Margot Robbie’s Sharon Tate is the soul of Tarantino’s film, though she hardly says a word. Image courtesy of Sony Pictures.
Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film releases this week. If the droves of fans who’ve already turned out for previews and MIFF screenings are anything to go by, this one’s going to be huge, if only as a nostalgic cinema-going exercise. That’s significant in terms of the story. Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is set in Los Angeles in 1969, when the clash of old Hollywood westerns and hippy culture is at its height. The story follows Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), former star of a western TV series, and his best buddy and longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) who are struggling to maintain their careers in a changing landscape. They look on as some very famous neighbours move in next door: Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie).
