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why do people hate on modern day hollywood films when hollywood has given us great films like The Departed, The Wrestler, Inception, Gran Tarino, Letters From Iwo Jima, 25th hour, kill bill, million dollar baby, Memento, there will be blood
@ayiska57 true but for every every good movie theres transformers, gi joe, the mummy, 10,000 bc, scream, scary movie, vampires suck, 2012, meet the spartans
@str8upgdawgyo I know. I happen to live in suburban Detroit next to a suburb with a very large Arab population. They have quite a few around here. Hookah lounges are no Opium Den for sure. lol
Once upon a time America was a decent country that actually had some freedoms that we're always being told we have. Now it's just a fucked up cesspool of corruption, lies and tyranny.
Just finished watching it, what an incredible film, loved every 3 hours and 50min+ of it lol, just amazing, all i can say is thanks to Sergio for creating such a masterpiece.
saw this film for the first time a week or two ago, so impressed. i don't think it was quite as good as the godfather but still is massively overlooked in my opinion.
@TheJewishMobsters i do agree with you that this was one of the most violent and graphic in terms of sex, violence and raped this gangster film ever was made. sergio was a genius in showing the brutality of how violent and sadistic this gangster world was. it should of won for best picture of the year. the cast was brilliant i love james woods in this performance
Once upon a time in America is a masterpiece. Its absolutely disgusting that they chopped two whole hours from the film for american theatrical release...
@tomroxelf That sent Segio into severe depression and made him quit film making full stop. I'm so pissed at that, but this was his best film and my favourite film of all time.
And yes, Sergio Leone is big director. His "Spaghetti Western" are wonderful masterpiece of and for all time and Ennio Morricone is great composer who was enriched many beautiful movie and all that awesome human beings deserve credit... Rest in peace Leone.. Kinda sad, listening Deborah theme right now.. beautiful, nostalgic song from Once upon a time.
When i saw De Niro in Awaking movie i was aware that he is the biggest actor ever. De Niro is lovable and authentic figure. It's sad to see that he will one day go forever. We are happy generations to have such a great actor.
You see, theres a perfect movie in here. But it badly needed some editing. Just not that 2 hour hackjob crap. Pacino is so crazy with rape in this movie. Lets see, I'm going to go rob my local bank. Hey, the counter womans hot. Lets rape her. Its something that just made me lose a connection with DeNiros character. Heck, I'm surprised it wasn't noodles committing suicide at the end instead of james woods character. Seemed noodles had done WAYY more morally wrong things...
Are there anyone so helpful to try to traslate in italian the most important parts of this interview or maybe try to resume with own words(in english)?Askin this 'cause after watching the movie i've ever looked for a de niro's interview where he talks bout the movie,especially bout Noodles....Thank u very much.
What happened with the editing and the subsequent releasing of this movie is just plain sad. They should've stuck with the original cut from the beginning. No movie has made such an impression on me since this one. I love everything about it.
Everything about this film is perfect. In my opinion it stands side by side with 'Citizen Kane' and 'Apocalypse Now' as a demonstration of frame after frame of beautiful and perfect images. Many will disagree with me on that but it really is remarkable and i urge evreyone to watch it.
@JOSKE123100 I agree with you. This film struck a chord I never knew existed, the first time I saw it. The depiction of early 20th century New York City is flawless and as Guinnesstrail put it, mesmerizing to watch. I fell in love with the city and its history because of the movie. The casting and the actors' performances are beyond laudatur and the soundtrack is among the greatest ever made. This film is in my top 5 movies of all time.
The only problems I have with this movie is that the casting is not as good as his other movies, its a little too graphic at times, and theres this odd sense in it at times that makes it feel really unlikeable. Like the guy jumping into the garbage truck and the opium den, I don't know why but I just didnt like those scenes :P
one of those movies that has you rapt in the first half, and loses you somewhere in the second. worth watching and in many ways beautiful but it just kinda leaves you flat
the edited version should be avoided like the plague-its incomprehensible
@Clamms I will agree with you on that one, the light that is always painted is that the Jewish are the victims and everyone else is antisemitic for saying the slightest thing. Yes what happened in WW2 (i know that has no relation to the movie) was terrible but thereafter since the time until present day it's gotten to point of where you can now compare it to criticizing Islam and having death threats placed upon you. No you won't get that from the Jewish but you will get legal pressure.
