Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood - 10 nominations

Best Motion Picture of the Year - David Heyman, Shannon McIntosh, Quentin Tarantino

Best Achievement in Directing - Quentin Tarantino

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role - Leonardo DiCaprio

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Brad Pitt

Best Original Screenplay - Quentin Tarantino

Best Achievement in Cinematography - Robert Richardson

Best Achievement in Costume Design - Arianne Phillips

Best Achievement in Production Design - Barbara Ling, Nancy Haigh

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing - Michael Minkler, Christian P. Minkler, Mark Ulano

Best Achievement in Sound Editing - Wylie Stateman

Quentin Tarantino adores revisionist history with a masturbatory, satisfying, happy ending.  Inglorious Basterds, Django Unchained, and now Once Upon a Time are all "what if" films that re-envision what could have been "if only..."  This one is a complicated one to describe because there are multiple plots spinning throughout the film.  Primarily, Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) is focused on the next chapter of his waning career with his sidekick, stunt man, and boy Friday, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt).  In the house next door, Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate have just moved in.  Their stars are on the rise (though we know in the real world, Tate never really took hold in any significant way).  Finally, we also catch a glimpse of the goings on at the infamous Spahn Ranch where Charles Manson and the members of "the family" also reside.  Cliff gets tangled up with one of the disciples and he can clearly sense that this place is populated by a group of hippies who aren't quite all there.  I won't spoil the film's climax, I'll only add that when I'm not obsessing about the Oscars, I'm reading books (or watching films or listening to podcasts...) about cults.

The thing is, my history with Tarantino is hit and miss, and Once Upon a Time was a big big hit for me.  I'm not sure if it would make my Top 5 of the Best Picture nominees, but I can say I was engaged every minute of this long film.  (yet another Best Pic nominee that is over 2 hours!) . The performances were excellent and it was worth watching.  I wish I could summarize the film for you - I can't and I don't want to - I want you to watch it and enjoy it, and know that the day you watch it, you'll have a very satisfying ending in front of your nose.  Maybe the most satisfying resolution of all of the nominated films.

With that, I of course want to recommend the book Helter Skelter - the real account of the Manson family written by the lead prosecutor for most of the characters who appear on screen.  This fascinating real account of the murders, the trials, and the outcomes is excellent.  I couldn't put it down when I read it.

Watch the trailer: