Once Upon a Time in America (Two-Disc Special Edition)

Despite what can seem like turgidness on first viewing, this film is likely to stick to your ribs and merit repeat screenings. DeNiro smolders throughout, while James Woods delivers a teriffic scenery-chewing performance. The story is friendship (and betrayal, of course)--or is it Romulus and Remus? Greek tragedy, perhaps? Godfather parts 1 and 2 rolled into one film? Yes, and more. And viewers familliar with Leone only through his spagetti westerns are in for a surprise: Leone is a world-class film-maker here, capable of stunning beauty and cruelty, often within the same frame.

Does it really need to be this slow? Does the flashback to childhood need to be almost and hour and a half long (don't worry--it's absorbing enough in its own right to keep you from noticing)? Does the the chronology need to be so screwy? Does that darn phone need to ring so long? Absolutely.

Fans of Woods, DeNiro, Leone, or gangster movies in general canot afford to pass this film up. The supporting cast, especially the young actors playing the gang members in thier childhood, is also consistently stellar. Best viewed on a cold wintry afternoon when you've got plenty of time. Opium not provided.


Brilliant   May 3, 2000
Boyd Baker (Florida)
52 out of 54 found this review helpful

When "Once Upon A Time in America" was initially released, there wasn't much of a stir in America due to the well-documented excision of around an hour and half of footage. But, on its release to home video, the restored, uncut version was suddenly available to American viewers. Thank God. This is a deeply moving, emotionally-wrenching film that deserves its ranks in the annals of some of the greatest motion pictures ever filmed. Movie lovers will delight in this film from frame to frame. Top-notch performances, extended sequences with attention to detail that rival the best Kubrick films, and plot twists told through inventive flashback sequences make this a movie-lovers paradise.

I remember when it first came out, I was mesmerized by it for three reasons. Firstly, when it was released there was possibly never a more violent film than this one, with the possible exception of Scarface. Thus, the action is first-rate. Secondly, the performances were all compelling. One performance that went overlooked, I think, was Tuesday Weld's volatile performance as the damaged and emotionally scarred girlfriend of the equally volatile Woods. DeNiro, of course, holds every scene he's in; there's a great sequence in the film involving crooked cop Danny Aiello and a sick practical joke played on him by the gangsters seeking to influence him; additionally, a young Jennifer Connelly gives a fine performance as the childhood sweetheart of one of the gang-members. Thirdly, the pacing of the film was deliberately extended in several sequences to allow for Ennio Morricone's haunting, melancholic, and most deeply felt musical score. When Morricone's music swells, so collectively do we, and the play on the screen becomes the ultimate tragedy that can never have a happy ending.

Some of the visuals of the film are especially striking, not the least of which is the aerial shot of DeNiro lying under a mesh cover on a mattress in an opium den, grinning goofily while he allows the opium to take its effect, and wipe away the memories of his betrayal. Other standout visuals include the shot of a frisbee flying through the air to introduce yet another flashback sequence, the opening sequences of horrifying violence, and a final sequence involving a garbage truck.

All of this together creates an unforgettable movie experience, one that will stay with the viewer for a long time.


It is permenantly etched in my memory   April 10, 1999
46 out of 50 found this review helpful

I've just finished watching Sergio Lione's beautiful, long, violent masterpiece. I've mentioned long , as unlike many others I feel it is one the movie's best qualities. For the 1 1/2 hour flashback, is so poetically realised you can almost smell New York, and by the time the movie is over you truly feel that you have lived their lives. As the movie opens the phone is ringing, and its only after repeated viewings do you realise this symbolic of De Niro(noodles)'s guilt for turning his friend in , and as he belives cuasing his death. It this level of detail in every frame, and the contrast of Ennio Morricon's second best score( after The Mission) with the violence, that make this film experience truly special. Watch it alone, watch it repeatedly, and please stay away from the crime against cinema that is the shortened version. Note:I truly think had this film been released in its full length in the U.S. , it would have beat Ghandi to best picture, and given Mr.Lione a very deserved oscar, but the incoherent shortend version obviously didn't even get nominated.


