It's the story of 60s TV actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Rick is trying to resurrect his career after his 50s TV show "Bounty Law" is cancelled. Rick plays a number of bad guys on TV shows until his new agent Marvin Schwarzs (Al Pacino) books him 4 Italian Spaghetti Westerns. As Rick and Cliff try holding onto their careers, his new neighbors actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) and her director/writer husband Roman Polanski (Rafal Zawierucha).
Tarantino's story has a twist. Instead of 8 month pregnant Sharon Tate and her three guests being brutally murdered (while Roman was away on a movie) by three of Charles Manson's disciples, the would-be murderers are distracted by an encounter with Rick & Cliff, who end up killing them saving Ms Tate and her crew. And because Rick & Cliff killed Sharon & her friends' would-be murders the LaBianca murders never happened the next day either. Again it's all about the white man savior.
I'd give it 5 stars out of 5 not just the performances but the originality and accuracy of this story. Brad is good...very good. But Leo is PHENOMENAL; he's funny, sad, and crazy all at the same time. Margot is easy breezy. I 100% believe Leo will be nominated for Lead Actor and Brad COULD score a Supporting Actor at the Oscars. Margot was effortless as Sharon, and although I felt she was talking more than acting there was a...meh to her. She didn't really do anything. Basically ANY blond actress could've played Sharon. Rick and Cliff were OWNED by Leo & Brad respectively, but Margot didn't DO anything as Sharon to give her emotional weight. Hell she did more in #SuicideSquad as "Harley Quinn" a few years back. Again though overall very good movie and stellar acting.
Ps...for all you history buffs the reason why Charles Manson had his disciples kill Sharon and her friends? Terry Melcher was a record producer that SNUBBED him for a record contract while Charles pursued music. When he found out Terry moved, he wanted his disciples to simply kill "the occupants of the house." Interesting fact...Quincy Jones was a friend of Jay Sebring, Sharon's ex-fiancee and best friend. He was suppose to go to the Polanski/Tate home that night, but decided not to.