Once Upon A Time In America [DVD] [1984]

Ok, when reviewing an auteur like Sergio Leone, you can only compare his films with other movies he has made, and not with other films of the era. Sergio Leone has to be my favorite director, with Jean Pierre Melville second, and both men were Americaphiles, but Melville's films never left France while Leone rewrote the American Western.I first saw this movie in 1984 in New York, where I saw the American edit, which shows the story in chronological order, ie: the gang's childhood first, and then as adult criminals. I was also living in the Lower East Side, where a lot of the story is set. There was still enough of the old neighbour left at that time and a fading Jewish community to compare the movie with the real locations, and this film captures life in a Jewish Shtetl (ghetto), as if it were yesterday. The sets and locations are amazing, and most of this could not be filmed today, even with the best CGI. But is this a good film?Before this, Sergio Leone had made five westerns, all of which are masterpieces. This movie was the last of his Once upon a time trilogy, the first, Once Upon A time in the West, and then A Fist full of Dynomite, a rather bad title for a film that should have been called, Once Upon a Time in a Revolution. This Once Upon a Time, is based on a book called The Hoods by Harry Grey, a fictionalised version of real people and real events in the Prohibition era. It is more or less the story of Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel and other Jewish mobsters of the time. Leone spent years trying to develop this book into a film, and the screenplay has six writers! And this is of this film's problems, there is too much story here.Although we need to know the rise and fall of a criminal gang, there is way too much time spent on their childhood, however there isn't too many films that spends as much time as this on a childhood life in a ghetto, only City of God comes close, so just for that, it is a true original. This really is a film of two parts, childhood and adulthood.The adulthood part of this movie is pretty much a rise and fall story, with a "who done it?" plot, and that is how the movie starts, or at least, this edit starts. On first seeing, the first 30 mins is a mystery. The whys? and whats? of the plot very slowly unfold, until we are get to the childhood part, and only then does the story start. The story covers a lot real events in New York crime history, but with a lot of changes to names and times to protect the guilty, as the original book was published in 1952 when many of these people were still alive, and like the Godfather, the guilty know who they are, so I look at this movie as a piece of ficalinsed American criminal history.This film doesn't also look beautiful, it sounds beautiful too. I have seen Ennio Morricone in concert 3 times, and the music from this film has to be his most popular, and to hear it live is something I can't explain, but only to say, it is an amazing experience. The music was composed 8 years before production, and the actors would hear the music while on set, and I believed this helps the acting a lot, as acting is all about rhythm. Robert De Niro is at his method acting best here, as well as all the rest of the actors, many of whom turn up again in other gangster classics.Sadly, this movie was a financial flop. Although critics liked it, it didn't make any money and was Sergio Leone last film as he died 5 years later in 1989. He was planning on making a film about the siege of Leningrad that had a budget of 100 million dollars, but had no script! You can see how much he loved this movie, and it is a masterpiece, but it does have its flaws.Before directing this movie, Sergio Leone hadn't really directed a film since 1971. He did produce a few films in this time, but he had made so much money with his Dollars films, which in today's money made billions, he never had to make another film again in his life, and here is the problem. By the time of this release, cinema audiences had changed,and since Star Wars, demanded quicker stories and plots, also, there is a rape scene in it that doesn't need to be there. It is uncomfortable viewing, and doesn't drive the plot or story, but still it is great film, and you can only judge it for the times it was set in.I love all of Sergio Leone's films, and this movie is as good as his others, although my favorite is Once Upon a Time in the West, I can watch all again and again, and still find something new in them. This movie is a lesson in excellence, and should be viewed as such.

