Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film is one of his most mature and, for much of the running time, less frenetic. It is set over a few days in Hollywood in 1969. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Rick Dalton, an actor looking for an upturn in his career after his Western TV show has been cancelled. Brad Pitt plays Cliff Booth, Dalton’s best friend and stunt double who’s own career is dependent on Rick’s success. Much of the pre-publicity for this film focused on it involving Charles Manson and his cult members, but that is, in actual fact, more of a backstory. So, playing a much lesser part in the movie than I expected is the presence of Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) is the house next door to Rick.
For extended periods the film moves at quite a leisurely pace. Much of the running time is given over to Rick’s involvement in a new TV Western pilot. I expect that some viewers may find that dull, but I was completely riveted. Anyone else with an interest in Hollywood at that time will appreciate the lovingly detailed way Tarantino recreates the period.
But there are still a couple of violent set pieces as you would expect from a Tarantino movie. The second of which is shocking in both its graphic nature, and how it subverts history in a similar way to Inglorious Basterds. The cast is pretty flawless, with Pitt’s easy going but dangerous stuntman the pick. Also Al Pacino is marvelous in a small role as Rick’s agent.
I think a lot more viewings will be required to fully appreciate the richness of this movie, one that I would rank behind only Jackie Brown in the director’s work. If he is really going to sign off after 10 films it seems a shame that the final entry on his CV will be a Star Trek reboot, but, based on this evidence, maybe he can breathe life into even that tired franchise.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10