Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is the 9th film from Quentin Tarantino that premiered 6 years ago in 2019. The film has a large ensemble that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Austin Butler, Dakota Fanning, Bruce Dern, Al Pacino, and many more. Los Angeles, 1969. TV star Rick Dalton, a struggling actor specializing in westerns, and stuntman Cliff Booth, his best friend, try to survive in a constantly changing movie industry. Dalton is the neighbor of the young and promising actress and model Sharon Tate.

Quentin Tarantino has been my favorite film director since discovering Pulp Fiction, my all-time favorite movie, in high school. Since then, I had the opportunity to see Django Unchained & The Hateful Eight in theaters. After moving to a new state, I once again got to see another Tarantino flick in theaters, but this time in Dolby, and in the summer! There was a lot of hype going into this one. I remember one of my college courses even played the trailer for this during class. While I initially didn’t love it as much as I thought I would, the film has aged better to the point where I absolutely adore it.

If you know me, Leonardo DiCaprio was also my all-time favorite actor growing up. That has slightly changed due to my own morals and what DiCaprio chooses to do in his personal life. Coming off the heels of an Oscar win, it felt like DiCaprio was going to be hitting this stride that proved his excellence in acting. After watching the film the first time, I can’t say his performance stuck out to me all that much compared to Brad Pitt’s Oscar-winning performance. I have come around on it though as I found his character relatable through his setbacks after having it all. His insecurity gives DiCaprio new grounds to work in something different and uncomfortable.

Brad Pitt’s character, though, is written with perfection. There is no doubt that Tarantino creates rich characters that he somehow does all on his own. Pitt also has a charisma about him that Tarantino is able to channel out of him for his performance as Cliff Booth. You can tell where Booth has done some messed up things in his past without the film having to directly saying it. Booth is grateful for the life he lives even while living in a trailer and having a fading friendship, but he is loyal to the very end.

The film tackles themes of fading Hollywood stars and changes in the industry – something we have all seen in the industry in the last five years since the pandemic. You either have to change with the system or be left behind. Adding the real-life story of Sharon Tate to the mix also adds something haunting to it. Margot Robbie doesn’t necessarily get a whole lot to do, but we still see her character before what we believe will the real-life of murder of Sharon Tate. Instead, the film takes the right approach by giving Dalton & Booth the opportunity to save the day and unknowingly save Tate’s life, paving an unknown path forward that’s full of positivity and optimism.

Standing at nearly 3 hours long, the film never breaks a sweat. Much like Tarantino’s other films, the characters dialogues and non-verbal actions keep the film going where it would be nearly impossible for any other filmmaker to replicate Tarantino’s success (best of luck, Fincher). On first watch, I was a little letdown with the pacing. With the huge cast attached and long runtime, I thought we would get more from other characters. Instead, I believe the film should have saved those cameos as a surprise for the film that fully immersed you more in the time and location rather than waiting for what these character would do.

As much as DiCaprio’s performance has grown on me, it’s Pitt as Booth that has most of the best scenes in the film from the ranch to the conclusion. The ranch scene offers so much into this side story with Tate that she doesn’t even know about. The situation that Booth places himself in at the ranch makes him into the hero type. It’s a nail-biting scene full of humor and intrigue. There’s a reason it’s become an iconic scene.

As for the ending, it has solidified itself as one of my all-time favorite endings. I love how everything leads up to this intense moment where these members of the Manson family get exactly what they deserve. Dalton & Booth have no idea how their actions have changed the course of history. It doesn’t matter what they do next in life. The fact that they helped take down this evil in stellar fashion from Tarantino will live on in film history. The dialogue between Pitt & Butler is hilarious while the flamethrower scene is iconic.

Overall, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is a film that has not only grown on me over time, but deserves its all praises from its performances to the writing. It fully immerses you into its time and location with pure authenticity giving pure vibes. I wouldn’t say it’s my all-time favorite Tarantino movie (still Pulp Fiction), but it’s awfully close.

VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)