Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino's ninth film is a sun-soaked, meandering love letter to the Hollywood he grew up watching. Set in the sweltering summer of 1969, the story follows Rick Dalton, a former TV western star whose career is fading fast, and his loyal stunt double Cliff Booth, who drives him around town after Rick loses his license. Their friendship anchors a film that is less about plot than about atmosphere, memory, and the bittersweet passage of time.

Across the street lives Sharon Tate, the real-life actress and wife of Roman Polanski, whose tragic fate looms over every frame. But Tarantino isn't interested in historical accuracy. Instead, he builds a fairy tale version of Los Angeles, where the streets are lined with movie posters, the radio plays nothing but golden oldies, and the threat of violence simmers just beneath the surface. The film premiered at Cannes in 2019 to a standing ovation and went on to earn two Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Brad Pitt. [edit]

Los Angeles, February 1969. Rick Dalton, a former star of the TV western "Bounty Law," now struggles to find work. He drinks heavily and frets over his irrelevance. His best friend Cliff Booth, a stuntman and war veteran, serves as his driver and handyman. Cliff lives in a tiny trailer with his pit bull Brandy, and rumors persist that he killed his wife years ago.

Rick's agent Marvin Schwarz advises him to go to Italy and make Spaghetti Westerns. Meanwhile, Cliff picks up a young hitchhiker named Pussycat and drives her to Spahn Ranch, an old movie set now overrun by hippies. There, Cliff grows suspicious and insists on checking on the ranch's elderly owner, George Spahn. He encounters members of the Manson Family, including Squeaky and Tex, who watch him warily.

Rick lands a guest role on the TV series "Lancer," sharing scenes with a sharp child actress named Trudi Fraser. He struggles with self-doubt but delivers a strong performance. Cliff spends his days fixing Rick's TV antenna and driving around Los Angeles. He stops at a drive-in theater and later returns to Spahn Ranch, where he fights Tex and leaves without further incident.

Sharon Tate, Rick's neighbor, lives a carefree life. She visits a bookstore, throws parties, and goes to a movie theater to watch herself in "The Wrecking Crew," beaming as the audience laughs. Her innocence contrasts sharply with Rick's anxiety and Cliff's quiet menace. The film weaves these stories together, building a portrait of a city on the edge of change.[edit]