Alan Gordon

An instant classic of a Hollywood history film in so many ways. I loved the steady, slow pace of the film, how it explored the lifestyle of 1969 Hollywood. The viewer is immersed in an almost time-travel style into the environment of 1969 L.A. and Hollywood. Such is the short attention span style of movie-making in the current era of on-line social networking that it was an unexpected relief to spend time with a film that threwback to an earlier era of classic film-making. It was wonderful to just watch scenes that Tarantino had patience with, filling with steady pacing and detail. For me, at it's heart it is somewhat of an alternate reality science fiction film, a reinterpretation of 1969 Hollywood and a reimagined version of the night of the infamous Tate murders. I've read some reviews and on-line comments that criticize the film as an inappropriate defense of old-school, pre-1960's Hollywood rigidity and conservatism. Nonsense. That's the unfortunate hyper-sensitivity of our politically-correct era (and I'm a liberal Democrat speaking, here). The film holds no insults or exclusion, it merely reflects the times and attitudes of 1969 Hollywood as it factually was. It's a love letter to a transitioning time in both America and Hollywood with a wistful ending that pays homage and respect to one of the most painful and terrible evenings in the true life of the Hollywood community. So see this movie. Enjoy it as the Hollywood classic that it is.