Featured Audience Ratings

• Carlos M

  
  Now available in a four-hour director's cut, Leone's supreme masterpiece is a magnificent epic - superbly directed, full of fantastic performances and with a beautiful story about friendship and betrayal that culminates in a profoundly bitter, achingly sad ending.

• Graham J

  
  It's hard to judge this masterpiece when thinking about Coppola and Scorsese's more well known gangster flicks or even to compare it to Leone's earlier westerns. It's unlike any other of his films as far pacing, energy etc. On the other hand, it is a truly epic,… More
  It's hard to judge this masterpiece when thinking about Coppola and Scorsese's more well known gangster flicks or even to compare it to Leone's earlier westerns. It's unlike any other of his films as far pacing, energy etc. On the other hand, it is a truly epic, amazing look at the life of two individuals. The detail and deepness to the story is great.

• Colin M

  
  "Once Upon a Time in America" is a stunning, lengthy, and novel-esque narration of three pivotal years (1922, 1933, and 1967) in the lives of two Jewish New York Gang members, Noodles and Max. The non-linear depiction of events, the brilliant imagery, the soundtrack, and… More
  "Once Upon a Time in America" is a stunning, lengthy, and novel-esque narration of three pivotal years (1922, 1933, and 1967) in the lives of two Jewish New York Gang members, Noodles and Max. The non-linear depiction of events, the brilliant imagery, the soundtrack, and amazing acting on behalf of Robert De Niro and James Woods make this film perfect, and it honestly defies categorization. "Once.." is not merely a gangster tale, but is more like a Dickens' novel in the vein of David Copperfield or Great Expectations. Every minute of its nearly 5 hours of duration is worth it, and one feels disappointed that the tale is told when the credits role. I could not possibly more highly rate a film, and I believe that it is as rewarding, entertaining, and fulfilling as any novel can be, and it should be elevated to a much higher regard. 89 percent simply doesn't cut it. 100 percent does. Find 5 hours during a dark night to ABSORB this masterpiece and don't you dare miss as single minute of it.

• Liam G

  
  A haunting, powerful, compelling, superbly-acted, visually beautiful and bold film from Sergio Leone. One of Robert De Niro's greatest performances as well. This crime epic is not only one of my favourites of the 1980s, it is in my top 5 favourite films of all-time.

• Idrees K

  
  An epic film, in both length and pure awesomeness.

• Mark W

  
  Numerous excellent crime sagas have been made over the years and at the top of most peoples lists tend to be "The Godfather parts I & II", "Goodfellas" and some would even have "Scarface". Although these are superb inclusions in the genre, this Sergio… More
  Numerous excellent crime sagas have been made over the years and at the top of most peoples lists tend to be "The Godfather parts I & II", "Goodfellas" and some would even have "Scarface". Although these are superb inclusions in the genre, this Sergio Leone masterpiece is the definitive and the real classic of them all. Based on the novel "The Hoods" by Harry Grey we are manificently told the story of David 'Noodles' Aaronson (Robert DeNiro) who, after several decades away, returns back to the lower east side of New York city where he grew up with his friends and became prominently involved in a Jewish life of crime. Having loved and lost throughout his time here, he reflects on what was a tumultuous time in his childhood (and young adulthood) and now in his twilight years, longs for answers to a fatal double-cross. Leone is better known for his spaghetti westerns and brings that same style from the dry barren western plains to the sprawling city of New York. Along with him, is composer Ennio Morricone and his idiosyncratic and masterful musical style. When these two combine their talents you know you're about to be treated to a wonderful storytelling experience. Just for good measure, throw in the iconic and most prodigious of screen actors in Robert DeNiro and what you have is a work of art. An absolute masterpiece of cinema. A multi-layerd epic that has such depth that it's yet to be matched. "The Godfather" saga has a similiar magnitude but only over three films. Leone manages to condence his elaborate tale in just under 4 hours. However, the original U.S. release was cut by 88mins, ceasing to make sense, with characters appearing and disappearing suddenly. This would explain why it didn't fare so well and shockingly wasn't even acknowledged for any awards. Although compellingly acted by DeNiro, this doesn't stand as his finest performance, but it certainly stands as his finest film and it's by far the best work that James Woods has delivered, as well as the impressive supporting cast of Tuesday Weld, Treat Williams, Joe Pesci and Jennifer Connelly is her film debut. It's all down to the excellence of Leone though and his stylish homage to the gangster film. It's long, it's engrossing and once all the pieces begin to fit together it's a quite heartbreaking story in it's telling, With it gorgeous art direction by Carlo Simi, it's heartwrenching soundtrack by Ennio Morricone and the magnitude of Sergio Leone's vision, it's one of the best films ever made. Sadly it was Leone's last but a virtuosa one to go out on.

• Mike S

  
  Mesmerizing crime epic and the most enjoyable film I've seen by Sergio Leone thus far. Spanning across several decades, it's a story that takes us on a journey like no other. Some may complain that it's slow, and to that I can agree, but at the same it makes wonderful… More
  Mesmerizing crime epic and the most enjoyable film I've seen by Sergio Leone thus far. Spanning across several decades, it's a story that takes us on a journey like no other. Some may complain that it's slow, and to that I can agree, but at the same it makes wonderful use of each of its 230 minutes. The atmosphere, the acting, the music and cinematography - all so excellent and grand that it's more a work of art than anything. I wouldn't say it's a masterpiece like so many others seem to do (for that it needs better pacing and more emotional impact in my view), but it's a fantastic film nevertheless and much better than I had imagined. A little too long for my liking, but certainly worth seeing just for its beautiful directing. If you enjoy films like <i>Goodfellas</i> and <i>A Bronx Tale</i>, then I can guarantee this story will have you captivated as well.

• Melvin W

  
  I don't hold it against anyone if they find it impossible to sit through this movie. It is incredibly slow. With that said, it is a fantastic movie. The power of the movie shows right through the slow pace and it begins to become hypnotizing. It is entertaining despite being slow… More
  I don't hold it against anyone if they find it impossible to sit through this movie. It is incredibly slow. With that said, it is a fantastic movie. The power of the movie shows right through the slow pace and it begins to become hypnotizing. It is entertaining despite being slow and all the performances are great. This may be James Woods best work.

• Kristijonas F

  
  This 229-minute behemoth in simply one of the most engrossing, stunning and emotionally heart-wrenching movies I've ever seen in my life. Sergio Leone's direction is not only visually bold but also hypnotic - and the performances he pulls out of Robert De Niro and James… More
  This 229-minute behemoth in simply one of the most engrossing, stunning and emotionally heart-wrenching movies I've ever seen in my life. Sergio Leone's direction is not only visually bold but also hypnotic - and the performances he pulls out of Robert De Niro and James Woods are career-defining.

• familiar s

  
  This epic masterpiece flick on love, lies and betrayal was simply not my cup of tea. Besides being slow, I didn't find the story engaging enough.

• Jeff "

  
  When you think of epic gangster/mafia films you immediately think of The Godfather and Goodfellas. Though two of the best of the genre, Once Upon A Time In America is one of the best, most unflinching and most brutal films in the gangster genre since The Godfather, it's also the… More
  When you think of epic gangster/mafia films you immediately think of The Godfather and Goodfellas. Though two of the best of the genre, Once Upon A Time In America is one of the best, most unflinching and most brutal films in the gangster genre since The Godfather, it's also the best since. If there's a film that can equal the power of The Godfather, it's Once Upon A Time In America. Sergio Leone had been planning this film for at least ten years. Leone was more than just a filmmaker, he was an artist. His camera his paintbrush, the celluloid his canvas. I like to think of Sergio Leone that way because his films truly defined the cinematic medium, his films were rich and detailed, if he could be compared to great artists, I'd compare him to Van Gogh, Monet and Goya. Once Upon A Time In America is a terrific film. It is Leone final say in the cinematic medium. Like everyone of Sergio Leone's masterworks, the film starts off slow and by the second hour things really take off. But with Leone, it's only normal as he was a storyteller with style. You can't start a story off with a bang, you have to tell it fvrom start up to the exciting middle and the explosive climax. This is the case with Leone's films. You think they'll be decent at best, but Leone manages to throw a curve ball and twist your senses and something that seemed a bit dull, is now very much exciting and thrilling. Thats what I love about Leone work, the element of surprise. A lot of reviews of the film have been positive, but many have claimed that this the worst Leone film. I strongly believe it's the case because they viewed the dreaded American cut version (134 Minutes) But if you view the full cut of the film (229 Minutes) My dad told me to skip this one, but I was curious and I love the gangster film genre, I love the old films as much as the new ones. I was blown away, the cast here is incredible. James Woods and Robert De Niro deliver jaw dropping performances. A powerful epic of three decades of crime, Once Upon A Time In America is one of the greatest crime films ever made. Many directors have made there mark in the genre, and now Sergio Leone has mastered the gangster film much like Francis Ford Coppola with The Godfather, Martin Scoresese with Goodfellas and maybe even Michael Mann with Heat. Despite this impressive array of films, Sergio Leone final master stroke remains one of the few gangster films that can hold a candle to The Godfather. A work of poignant genius from a man that made cinema into more than just a film making business. He turned films into a new art form of expression. Sergio Leone will always be seen as one of the greatest poets of film history. As for Once Upon A Time In America, view the uncensored complete cut of the film to experience Sergio Leone's true vision. Any less is an insult to Leone legacy.

