'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. 
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).
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-
