Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood (2019)

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is a stylish, character-driven portrait of 1969 Los Angeles that follows washed-up TV star Rick Dalton and his laid-back stunt double and friend Cliff Booth as they try to navigate an industry and a city that feel like they're slipping away. Overlaid with a parallel, lighter storyline about their glamorous young neighbors, director Roman Polanski and actress Sharon Tate, the film moves between quiet, conversational beats and moments of sudden, visceral danger as the shadow of the Manson family creeps into the characters’ orbit. Watching the film is an immersive, sensory experience: meticulous period production design, a killer late‑60s soundtrack, long, talky scenes that build mood and character, and Tarantino’s trademark blend of deadpan humor and abrupt violence. It’s leisurely and episodic—less about a single plot twist than about atmosphere, performances, and the bittersweet decline of a particular Hollywood era. The tone shifts from warm nostalgia and comic self-parody to tense, unsettling drama, so expect swings in mood rather than a conventional, tightly plotted story. Viewers will likely come away appreciating the film as a glossy, elegiac tribute to Hollywood’s final moments of the “Golden Age,” anchored by standout performances and sharp period detail. It’s best approached as a mood piece: rewarding if you enjoy character study, retro pop‑culture immersion, and a mix of humor, melancholy, and sudden intensity.

Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Runtime: 161 min

Genres: Comedy, Drama

84 /100 7.6 /10 8.0 /10