• Cassandra M

  
  "Once Upon a Time in America" is a film set free of time; it spans many different years and, like "Citizen Kane," never tells the audience where it is. As many times as I watch it, I can never guess what is going to happen next. And watching "Once Upon a Time… More
  "Once Upon a Time in America" is a film set free of time; it spans many different years and, like "Citizen Kane," never tells the audience where it is. As many times as I watch it, I can never guess what is going to happen next. And watching "Once Upon a Time in America" on the new extended DVD is like revisiting an old friend, finally seeing a masterpiece in its entirety. Many people complained of the choppiness in the three-hour-version of the film originally released in 1984 - and the new four hour version puts all the pieces together and is truly marvelous to behold. This is the dirty, gritty version of "The Godfather." It has an incredible amount of violence, especially for a film made almost twenty years ago. I'm not sure how much violence, sexual content and so on was in the original cut, but this extended version is pretty close to an NC-17 rating. The film stars Robert De Niro in one of his most memorable yet forgotten roles. He plays Noodles, a gangster operating sometime during the 1930s. Noodles grew up during the early 1900s, and on the streets he and four other kids started their own crime operation. After a local crime lord named Bugsy gets jealous and murders the youngest member of Noodles' operation, Noodles returns the favor and kills Bugsy. Apprehended by police, Noodles is sent to jail for years. Sometime, years later, Noodles is released into the free world. He isn't a changed man, either. His old crime buddy Max (James Woods) picks him up and introduces him to the old gang members. Soon they are back in business, working for Frankie (Joe Pesci). This is the truest definition of an epic. "Once Upon a Time in America" is one of the most forgotten gangster films, and yet it is ironically one of the best. It took director Sergio Leone almost ten years to get this motion picture to the screen. Sergio's original script treatment - the outline for the story - was 200 pages long. Just the outline. Soon he employed numerous writers to redo the script, and they bounced it up to 400 pages. There is a saying that for every page in a film script, there is one minute of screen-time. You do the math. After the long scriptwriting process, they then had to get permission to film the movie, from the author of the novel this film is based upon. Then, after that struggle, there came the film itself. How to turn such a bold narrative into a compelling film? What techniques should be used? Where to start? The beginning of the film opens up during the 1930s or sometime around then, fast-forwards to the 1960s, then flashbacks to the early 1900s. It skips around a lot. This makes the viewer active, trying to figure out where and when they are. It is an element that gives a film rewatchability. Roger Ebert pointed out that "Citizen Kane" is set free of chronology, and the same goes for "Once Upon a Time in America." Sergio Leone is the master of extreme close-ups and wide frame shots, seen in "Fistful of Dollars" and here with wide shots of busy streets. In one scene a young girl (pre-stardom Jennifer Connelly) walks along a street, and Leone pulls the camera up, up, up and back, back, back, revealing the entire street. Soon she is lost in the crowd. The same thing is done with De Niro's character as a child, and we lose image of him in the crowd, but then Sergio uses an almost invisible dissolve and we come back upon him. The acting by De Niro is superb. His character, Noodles, is probably the character in this film who is most in-touch with his feelings. We often feel for him, but numerous times in the film he does things disturbing and sickening and we are repulsed. One scene extended in the DVD is the controversial rape scene between De Niro and Elizabeth McGovern. After it is all over, Noodles climbs out of the back seat of the car and walks to the side of the road, standing there, looking into the distance. Many people say this is guilt because he knows what he has done and is ashamed. I don't think so. During the film he rapes numerous women and doesn't seem to mind at all. I think the point Leone was trying to make is that De Niro's character has no idea how to treat or respect women. His entire life he grew up around women who were treated as objects (such as the young prostitute who lived in his apartment complex). So when Noodles stands by the side of the road, this is not from the guilt of what he has done - it is from the guilt of not knowing how to treat a woman, not knowing what to say, not knowing what to do. Not knowing how to respect her. His entire life he was taught that women were just there for pleasure, but when he stands by the road this is a sign that Noodles is starting to think this may all be wrong. It is the guilt of naivety, not self-awareness. "Once Upon a Time" is the master of gangster flicks. Two other tremendous gangster flicks, "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas," have gotten the respect they rightfully deserve over the years - but "Once Upon a Time in America" has been seemingly ignored - up until know. I hope that this DVD sparks a newfound interest in the film, because no one should go a lifetime without seeing this moving motion picture.

• Tim S

  
  Quite the gangster flick without being a gangster flick at the same time.

