Except it's narrative has never exactly flowed, every character aside from the bit part of a chauffeur is irredeemably despicable, and the payoff is rather silly and completely lackluster. There's brilliance in it, but not exclusively.
@@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat My only issue with it is the edited STUDIO version. However, the director's cut that filmmaker Sergio Leone intended everyone to see, is magical. Very few people have ever seen it. Even people who "think" they have seen it, really have not. The studio behind the film went berserk when they saw the length and, fearful of losing dollars when they could be changing reels and selling more tickets, they brought in a butcher to shorten it. Now maybe the new editor was not a butcher by trade, but he was sure one by disposition. The late Roger Ebert said that, in his career, this was the most abusive re-edit he had ever seen. The actual film, the one that Leone left, was not seen until years later when the director's version surfaced. It is astounding. It is magical. It is one of the best films ever made. It is a must see to those that haven't seen the Director's cut.
THIS is what Marty will be remembered for. He will go down as one of the greatest Directors of all time, but his efforts in film restoration puts him above everyone else. It's because he and respects all the filmmakers ahead of him so much.
This is not a movie to watch in cinema or even at home with friends. Enjoyed most while watching it alone. Hell, i think i watched it like 20 times already and each time it feels fresh and finding new things in it
One of my favorite films for sure. I have only seen it many times alone and once with my familly. I agree that being alone is an amazing experience because you relate even more with Noodle and his intricated memories (watching films alone is an underrated activity btw). But I sure wish to see it on a big screen eventually. I want to appreciate the scale, the magnificience that it must have in theatre. (Sorry for the language, I am Belgianh)
I work at sea so there is a lot of time I spend with myself and it's easier to just enjoy a form of art without distractions fully immersed in the experience. It's difficult at home finding a way to absolutely getting lost into something
i couldn't agree more.... i am from ireland and it's always shown on tv around xmas time.... i record it and watch it alone in the early hours of morning... no kids, no wife and no distractions...and a slow glass of red wine and chocs... a very personel experience and you go through with emotions.... a very underrated film and a hidden gem....
I'd say that the establishing dolly/crane shot when Jill arrives at the town in Once Upon a Time in the West is even better, but that's a matter of personal taste. And it's still Leone.
This film changed how I look at cinema, art vs. entertainment. Music so compelling the themes become part of your life from that time on. Visually, just as beautiful as Once Upon a Time in the West, but the score was even more closely related to characters rather than scenes. One of the 5 films I would want to see on my last day on earth before I die, and arguably the finest. I'm also a fan of Kubrick, but this film in particular makes me emotional as no other film ever has.
My mother had a hard life and this was her favourite film, so much so, we played the main theme at her funeral. For this reason, I can never watch this masterpiece ever again.
The Godfather is a masterpiece. Goodfellas is perfection. But once upon a time makes both look ordinary. It is an Epic in the true sense of the word and leaves a resonance with you that lasts for ever.
It is one of the best movies of all time. And the greatest crime movie of all time. i saw 251 minute edition. Each and every seen is incredibly moving. Sergio Leone was overlooked on each and every occasion. He deserved every directors award that is in existence, for this movie. Long live Sergio Leone's art, talent and directing skills.
@@jacklemmon2402 innocence of that kid and musical score, reminds me when I was a kid, we didn't have much, and most of all reminds me about dear people no longer with me.
Arguably the best film ever made,i have just watched the restored scenes and am not sure it will enhance such a wonderful piece of cinematic history. I WILL however buy a blu-ray player and the new version coz i'm such a OUATIA nut. Thank you sergio for enriching our lives with this masterpiece.
RIGHT ON, Brother!...I can't help EVER time I see it to well up with tears of admiration!...Sergio NEVER hurries the epic--milk toast film goers and the public in general will never really "get it"~
Cinematic Top 10 Oh, I think America is *easily* better than Goodfellas. Don't get me wrong, Goodfellas is a masterpiece. I just think it's definitely the "lesser" or "inferior" masterpiece to America. But again, both monumental works of cinema and among the greatest of all time.