Quite Possibly The Greatest Film Ever Made   March 10, 2002
Giuseppe Randazzo (Brooklyn, New York United States)
24 out of 24 found this review helpful

Now, I am by no means a Sergio Leone fan, but he deserved the Oscar for Direction for this film. I firmly believe that this film stands up there with "The Godfather, Part II", "Casablanca", and "Citizen Kane" as one of the greatest films ever released (maybe the best). Sergio Leone's violent, visual, masterpiece of turn of the century Jewish boys from New York growing into a life of crime has a different effect on all those who have viewed it in its various forms. I, personally have never seen the shortened version so I can not comment on it. There isn't anything in this film that isn't worth the four hour running time. Brilliant, poetic visuals, great photography and fantastic performances across the board.

Leone touches on issues of violence (the scenes are gory and sometimes explicit), sexual depravity (its no coincidence that all sexual encounters are in unconventional places and only in Noodles' rape of Deborah does he exhibit any kind of emotion toward any of his partners, gently caressing and kissing her as he violates her in a pathetic attempt to show his love), and simply growing old (brought about by the reminisces of Noodles' childhood with a beautiful good 'ol days type feeling despite the criminal nature of his childhood) and leaves us clamoring for more after the four hours are through.

Robert DeNiro is fantastic as always as Noodles. But it is James Woods, in my opinion that steals the show as Max. William Forsythe, Treat Williams, Danny Aiello, Burt Young, Joe Pesci, Jennifer Connely and Tuesday Weld add to this film just as actors of their quality are expected to. Their performances, as well as the two leads at the very least deserved, but didn't recieve any, Academy Award nominations. (In fact, the Oscars were the only ceremony to snub this film). Ennio Morricone's score was as beautiful and evocative as one would expect from the master of the Italian score.

Worth seeing. Sit back, take the phone off the hook and prepare for a cinematic experience.


This masterpiece will leave you haunted by it's tragedy.   August 28, 2002
26 out of 28 found this review helpful

I firmly believe that there are works of art that are simply a masterpiece in itself irregardless of whether or not popular culture recognizes it to be so. "Once Upon A Time in America" is the four hour culmination of a visionary director's career; it is a stellar work of grandiose filmaking and, more importantly, passionate storytelling that is lost in current filmaking. The compliments are often bestowed upon its cinematography and while the color and feel of the movie is perfect and gorgeous, the many complaints about its length and confusing plotline is ungrounded. The movie is quite worth the 227 minutes playtime and makes sense well enough when isn't cut into a shorter version.

Leone's masterpiece is often compared to the Godfather series and often comes up the less favorable brother of the two. Personally, while I see why the Godfather is an infinitely more appealing film to the mass public, I dont agree that those movies were in any way better. "America" does not glorify it's characters and that is where the tragedy and beauty lies in this film. Leone creates an artistically beautiful film to watch, but his actors beautifully, and tragically [sometimes violently], humanize their respective characters. This is a story not about a hero to root and love, but a story about an innately good Jewish boy who found himself torn between two paths in life and finding himself consistently making the wrong, violent choices that force him into a criminal life full of regret. Robert de Niro and his younger counterpart Scott Tiler do an amazing job capturing the angry innocence of this young man that grows old to be a troubled man. They deliver stoic performances depicting "Noodles" [the main character] that leaves one pitying the older De Niro and aching for the younger Scott Tiler that went from being just a dreaming street punk to a haunted criminal. Also wonderful performances by Jennifer Connelly as his younger love interest and James Woods as de Niro's doppleganger.

This is a movie that leaves an haunting impression behind. There is a palpable regret and tragedy following the protagonist throughout an entire lifetime. This is a story about the choices we all make as humans and how a single moment in error can change the entire course of one's life and in some ways, even rob you of it. This is a movie worth renting once, at least. The dvd has not been released in the US yet, but a dvd version has been released from a Brazilian company, for those who are interested, and can be attained with effort. Amazing movie that will leave you remembering it, if not loving it for its tragedy.