, crashes through a plate glass window by the pool, alarming Dalton, who was listening to music on headphones while floating on a lilo in the swimming pool, and completely oblivious to the ensuing mayhem inside his own house. By now Atkins has got up completely covered in blood from head to toe and with shards of glass sticking out of her face and fallen into the swimming pool where she is writhing about randomly discharging her gun. Dalton retrieves a flamethrower he had kept from his starring role in 'The 14 Fists of McClusky' film shoot, and promptly incinerates her to a blackened crisp.

The injured Booth is taken to the hospital by paramedics. After seeing Booth off outside, Sebring engages Dalton in conversation at the gateway to the drive of their house about what went down earlier that evening and Tate, over the intercom, invites Dalton up to her house for drinks with her houseguests, Sebring, Abigail Folger (Samantha Robinson) and Wojciech Frykowski (Costa Ronin) while husband Roman was delayed returning from London.

Anyone who is a fan of Quentin Tarantino will find a lot to like in his homage to the film making industry of yesteryear that is 'Once Upon a Time in . . . Hollywood'. Here he indulges his own upbringing, influences and touchstones with a film that meticulously recreates the Golden Age of Hollywood in every minute detail from the cars, to the costumes, the dialogue, the buildings, the furnishings, the neon, the poster art and so much more all underpinned by a strong cast, especially the never before seen pairing of DiCaprio and Pitt who both shine in their respective roles as do many of the strong big name supporting cast. A carefully interwoven story that goes behind the scenes of late 1960's film and television production together with one of the industries most shocking murder stories told with an alternative twist that when it comes does so like a steam roller in what is best described as brutally violent, yet visually stunning and outrageously funny. This may not be Tarantino's best work as it does meander in parts and the Charles Manson and Sharon Tate characters are a little undercooked, but nonetheless it does demonstrate that Tarantino is still at the top of his game, that he is supremely confident in his movie making prowess and that he knows how to craft a fine independent story that resonates with the movie going public and Critics alike. If Tarantino does hang up his hat after his tenth picture then that will surely represent a sad day in Hollywood, but at least he will have left behind a lasting legacy of great filmed entertainment, and this one is certainly up there. Brandy, Cliff Booth's Pit Bull incidentally, won the Palm Dog Award at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.

'Once Upon a Time in  . . . Hollywood' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-