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Once Upon a Time in America [DVD] [1984] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] starring: Robert De Niro, James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Young

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Rating: - "I've got to get where i'm going....to the top."

Cinema audiences 25 years ago in USA saw the 140 min version of this movie. Now we have the 228 min version on VHS and DVD. 228 min is a long bum-numbing time in front of the TV and unfortunately the great director Leone lost his magic touch during this movie.

Regarding the plot, "Noodles" Aaronson (Robert De Niro) receives a mysterious job offer and returns to New York after a thirty-year absence. He tries to discern the identity of his prospective employer by recounting the events of his past. Noodles reminisces about the good times he had with his old gang of friends and the woman he loved since his youth, the fetching Deborah Gelly (Jennifer Connelly/Elizabeth McGovern). He also reflects upon the criminal endeavours he engaged in and wonders whether the sins of his past have finally caught up with him.

There is much to admire about "Once Upon A Time in America." The production design accurately recreates industrialised America at the turn of the twentieth century. The acting is first-rate with the adult cast turning in passionate and savage performances and the youthful ensemble doing astounding work in the flashback sequences.

The Ennio Morricone soundtrack is as lush and memorable as his earlier masterpieces on the Leone westerns. However, Once Upon a Time in America is overlong and curiously devoid of the energetic spark that powered Leone's earlier brilliant Westerns. Perhaps the years were catching up with him but Leone's direction has a listless quality to it this time around. His "darker" filmmaking approach in this film also does not help matters as it gives an uneasy and disturbing feel to the events of the story. There are some admirable narrative turns toward the end and the DVD release features the original cut of the film instead of the heavily-edited original American theatrical version. Yet, the positives are overshadowed by the negatives in the end and "Once Upon A Time in America" ultimately comes across as a disappointment.

Rating: - a paradise lost regained and lost again

a lost paradise regained to be lost again in the realms of time and tyranny of existence ,
for me this is 229minutes of pure NIRVANA,
the best movie ever from america and culminating the neo classic with modern cinema like caravaggio would merge with manet,the highest achievement in art,

leone leaves no stone unturned and it is delightful to see most sensible audience calling it a masterpiece as indeed everything from the haunting unforgettable score to the emotionally scarring theme of LOST LOVE AND FORGOTTEN MEMORIES is portrayed brilliantly in every glorious frame with deniro at his charismatic best as is the rest of the cast with james woods stealing the show and elizabeth mcgovern giving the perfect impression of a cod classical beauty .
but it is leone himself who surpasses every maker in recent times to give cinema a virtual jewel in the crown,this hallmarks the final arrival of style and realism from europe to embrace the gloss and energy of american cinema,this also marks the spirit of an artist who withstood the studio onslaughts to bring home his swansong,
viva de leone

the jewish mafia has never looked so menacing yet so original in their motivation sweeping through prohibition and their own demons .

the fragmented memories of an old man who is revisiting his lost love and deceptive friends after a self imposed exile sets a haunting tone which will always echo in your heart and mind if you have any sensitivity left in your contemporary modern consumer soul.

the mystery that lost love can be so enchanting is explored enigmatically by leone with a musical score that sets a landmark for cinema as it even exceeds the classic doctor zhivago in its mood setting and atmospheric charm .
the meticulous recreation of opium dens and gang street wars with waltzing on island piers and forced sexual encounters in classic plush limousines are indeed great cinema which is a magnum opus of blood and sweat set with alluring style and scorching genius .

the four friends and their lost friendship fascinates in every fragment and frame and this is an amazing monument the creative spirit of human mind.

a refreshing masterpiece which is immensely watchable at all times in all moods .

Rating: - SERGIO VS THE STUDIO

This epic film rightly belongs at the top of the Gangster genre as does 'Once Upon A Time In The West' in the Western genre. Call Sergio's final work boring, long, overrated, confusing, etc, then you've probably watched too many blockbusters; 'The Godfather' (the one with Brando) being one of them.