@blade004 This film is set in 1910's before ww2 and probably before ww1 so atrocities against European Jews were still a thought process of hitler in prison. The EE Jews who had to flee the Russian empire due to Antisemitism and murderous pogroms ended up in America as poor, refugees not like Italians who came to seek work. over 2mil came here between 1885 and 1914. They had to be strong and fight their way in just like anybody else. This chapter in American Jewry is what most people dont know.
I love the movie but there is something I dont get?? Were Rob De Niro, James Woods, and William Forsythe Jewish, Irish, or Italian gangsters in the movie? What was their cultural background? Can anybody tell me for sure?
You can't really pick a movie and say one is better. The Godfather, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, and Once upon a time are great movies. The 4 make top 10 of all time on my list. You just can't say one is better. They combine great acting, story telling, passion, and deliver. De niro is (in my opinion) through 70s, 80s, and 90s the best actor to ever live. See Deer Hunter, Casino, Awakenings, Cape fear, Jacknife, and taxi driver. He needs to do another gangster movie with Gandolfini,pesci, and Marty.
@WCWite Its a very different mob movie from the Godfather. the story structure switches back from three time periods. To answer your question the ending could mean that Noodles is having a opium dream. You can make a lot of assumptions thats what makes this movie so great
This is such a powerful, brilliant film...but very, very violent in more ways than one. But the plot, timing, characters, acting, sets, etc. are all utterly brilliant. A true masterpiece....did Leone ever make anything else? (Colossus of Rhodes doesn't count!)
This is one of the greatest under-rated films of all time. The movie is an epic and keeps you watching from begining to end with a fantastic soundtrack that is so hauntiing. Years and years after seeing this film I still find myself whistling cockeye's song.
The producers ruined this movie, fucking corporate assholes... Many critics panned the movie when they first saw it (the cut version) but when they saw the whole film they changed their minds so Once Upon a Time in America today is considered as one of the best gangster movies ever... I also heard that Leone was so heartbroken about the cut that he never made another movie because of it...
leone was never strong on plot . did your fucking mother dropt you in the head you f. idiot..? this mouvie fucks citisane kane and the godfather under the tabel and laughs at them.......
@epicvlas I guess you didn´t get it at all. Surely OUATIA is great AND the thing with Leone´s plot is bit unseizable. But - in my opinion - for purpose. You don´t watch his movies to find out, who´s the killer...
So there is no need to compare with Citizen Kane (citisane kane???) or The Godfather. To think in dimensions of better or worse or fuck someone/something under the table is just not my category. So start some conduct and english lessons and try again later.
I have to say that to anyone who thinks that this is a beautiful epic, well scripted and wonderfully put together movie, my hat's off to you. James Woods should have been nominated for best actor or at least best supporting actor. Bobby Deniro is the tops as well.
I have to say that for those of you who agree that this is a beautiful epic, and wonderfully scripted and well put together movie, My hat's off to you. James Woods should have been nominated for best actor and not to take anything away from Bobby Deniro, at least best supporting actor.
This flick is by far the deepest mob movie ever made........!!! Anyone bashing it on here is simply uneducated, shallow......and absolutely unworthy.....there you have it!!!
@JuanMacready It's not real.None of the events in the film were based on true events.I have no idea why you can be so offended by something that was made to purely entertain adult audiences,and was not created with malicious intentions.Plus the US version flopped.The original won 7 different awards across various media associations.If it was a movie telling me to "burn the heretic and slay the inferior races" I would understand your anger.At the moment though, I do not.Tl;DR OMGWTFBBQ rage much?
A deeply mysogynous film! Beautiful images, music, but also scenes that do not for one instant question the image of women portrayed. Violence is shown without any critique and only from a disturbing point of view. And what a flat character Robert de Niro is here. Compare to Scorsese films
All the scenes from when they were kids was the best parts of this Movie. For me personally they stole the show from the Hollywood Big Wig actors. The kids in this film didnt get enough credit for their work.
Are you into Italian gangster movies, and crooked cops. Come by my channel and watch a upcoming film that my father, and I premiere in called "Old Secrets No Lies". You can watch the trailer and music video under my Playlist. Thanks for the support and don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe while your there.
Leone was never strong on plot but that is not the reason why you watch Leone. You watch him because his work mesmerizes you. I don't know how many times I have revisited the scene where the boys turn in slow motion to run from Bugsy. How do you approximate the visceral? Critics (and wives) have had a difficult time with Leone for this reason; his films are preoccupied with nostalgia, pure and simple, so they work inside the little boy in all of us. Hence, love always comes in the form of a gun.