Sergio Leone’s epic crime drama and first departure from a long run of Westerns. Once Upon a Time in America sees a former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster (Robert De Niro) return to the Lower East Side of Manhattan over thirty years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.The word ‘epic’ is a term used too lightly very frequently when discussing film and other media, however in terms of narrative scope, focus and presentation there is no better word to describe this film. At a monumental near 4 hour runtime the film explores Noodles (De Niro) as a teenager starting out in crime in 1918 all the way through to him returning to the city in the late 60’s. Presented in a non-linear fashion, the film is masterfully structured and flows seamlessly between each section as the story plays out.Due to the substantial runtime the film is truly able to explore and go in depth in all three sections of Noodles’ life and is one of the most thoroughly immersive and engaging Manhattan’s ever put to screen. Seeing how the city lives, breathes and changes over time as its characters grow older is fascinating and completely captivating. From the large section spent on Noodles’ youth, as he and his group of friends are loose causing trouble and making smart deals on the streets, the film captures a sense of freedom and adventure perfectly and contrasts this with some truly gut punching moments when the realities of the streets hit. At the top of their game there is a glamour yet vicious feel to the proceedings and when Noodles returns 30 years later the city is a shell of what it once was with those he knew either having moved on from the city or from life in general.The visual style and set design of the film is masterful. The sheer amount of detail, props and extras that are on display is jaw dropping and completely transports you to the era that the film is set. The cavernous wide roads of the city feel gargantuan when the young gang run through them and the location cinematography is masterful. The gunfights and hits are savagely bloody and visceral with sharp camerawork and the lighting and shadow usage as an older Noodles walks the streets and visits his old haunts is excellent at crafting a somber atmosphere. The score from the late Ennio Morricone is perfect, integrating his famous Western tones with a jazzier of the era style and the diegetic usage of the panpipes is very effective as well.This is certainly one of De Niro’s mister understated performances and though his career is filled with iconic roles this I feel deserves more of a mention in discussion. Clearly inspiring his performance in The Irishman, De Niro brings many layers to Noodles and we are completely invested in his character despite some of the despicable acts he commits. Nailing the intimidating gangster archetype he is known for and also the quieter more subdued older sections where he still manages to be imposing. James Wood is brilliant as Max, Noodles’ best friend, cocky, cunning and with a vicious temper, their chemistry is very believable and the tension in the dramatic moments between them is well crafted. Joe Pesci has a smaller role here but leaves a significant impression on the story. All the main supporting cast are excellent overall and as are the young actors playing them as teens who do a great job for a substantial amount of the film.Once Upon a Time in America is a masterpiece, not just within its own genre but in film as a whole. Feeling like a true life’s journey and showing us all the most personal and intimate details bad or good of the world of crime, through the lens of a legendary director. The world building and visual presentation is outstanding and the performances deliver all around. Essential viewing.

Quedé realmente impresionado con esta historia. Hay partes donde se nota que agregaron las escenas, ya que NO fueron debidamente restauradas, y se nota la antigüedad de las mismas. Tiene una duración de 4 horas con 11 minutos, incluyendo el "Intermedio". Llegó el día programado, y en perfectas condiciones.A continuación, las características técnicas de audio, y subtítulos:- audio original en inglés 5.1 Dolby Digital;- subtítulos en inglés SDH, francés y español. Queridos compradores de películas físicas de Amazon, dejen decomentar que la película sería "perfecta" si estuviera "doblada alespañol". Eso es algo muy irrelevante, sin importancia. Cada vez que vea un comentario de ese tipo, lo voy a reportar, porque es demasiado desagradable esa clase de comentarios tan fuera de lugar. ¡Gracias, Amazon México!

The product came on time. The item was as described and was good entertainment.

BUENA EDICION EN DVD EDICION COLECCIONISTA CON 2 DISCOS A MUY BUEN PRECIO.

