Once Upon A Time In America

Fantastic film! I watched it for the first time in many years last night. I’m a big gangster film fan but this film is really on a different level. What great performances all around and a masterful job by Sergio Leone. Caught it on Netflix. Curious that I rarely see it broadcast.

 

End scene.
Opium dream?

 

I never ever bought that theory.

I agree great film, but even greater in the longest version possible...which is still to come if rights are ever cleared.

 

I think I saw it first at the theater, years ago. I picked up the DVD with extended footage and I watch it every couple of years. The childhood scenes have a magical quality for me.

 

I never bought the opium theory either. Interesting though.

 

I've owned the movie 4ever and have watched it many times. I've never even HEARD of the opium theory!

 

I found the scene of Noodles’ rape of Deborah very disturbing. Did he just grossly misunderstand her intentions?

 

Real shame it's on TV so rarely. Absolutely fantastic movie, one of the greatest ever made imo. And an epic soundtrack, love to spin the vinyl from time to time

 

James Woods/Max ..little bitty tear looked unconvincing, hey a least the garbage truck acknowledged it.

 

I think the "line up" for measurement scene jumped the shark for me.

 

I think Noodles had psychological problems and his perceived rejection/humiliation was a breaking point. I think lots of this comes from PTSD. Dude just wasn't right in the head.

As for the rest, well we got Hateful Eight love saying that this is great cinema.

OUATIA is a classic that is devoid of flaws. A "long" movie actually done correctly.

 

Tuesday Weld, I was shocked.

 

Great movie. My only complaint is that phone rang WAY too long.

 

I still hear that like the fade out in Pink Floy's Animals Dogs song with the repeat STONE...stone...stone....

I feel like saying the N.W.A Parental Discretion Iz Advised last sentence.

 

In the theatrical cut, it rings once. It is NOT an improvement. ​

 

Saw it in first theatrical release- brilliant but flawed. Saw it countless times thereafter in different cuts- always great.

 

A great film! Here are the two covers for the US release. The second
one is the longer cut. I just read that Martin Scorsese is helping the
children of Sergio Leone to get the rights to the complete film so I
believe there could be a third & final complete version released.

 

been a favorite of ours since it first hit...we watch it every year...LOVE IT!
a third & final complete version would be most welcomed.

 

What I love the most about it is...it is not a "gangster film" (IMHO, YMMV).

It's a film about the corruption of lives worthy of so much more, but having their innocence ripped away from them not because of their choices, but the choices foisted upon them.

How does this differ from a "gangster film"? Because these are not gangsters: they are rats in a maze. You could instead consider this a "prison film". And the prison is their life in the world they inhabit.

A world so cold and desolate, that the only hope and beauty involves listening to Zamfir, the Master of the Pan Flute. How's THAT for the Cosmic Joke...?

 

There's never been any argument that's explained (in any terms) that scene for me. It's a real problem for the film.

 

a masterpiece from a master. I haven't scene it in eons, I should track it down

 

Is Deborah David's mother?

 

Yup.

 

An underrated movie best watched in its 229 cut.