I agree with you but personally I don't really see the comparison with The Godfather or Goodfellas. I mean,yeah they all fall under the general umbrella of 'gangster film' but Once Upon A Time In America doesn't really fit in with the conventions of the genre,it's a film about friendship,aging,regret primarily
The iconic shot in Dumbo is etched in my head. He not only filmed a masterpiece of art, but he was fortunate enough to film when New York was still as gritty as it was. There's no way a timepiece set 50 years before can be done today without so much CGI.
Anonymous Girl: You MUST, MUST, MUST watch the "Director's Cut" [ Scorsese's] DVD version. It makes the movie you so rightly love take your breath away. LAPL has a D/C version in their collection.
I hope the day will come when they release the whole movie the way Leone intended it. Look at that scene with Debroah as Cleopatra. I would not be surprised if it has a dual meaning within the flim.
Yes.. You re totally right.. If you see the opening scenes there S also a symbolism.. I mean in the shadows game scenes.. The battle between evil and good.
Any version of the this movie is a masterpiece.This movie is better than The Godfather and Goodfellas because the scenes tearing the heart and this is a true art....and the visual quality is extraordinary .
+Branko Maljevic Agreed, but extra scenes may just offset initial perceptions. I was 26 in '94 when i first saw the two parter shown on Britain's Channel 4. A 26 year old now may percieve and think otherwise. Still, the film and story are incredible. I truly hope new viewers gets the joy out this film i once got, long ago.
Once Upon a Time in America is one of the great underrated masterpieces. I’ve heard some arguments for other 80’s movies that were chopped to bits (looking at you, Heaven’s Gate) but, in my mind, Sergio Leone’s last film is even deeper and more morally complex than it’s New Hollywood brethren from the 70’s - a touchstone that no one ever touches. Shame, I wish this one would get the respect it deserves. Side Note, wish Leone had lived to complete his planned WW2 epic Stalingrad - what a movie THAT would have been.
When one of the greatest directors of all time, goes out of his way to help restore your film. You know you've made one hell of a movie. To call Once Upon A Time In America anything less than a masterpiece. Is the equivalent to calling the sound of a sonic boom, merely a whisper.
@@francescolaspina8073 A film has no responsibility to be moralistic. A story is the representation of different characters: to impose a moral would be condescending. It is intended as a reflection of life, even if the mirror is warped.
I was on my way out to a party the evening this came on the television. I left it recording - I was already hooked. I couldn't wait to get home and sat up most of the rest of the night mesmerised.
OUATIA is one of the perfect examples film as an art form, along with Godfather, Raging Bull, Once Upon A Time In The West just to name a few. I love this film an this trailer, with the music an narration by my all time favorite director brings tears to my eyes.
It really is. A critic once compared it to like watching a Richard Wagner opera for this first time...long, sprawling, dark, overwhelming, HUGE, and flat-out astonishing. As a music graduate myself, I could not agree more. This film is on another level than 99% of every other movie ever made. A transcending motion picture for the ages, if ever there was one.
It's hard to believe that Leone was asked to direct The Godfather, but turned it down because he really wanted to do this story and make his own gangster epic. The Godfather, Once Upon a Time in America, and Goodfellas will forever be the best films, but Once Upon A Time In America is truly a fantastic film, and is better than the Godfather in my opinion.
I agree with you. The godfather was excellent picture. But once upon a time in America is the tops. Clothes atmosphere actors all excellent. Herschel Goldberg must be happy in heaven. Moe Dalitz was to me the MAN.
