Once Upon a Time in
America could be described as Sergio Leone’s forgotten masterpiece, for
while this labour of love about American East coast gangsters is held in high
esteem today it hasn’t penetrated pop culture to the same degree as his
Spaghetti Westerns.
Released in 1984, it stars Robert De Niro and James Woods in
a tale of the rise and fall of a Jewish gang in early 20th century
New York. This is a rich, poetic and moving chronicle filled with dark humour,
suspense and brutality. Leone’s ability to recreate the past reaches its pinnacle
and thoroughly absorbs one into the period. To get an impression of the
picture, imagine a dream you don’t want to end filled with the hallmarks
of a Scorsese classic and The Great
Gatsby set to a magnificent
Morricone score. The film was Leone’s response to The Godfather (a project Leone previously turned down), which he
felt romanticised the underworld. Leone doesn’t even give the criminals
anti-hero status due to a desire to portray them unsympathetically, which is
why the film is filled with horrific moments that would still shock today’s
audience.
The film’s length was its downfall, the studio savaged the
film in the editing room leading to the original worldwide release being panned
by critics, shunned by audiences and leaving Leone heartbroken. This was
Leone’s last picture before his death in 1989, but movie advocates continue to
press to see more of the director’s original vision. A 229-minute version with
an intermission is available for viewing and there is currently an effort,
headed by Martin Scorsese, to restore the 269-minute director’s cut. Do look
over the film’s length because it certainly isn’t too long and if you disagree you share the view of studio-execs
who are unwisely given responsibility with scissors.
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