Upon release of OUATIA, Sergio went to war with the studio over his envisioned non-linear (229 minutes or more) version, and THEIR pointless alternative short-linear-version (Americans only). All this after many years in development. It was in Sergio's mind before plans for 'Once Upon A Time In The West'. THEY also "forgot to enter Ennio Morricone's score" (for Academy Award) as producer Arnon Milchan says in the extras on the DVD version. What a crime!
We Brit's gave Ennio's score a BAFTA award instead.

De Niro is excellent in his role as the gangster without glory. My favourite De Niro character is "Noodles". His definitive gangster role, along with young Vito Corleone in 'The Godfather' (Part 2). Forget obvious roles like Jimmy Conway in 'Goodfellas' or Johnny Boy in 'Mean Streets'. This De Niro character is thoughtful, mysterious, and crude. Also some great career defining roles from James Woods, Tuesday Weld, Elizabeth McGovern, Danny Aiello (excellent as police chief), and the younger actors playing the leads (great as little thugs). I thought a young Jennifer Connelly was superb (her first film I believe).

I found this different from other gangster films. The authentic detail and photography gives you a feel of the period, especially in the 20's and 30's sections. You can almost smell the grime in various street locations, and admire the beauty in scenes like the restaurant where Noodles dines with Deborah. The music also connects you to the period too. Another excellent score from Mr Morricone.

Violence is vulgar/obscene in this film and sometimes uncomfortable to watch, adding to the ugliness and meaning of the genre. The 'diamond robbery scene' and the 'raping of Deborah' an example. Not suitable for the squeamish types.

The DVD version has the inconvenient stop right after the wasting ("Kids Stuff"!) of Joe and his gang, and not at the 'Intermission'. Did it spoil YOUR viewing?

Either love it or loathe it. This film is without a doubt an excellent finale for a much missed film director!

I was MOVED by this film!

WELL DONE SERGIO!

THIS FILM IS UGLY AND SMELLY! THE WAY A 'GANGSTER FILM' SHOULD BE!!

Rating: - SERGIO LEONE'S EPIC GANGSTER FILM

Once Upon A Time In America [1984]
The leading hero in Sergio Leone's dreaming epic is not James Woods nor is it Elizabeth McGovern. Nor for all the excellence in his performance is it Robert de Niro. The main character in this film is `TIME'. The theme is one that has always fascinated Mr. Leone. One could point to some of the more obvious symbols in his earlier films, like the handless clocks that litter the landscape in Once Upon A Time In The West or the musical pocket watch in For A Few Dollars More. That was a continuous reminder of rape and revenge and was used to time the final shoot - out. In Once Upon A Time in America, the item which brings the young Noodles (Robert de Niro) and Max (James Woods) together in their life - time of crime is a stolen pocket - watch and it passes between them throughout the film as a kind of `talisman'. The all - important keys that can open the left - luggage locker, where the gang stores the loot is a Grandfather Clock. Quite literally Sergio Leone is saying, the key to the mystery is in the clock. In strict chronological terms the film is divided into three phases. (1): 1923: the adolescent gang of Noodles, Max, Cockeye and Dominic is formed on the lower east side of Manhattan. (2)1933: When after several successful years of trading in Hooch, the end of prohibition spells an end to the gang's activities, as a result of which Max tries to pull an ambitious bank raid and Noodles, anxious to avoid their destruction in this mad scheme, betrays them to the police and they are all slaughtered in the rain; and (3)1968: when Noodles after anonymously living in Buffalo in a self imposed exile for thirty - five years returns to New York, summoned by a strange letter which seems to hold a solution to the mysteries he has been pondering while in exile. The film recreates the starting point of 1968. It then, shifts teasingly backwards and forwards in time, in much the same way that human memory does. It may not be much, but it is everything that is Cinema.

Rating: - Over-rated epic

I was rather disappointed with a film that went on far too long (during the last hour I was continually fast forwarding the action). It is always a good idea to enable the viewer to empathise with the main characters - in this film there was actually nothing to like about any of the main characters. At times the dialogue plodded along and I was waiting for something of note to happen - it very rarely did! Boring and not a patch on the Godfather or Goodfellas.

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