I love good movies and am constantly on the lookout for ones I haven’t seen yet so you can understand how on a summer day in 2002 I watched an “uncut” version of this movie I had never heard of titled Once Upon A Time in America. WTH? Why had I never even heard of this movie? Without a doubt it is one of the five best movies ever made with breathtaking cinematography and a musical score that in my opinion has never been surpassed. If you have never seen this masterpiece you owe it to yourself to give it a try. I find that it opens your understanding on many levels with a second, third or fourth viewing. In my nobody and nothing opinion it is a work of art and the greatest film ever made.
Not many movies move me the way this one did , I watched it for the very first time when I was just 12 ( my mum had a DVD of the film so I decided to just put it on and see what it is) , and even as a 12 year old boy I already appreciated the craft of this film! I loved everything , and it didn't even bore me once... I found it exceptionally moving. Re-watching it as an adult made me appreciate the film making even more as a young adult , It made a huge impact on my life. To be fair , this is the film that made me realize movies are truly something special. But it's a type of a film that I can't re-watch all the time , something about it makes me emotional, it's a powerful picture! a movie that everybody should see before they leave the earth. It has that cinematic magic that many films nowadays just do not have, and don't get me started at how good all the Actors were! Especially De Niro and James Wood. I personally think this is Sergio Leone's Masterpiece! He should have won the Oscar for best director for this film, he directed this film flawlessly. For him not to even get Nominated at the Oscars is easily one of the biggest snubs in Film History.
The score and Set Design of this film absolutely blew me away. The sets they built were so fantastical, i couldn't even imagine how much money it must've cost to film nine hours. Forget the amazing performances and the great plot, the sets and music alone made this film a masterpiece, alongside Leone's perfect direction
One of my favourites of all time, seen all different versions, Morricone's music score, ab brill. Best coming of age, loss of innocence gangster film made by one of the best Directors ever.
Fantonomisk movie I did see it back in 1985 and it have always been in my heart. Every time I hear the music I am back in 1985 and can see the Movie for me. I so so need to see it again. The impact from the movie cant be explained. People have to see the Movie to understand what it will do to them. Amazing I say. Music is Amazing. Everything with this movie is just Amazing.
For me "Once upon a time in America" is one of the greatest and most beautiful of all gangster films. it`s up there with Goodfellas as a true masterpiece of storytelling........ but why it remains so underrated will always remain a baffling mystery to me.
The gangster film genre is one of my ultimate favourite film genres. And I've always said that Once Upon A Time In America isn't the GREATEST gangster film of all time, but it's definitely the most underrated and unappreciated gangster film of all time. A beautiful epic. And the score is absolutely beautiful. Even my Wife walked out to Amapola on our Wedding Day.
This should've been screened with intermissions. Instead of being taken as just entertainment, this should have been taken like a great theatrical display of cinematography, story telling and acting. "The Godfather : Part 2" Was screened with an intermission, and it lasted for only maybe 3 hours?
Thank you Mr. Scorsese for restoring the most beautifully haunting, yet criminally underseen gangster flick! As epic as it is depressing, as strong as it is moving, as memorable as it is haunting. Leone is a master and Scorsese is a legend, for his own films, and for his love and care for other’s films enough to restore and remaster them as the original filmmakers would have wanted.
I found only two of the additional scenes to be helpful with the narrative. Even so all new scenes were appreciated and I hope for the six hour version someday.
Just watched this film. I think it's just about as good as The Godfather. Man it's so powerful and deep, even has a mystery element to it. So underrated.
Remembering James Hayden - died at 29 - while working with Al Pacino on Broadway with “American Buffalo.” He was terrific in this movie. He died before it was released. He had already worked with De Niro, Pacino, Leone and even Frank Sinatra on “The First Deadly Sin.” Many actors loved him. Mickey Rourke dedicated his own outstanding performance in “Pope of Greenwich Village” to Hayden.
Well, we must also remember that the indiscriminate cuts were made in America; which was the main reason why the movie in America was almost a flop; while in Europe, which saw the film in its entirety lasting almost 4 hours, it was a success with the public and with box office receipts. Someone wanted the Americans to be deprived of what is considered by many to be one of the greatest masterpieces of cinema. And you don't understand why. Nothing in the case says Martin Scorsese.