• Wahida K

  
  After Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sergio Leone was briefly forced to make this Movie while he had other plans. But I must say Sergio Leone was a good director and he did an Awesome directing on this Movie.

• Anthony L

  
  Sergio Leone's epic gangster masterpiece is like a fine oil painting. It's slow paced and beautiful, it's just as good as The Godfather in my opinion.

• Emil K

  
  Very overrated and overblown in every possible way. Leone's style here is the bigger the better. It just takes itself so seriously that it actually feels like sitting through four hours long funeral ceremony. When it comes to acting there is nothing special here. There are no… More
  Very overrated and overblown in every possible way. Leone's style here is the bigger the better. It just takes itself so seriously that it actually feels like sitting through four hours long funeral ceremony. When it comes to acting there is nothing special here. There are no particullary good performances or great moments of acting. Just average work from good actors. Leone set this clearly to be his ultimate epic, but this ain't no Once Upon a Time In the West. This is just boring and depressing wannabe-epic that goes on forever.

• Chris W

  
  Sergio Leone's final film saw him departing from the western genre to tackle another venerable genre: the gangster epic. This film (the 229 minute version) doesn't disappoint. It's a sprawling, epic, slow-moving, and lengthy masterpiece that is both one of the best… More
  Sergio Leone's final film saw him departing from the western genre to tackle another venerable genre: the gangster epic. This film (the 229 minute version) doesn't disappoint. It's a sprawling, epic, slow-moving, and lengthy masterpiece that is both one of the best mafia films I've ever seen, and one of the most overlooked/underrated films ever. Unlike sme of Scorsese's mafia films, this one doesn't give the viewer the detailed ins and outs of the business. Instead, the film focuses more on themes (chiefly guilt, regret, greed). There is character development, but not as much as one might expect/want. Fleshing out the previously mentioned themes are superb acting, gorgeous camerawork, strong direction, and fine music from Morricone. I loved how the film was long and slow moving, and also how it unfolds unchronologically in a circular way. By being lenghty and deliberately paced, the guilt of the characters slowly builds over time, growing more and more as time progress for nearly 50 years, and only serves to make the impact hit even harder. The circular nonchronological unfolding was nice because it makes the viewer piece things together yes like a puzzle, but in a noirish/mystery kind of way. As a final note, I've been reading that many call this film 'Leone's Godfather', or even his Godfather part II. I agree. It's wonderful.

• Stefanie C

  
  mesmerizing, masterful, and brutal drama. haunting score. leone's vision and masterpiece is a must see in its fully restored, unexpurgated version. the previous american release is a bastardization.

• Chris G

  
  Sergio Leone's final film is another enormous epic, but it's not a western. It's a look at four guys that grow up to be gangsters and the way that their lives have been affected by their chosen path. This is the final chapter in Leone's second trilogy (the other… More
  Sergio Leone's final film is another enormous epic, but it's not a western. It's a look at four guys that grow up to be gangsters and the way that their lives have been affected by their chosen path. This is the final chapter in Leone's second trilogy (the other films being the magnificent Once Upon a Time in the West and Duck, You Sucker) chronicling what he thought we turning points in the history of the United States. Robert De Niro stars as "Noodles", a Brooklyn street tough that befriends Max (as an adult played by James Woods) and together with two other friends they begin the ascent into the mob from being street thugs to running a speakeasy to pulling hits and robbing diamonds. There is also a love story thrown in along the way between Noodles and Debra (played by a young Jennifer Connelly and Elizabeth McGovern). The story is also intercut by flash forwards of Noodles as an old man attempting to solve a mystery. The film is your typical spacious Leone film. He shoots it like his westerns- it's a wide veranda even though it mainly happens in Brooklyn. Only Leone could make The Godfather feel like a short mob movie. Once again Leone uses his trademark close ups to tell a lot of the story without dialogue and it still works, especially when combined with a haunting score from Ennio Morricone. Mossicone's music for OUATIA is one of his best and tries to be a little more urban while still keeping the trademarks of a classic Morricone score. The acting is, of course, first rate with a cast like this. When this film was released in the United States in 1984 it was trimmed down to a little over two hours causing Leone's final film to crash like the Hindenburg. The four hour cut is simply a masterpiece of cinema and is one of the greatest mob films ever made. Amazingly Leone still wanted another 45 minutes of footage in the film that he felt was needed to tell the story (much of it having to do with Joe Pesci's character which seems to disappear from the film). Once Upon A Time in America stands as an epitaph for a man that created his own style and redefined a genre in such a way, everyone starting copying him. This is Leone's swan song.

• A.D. V

  
  Besides The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Sergio Leone's finest work and is above and beyond other crime films of its type--except Goodfellas of course. Nobody beats that.

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