Für gewöhnlich handelt es sich ja bei Geschichten, die mit "Es war einmal..." beginnen, um Märchen. Nur ist es mir durch die kunstvolle Erzählstruktur beim ersten Ansehen anfänglich gar nicht aufgefallen, dass "Es war einmal in Amerika" von Sergio Leone weit mehr ist, als nur ein gelungener Gangster-Film. Das Meisterwerk spielt auf drei verschiedenen Zeitebenen, erst nach und nach ergibt sich ein schlüssiges Gesamtbild. Es ist tatsächlich ein Märchen mit melancholischem Blick auf vergangene Zeiten und Freundschaften. Episch, einfühlsam und für die damalige Zeit unorthodox zugleich!Die Figuren der Geschichte sind allesamt ambivalent. Leones italienisches Auge reflektiert die Motive der zynischen, stark kapitalistisch geprägten New Yorker. Die Saga zeigt die mitunter dramatischen Auswirkungen des Hintergehens, des Hintergangenwerdens, des Missbrauchs und des Missbrauchtwerdens. Den raffinierten Aufbau dieses Filmes kann man wahrscheinlich auf die zehnjährige Vorbereitungszeit zurückführen. Entstanden ist ein Jahrhundert-Film.Ein geheimnisvoller Brief lockt den ehemaligen Alkoholschmuggler David "Noodles" Aaronson (Robert De Niro) 1968 zurück an die Lower East Side von New York City. Die Vergangenheit lastet immer noch schwer auf ihm. Die Ziele von Noodles und Max (James Woods), seinem besten Freund aus Kindertagen, entwickelten sich in den 30er Jahren in verschiedene Richtungen und kollidieren derart miteinander, dass es zu einer Tragödie mit mehreren Todesfällen kam. Seit dieser Zeit lebt "Noodles" unter falschem Namen in einer fremden Stadt. Es ergeben sich mehrere Fragen. Wer war damals hinter ihm her? Wo ist die Million Dollar geblieben? Warum wurde ihm der Brief geschickt? Und warum wurden die sterblichen Überreste von Patrick „Patsy“ Goldberg, Philip „Cockeye“ Stein und Maximilian "Max" Bercowicz in ein Mausoleum überführt?Die wehmütigen Emotionen von Noodles werden hauptsächlich durch die einfühlsame Musik von Ennio Morricone greifbar, während die Bilder eher nüchtern berichten. Und diese Bilder haben es in sich. Der Klassiker besteht aus einer Vielzahl ikonischer Szenen, die einfach unvergessen bleiben. Wie die Szene in welcher der junge Noodles Fat Moes Schwester Deborah (Jennifer Conelly), durch eine Lücke im Gemäuer, beim Tanzen in der sonnendurchfluteten Lagerhalle beobachtet. Jedoch kann in diesem, von Korruption, Machtmissbrauch und Brutalität bestimmten, Umfeld keine Liebe aufkommen.Die Bildsprache des Filmes ist nach klassischen Gesichtspunkten einfach perfekt! Sie besitzt die Ausdrucksstärke und Eindringlichkeit einer Graphic Novel. Die markanten Gesichter sind voller Persönlichkeit und Charakter. Die Dialoge oft knapp, denn Blicke sagen bei diesem Regisseur mehr als Worte. Und subtile Metaphern wie die alte Uhr runden die Aussage noch weiter ab.Das zweideutige Ende mit dem lächelnden Robert De Niro verleitet den Zuschauer noch einmal alles, was er an dem Film verstanden zu haben glaubt, in Frage zu stellen. Mir gefallen beide Interpretationen.Möglichkeit A: Am Ende stellt sich alles als Illusion heraus. Und der Amerikanische Traum bleibt ein Traum! Alleine in der Opiumhöhle wirkt Noodles zufrieden. Halluzinierend. Berauscht von einer idealisierten Vorstellung der Zukunft, die niemals real werden wird.Möglichkeit B: Von seinem pochenden Gewissen geplagt fantasiert sich "Noodles" im Opiumrausch eine alternative Zukunft zurecht. Verdeutlicht wird dies durch den enervierenden Klingelton des Telefon, der den Verrat symbolisiert. Er träumt sich in die Rolle des Büsenden, indem er den Verrat umkehrt. Außerdem eliminiert er Eve, die immer nur eine Trophäe für ihn war, aus seinem Leben. Sie ist nichts als ein Ersatz für Deborah, von der er sich Vergebung erhofft. Zumindest wünscht er sich noch ein Mal mit ihr zu reden."Es war einmal in Amerika" stellt für mich die Speerspitze eines ganzen Genres dar. Trotz der Überlänge fühlt er sich immer noch zu kurz an. Nie war der Gangster-Film poetischer und tiefgründiger! Man muss die Figuren nicht mögen, wenn sie jedoch aufeinanderprallen liefern sie den Stoff für ein aufwühlendes Drama. Die Emotionen, die sie hervorrufen, sind so launisch und wechselhaft wie das Leben selbst.

Exactly what I ordered. Thank you so much! :)