How can a film truly be art when it is edited to such a degree for commercial purposes against the director's will ? To me, this film is the greatest prohibition film ever made and even though I have seen it probably 30 times, I have never seen the full version which its creator intended...
Sergio Leone deserves SO MUCH MORE RESPECT he created some of the most beautiful movies such as once Upon a time in the west, the good the bad and the ugly, fistful of dollars, for a few dollars more, but the most beautiful movie ever no doubt about it, is once upon a time in America and every film he does has an amazing and memorizing score as ennio Morricone never disappoints. Leone is right up there along side Scorsese
I dedicated my last night to this film. Yes, it's 40 years old, yes it's long, but there is no boredom - at all Pure balm for the soul - in times of this whole woke bullshit. Every minute is precious. An absolute masterpiece that deserves much more attention. 💯🖤
This is a great movie. No two ways about it (though it could’ve done with shortening the rape scenes, but that’s really my only gripe). Apparently Leone shot anywhere from 8 to 10 hours and intended to make two three hour movies. For whatever reason, this was cut down to a film more than four hours and that was cut down to the 3h 49m cut that most people have seen. Then of course, we have the bastardised 2 hour cut. I’d totally watch eight hours of this film.
I saw this masterpiece as a young man. My outstanding memory was of watching a little boy ,opening a rapped up piece of a cream cake, and slowly very tenderly un rap the coverings to reveal what can only be described as pure heaven (In a child’s eye) It kinda was a foretelling of what the whole of life is about. Longing, greed, satisfaction, . The whole of human condition caught by a master filmmaker. And them dummies is Hollywood didn’t get it. Dumb fucks
The extended version makes this film so much better. To think a movie which was already a masterpiece could be better seems ridiculous, but I can tell you it makes the film 20% better. The notion that the future is all a hallucination is absolute rubbish and would only serve to undermine the complex story woven throughout. I think the full version proves that. Noodles smiles at the end because he knows it wasn't Max's body.
Considering Sergio himself hinted at it in his interviews, it is far from rubbish. Like he said, opium is the only drug, or halucinogenics that makes you see things as if they happen in the future. That is the beauty of the film. It leaves everything open for interpretation without ruining the overall experience, like any good art. Denying the possibility of the entire later part of the story being just an opium fantasy seems very shortsighted, and especially the way you phrase it as rubbish. If it’s rubbish then why include the opium scenes at all? They don’t have any baring on the plot or advance the story…unless the theory might not be rubbish at all😉
I watched the 251 minutes extended version of the movie.. Martin Scorsese did a good job...It is the closest we can get to Leone's envisaged 269 minute version..the 24 minutes still missing is mostly in the form of deleted scenes, whose rights are still not with Leone's children..I hope that someday they get the rights to those deleted scenes and bring a 269 minute version..Until that happens, the current bluray version is the best bet...
Actually the movie was longer than 4 hours and 4 minutes. 10 hours of total footage, 6 hours the first edit from Leone, them, he cut to made a 3 hours and 50 minutes movie. Is is not strange that the intermission is so close to the final of the movie? Probably because the most cut content is from the second part. What Frankie, for example, did after he take that elevator?
The first time I saw it, it was on TV, and it had no intermissions. The best way to show this, would be to show the 1st half in the middle of the day, and the 2nd in the evening.
It wasn't till the very late 80s that a feature was run on TV about it, and showed the difference so that I was like " you're kidding me. No WAY ". Because back then, 20 year old music and film sounded and looked really really old. Now we accept remastering as the norm.
I hope one day they will release the full intended film. Maybe there will be a scene where they rob the federal reserve and the ending won't feel so weak.
I do love how the marvel fans bash against Martin Scorsese last year (2020) just shows how their million budget marvel films with no composed movement speaks for their audience
