Tagline: As boys, they said they would die for each other. As men, they did. (more)
Plot Outline: A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to Brooklyn over 30 years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life. (more)(view trailer)
User Comments:
A sprawling, deliberately paced, and generally a superbly crafted piece of work
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Date: 19 October 2003 Summary: A sprawling, deliberately paced, and generally a superbly crafted piece of work
It's been said that when one watches a "spaghetti" western (one of the "Man
with no name" films with Clint Eastwood) filmmaker Sergio Leone's trademark
cinema style and flair for clear storytelling is instantly recognizable.
This is no truer than in his most ambitious effort, Once Upon a Time in
America, in which his usage of close-ups, concise camera movement, sound
transitions and syncs, and the sudden change in some scenes from tenderness
to violence. And, he pulls it off without making the viewer feel
dis-interested.
Of course, it's hard to feel that way when watching the cast he has put
together; even the child actors (one of which a young Jennifer Connelly as
the young Deborah) are believable. Robert De Niro projects his subtitles
like a pro, with his occasional outburst in the right place; James Woods
gives one of first great performances as Max; Elizabeth McGovern is the
heart of the film; and Joe Pesci should've had more than just a one scene
appearance, thought it's still good.
It's a story of life-long friends, in the tradition of the Godfather movies
with obvious differences, and the story cuts back and forth to Noodles (De
Niro) in his old age returning from exile, looking back on his childhood in
Brooklyn, his rise to power with his partners, and the twists come quite
unexpectedly. The pace is slow, but not detrimental, and it gives the
viewer time to let the emotions sink in. The story is also non-linear, and
yet doesn't give away facts to the viewer- this is something that very
likely influenced Quentin Tarantino in his films. By the end, every detail
that has mounted up makes the whole experience rather fulfilling, if not
perfect.
Finally, I'd like to point out the exceptional musical score. Ennio
Morricone, as it says on this site, has scored over four hundred films in
forty years, including Leone's movies. This would have to be, arguably, one
of his ten best works- his score is equally lively, saddened, intense, and
perhaps majestic for a gangster epic. Overall, it's filled with the same
spirit Leone had in directing the picture, and it corresponds beautifully-
there are some scenes in this film that would simply not work without the
strings. Grade: A
company.
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