As a cinephile who has spent countless hours poring over films from the golden age of cinema, I can confidently say that Once Upon a Time in America is a must-watch for any serious movie enthusiast. This epic period drama, directed by the legendary Sergio Leone, is a masterful work of art that was unfortunately overlooked during its initial release in 1984 but has since been reevaluated as an underappreciated masterpiece.
As a devoted cinephile, I can’t contain my excitement! The legendary epic period drama, “Once Upon a Time in America,” featuring Robert De Niro’s unforgettable portrayal of a mobster, is making its way to Paramount+ on November 1, 2024. Originally released in 1984, this masterpiece was initially overlooked in the U.S., earning only $5.5 million against a production budget of $30 million. However, over time, it has been rightfully hailed as a classic.
The movie was helmed by Sergio Leone, a prominent figure in Spaghetti Westerns who is famously recognized for films like “A Fistful of Dollars” (1964), “Once Upon a Time in the West” (1968), and “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966). This production, featuring James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Treat Williams, and Burt Young among its cast, boasts one of the longest playtimes in cinematic history.
Originally, “Once Upon a Time in America” ran for 269 minutes, but this was shortened to 251 minutes when it was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2012. Later, the standard runtime became 229 minutes, while the American release version was significantly cut down to just 139 minutes. Here’s a brief summary of the movie: [Movie Title] plot summary goes here.
1968 finds David ‘Noodles’ Aaronson, portrayed by Robert De Niro, back in New York City. In the 20s and 30s, he was deeply involved in the city’s criminal underworld. Many of his old associates, such as his longtime partner Max (played by James Woods), have passed away, but Noodles can’t shake the feeling that his past is still unresolved. The story unfolds through a series of flashbacks, tracing Noodles’ transformation from a rough kid in a Jewish slum on New York’s Lower East Side to a bootlegger and eventually, a Mafia boss. This journey was marked by violence, deceit, and regret.
The Italian movie director found himself with ten hours of footage to manage after the film’s production wrapped up, yet he was compelled to reduce it to six hours and more. However, the film faced extremely negative reviews during the 1980s, causing significant distress to the filmmaker. Tragically, Leone passed away from a heart attack in 1989 at the age of 60. Nevertheless, Once Upon a Time in America continues to be one of his most celebrated films, leaving an enduring impact on cinema enthusiasts.
Why You Should Watch Once Upon a Time in America
Initially, “Once Upon a Time in America” was met with failure at the box office in the 1980s, but over time it has been reappraised like numerous other epic films that initially underperformed (such as “Heaven’s Gate”). Interestingly, the narrative unfolds chronologically: from the 1910s, through the 1930s, and into the 1960s. However, when the studio divided the film into three different versions, much of its unique character was sacrificed, resulting in a disjointed production that met with failure in the 1980s.
Should you manage to obtain the director’s version, “Once Upon a Time in America” is likely to swiftly find a place among your most cherished films. This is due to the fact that it beautifully encapsulates Sergio Leone’s ardor for storytelling. In truth, this film has garnered impressive reviews, boasting an 86% critics score and 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes – a feat few films can achieve. Notably, Gene Siskel named it his favorite movie of 1984, while Roger Ebert also held it in high regard, describing it in his personal blog as follows:
As a passionate cinephile, I can confidently say that the original “Once Upon a Time in America” truly deserves a four-star rating. On the other hand, the shortened version of this masterpiece falls woefully short and is a significant disappointment to fans of the genre.
Instead of watching the abridged version of the movie, it might be more rewarding to see the extended or “director’s cut” when it becomes available on Paramount+. This version maintains many of the film’s stunning visuals and develops the character interactions that underpin the larger narrative.
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2024-10-27 21:05