Directed by:
Sergio LeoneCinematography:
Tonino Delli ColliComposer:
Ennio MorriconeCast:
Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, Tuesday Weld, Burt Young, Joe Pesci, Danny Aiello, William Forsythe, James Hayden (more)VOD (5)
Plots(1)
Outstanding director Sergio Leone strayed away from his western roots in this epic crime drama which was also his final movie before he died in 1989. Once Upon a Time in America focuses on the rise of two Jewish boys, David 'Noodles' Aaronson (Robert De Niro) and Maximilian 'Max' Bercovicz (James Woods) as they work their way up the organised crime industry in Brooklyn New York, from street thugs to two well respected gangsters, conquering love, lust, greed, betrayal, loss and broken relationships along the way. Now 30 years on David has returned to Brooklyn to battle his demons and confront the regrets of the life he once led, but will he find forgiveness for the things he once did and can he forgive himself? (Warner Bros. Home Entertainment)
(more)Videos (1)
Reviews (12)
Although many reviews try, Sergio Leone's gems with the poetic "Once upon a Time" in the title simply cannot be compared. And here the Master now includes almost every genre in this, his masterpiece. I found classic crime schemes, tough gangster action, heart-wrenching drama, and despite its harshness, also a strong and sincere romance, all with a subtle veil of social criticism. When watching the director's cut, I cannot imagine a single scene that I could have gone without. I am listing the individual aspects here, but the power of this monument cannot be described in words.
()
Once Upon a Time in America was a film that Sergio Leone had been preparing for many years and was supposed to be the culmination of his work. In reality, it turned out to be a major disaster and probably shortened Leone's life by a few years. Finding a producer was already extremely difficult because, with Leone's well-known meticulousness, the costs were dangerously high. Moreover, the film was incredibly long, especially for the standards of the early 80s. The producer simply couldn't imagine that a four-hour epic would be acceptable to the audience, and since in the United States the producer is practically the owner of the film, he dealt with it in his own way. He cut it in half and released this butchered version in movie theaters. Because Leone's story takes place in multiple time frames, the crude interventions resulted in a debacle that the critics tore apart and the audience jeered. The film became one of the worst flops of the decade and, considering the high costs, it meant the actual end of Leone's directing career. He never experienced rehabilitation until his death, which came six years later with the release of the original director's cut. Yes, it is very long, but at the same time, it is very captivating, professionally shot, and grandiose. Over time, film fans and professional critics have evaluated Leone's film as one of the most significant in American cinema. For many actors, it was the pinnacle of their film careers, although in some cases, admittedly, somewhat premature (Elizabeth McGovern). Overall impression: 90%.
()
There are some pictures for which even the maximum number of stars is too constricting. And Leone’s most personal work is just that type of movie. But it is hard to give it an adequate rating since even the four-hour version eventually released years later is still too short to be able to reveal all of the storylines that Sergio Leone had filmed. The result is that we are left with a lot of begun, but unfinished storylines (Frankie Joe, Pesci and Fat Moe, to name just a few). They should release the originally intended six-hour version. This way we are left with incredibly strong historical frescos that Leone guides extremely sensitively through three time periods, supported by Morricone’s music, superb actors, amazing technical effects and outstanding production design. The best part of this picture is the first third. This is where Leone’s storytelling is at its best and I dare say that this part is the very best thing that Leone created (the word “filmed" simply isn’t enough in this case) during his long career.
()
A drawn-out macho mafia saga that gets old as the characters become sparser and the dialogue becomes shallower. There are flashes of Leone's brilliance, of course, but the film is generally similar to Morricone's music. It's quite impressive, but too familiar; the Pan almost kills even the phenomenal Picnic at Hanging Rock. It turns this festival of plaintive glances by human exclamation marks into a nostalgic museum exhibit of a film world that fortunately belongs to yesterday.
()
What Sergio Leone delivers here is almost perfect. Amazing atmosphere and storytelling, and flawless performances. The brilliant script and its three timelines are a testament to genius. Leone was originally meant to direct The Godfather, but he knew why to wait. This film is better.
()
Gallery (106)
Photo © Warner Bros.
![Once Upon a Time in America - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/161/401/161401065_f96cc4.jpg)
Ads