I agree. Leone could have half the footage needed for a movie, yet make it twice as good as most other directors could. That is, if the studio doesn't get involved *cough**cough*
@guinnesstrail i dont like ur praise of leone. ur boasting about someone u've never met and talking about it like its ur work and saying that 'everybody' loves it. thats not true and u shouldnt ever speak on anyones behalf because then ur misrepresenting ppl. with that said, i am a HUGE fan of sergio leone and i love every movie he made. but dont speak like u own the movie. its for everybody to enjoy and make their own opinion of it. thank you.
@guinnesstrail: This movie, however, has a brilliant plot. It is based on the primary myth of modern America, the myth of making it no matter what the cost. That is Max. And, in his sad way, Noodles. Max rises above the streets to the height of our society. Noodles was always second-rate. The parallels with the Godfather are very strong, including the mythic aspects and the conflict between brothers, in Godfather series it is Michael and Fredo. Obviously Leone's version is better in every way.
@guinnesstrail Maybe critics didn't like him at one point, but his movies all have stellar ratings on rotten tomatoes right now, and most of the old reviews look pretty positive as well.
@guinnesstrail Yeah. The plot was not great. In fact you can guess what's happened since the very beginning. BUT the whole movie is really intense ! That's what is great about Leone's movies.
I just watched the movie for the first time, just amazing, beautiful movie. I read how the studio completely butchered the movie by editing it. Leone never did another movie
@trulysarcastic because he died shortly after, although he was planning his next film and from what I've read it was going to be even bigger and even when he was on his death bed he was still working on it, now thats dedication.
zat's ze joke, leone's united american producers made their own version, instead of respecting his work ... once upon a time in mexico (by rodrigez) is pop corn, leone's movie is art, in so many words : their version might as well have had another name ...
that's ze joke ... once upon a time in mexico is pop corn, leone's once upon a time in america is a real movie that must of (hopefully) made leone pride... the leone's producers made their own version instead of respecting his work, that version might as well be called something else ...
once upon a time in mexico is a masterpiece and leone's only movie (and the godfather is clearly in a lesser category) all thanks to no us studio eveer realy backing this great movie director ... what do you expect from the country that kicked charlie chaplin out (or never realy courted him back)
instead the us of a is still pouring tepid shitty "conventionnal" movies by the 100s ... industry, not art ... i suppose that's what they earn for not caring
Leone was not popular in America because his movies were critical and financial flops. The reason for this is that the US studios cut an inferior and almost incomprehensible version of ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. After that he made the forgettable DUCK, YOU SUCKER which secured his reputation as a talentless director. But now that Leone's own cuts of OUaTit WEST and OUaTi AMERICA have come to home video, as Roger Ebert says, "we are slowly beginning to see just how good he really was."
yeah, usa viewers are slow ..."duck you sucker" is great, much better than regular dime a dozen tasteless flicks, it's done without clout or much money and the result is really striking, ... "once upon a time in america" is the only movie where he had clout and means to do what he wanted not what he could, so it's his first and last movie ... it deserves posterity ...
I think ONCE ... WEST is superior to AMERICA. When I first saw AMERICA, I felt a bit cheated. I thought the incredible power and pacing of the first three hours led to a somewhat unsatisfying resolution. The first three hours have us believe that Noodles' major flaw is his lack of success in love despite his tremendous success in finance. But later we find that the movie really wasn't about Noodles' success, but Max's. There is nothing redeeming about Max and he does not work as a tragic hero.
For this reason, I don't think the movie works quite as well as it could have. Another reason is that the themes opened up at the end are not explored seriously throughout the course of the movie. Where does betrayal appear but in the end, for example? The ending ruins an otherwise perfect film.
there s no such thing as a good ending in a good movie ... only the journey the viewer takes counts ... i don't particularly fancy deniro or woods, don't particularly think the narrative is even that great ... but the visual and emotional journey is a real impressive one ...it's long but it gets the viewer so invested ... all the way through what seems three hours and when it ends, like his own rosebud, he leaves with a footnote ... "is he behind the truck"... great movie
I wish someone could explain to me what the purpose of resurrecting Max is. That's the only major problem I have with the movie. I thought the movie would end with Noodles being the only one left alive and many years later, despite having risen from poverty to prosperity, regretting ever getting involved in crime. THEN we would have been able to talk about him having a Rosebud and things like that.
And it would have driven home the concrete message that money isn't everything. But with the horrible ending it does have, the movie has no concrete, universal message to send its viewers after that whole 3.5 hour journey.
and it should not, it should leave you free to imagine an outer story ... the rosebud is the peep hole in the wall defining the flashback ... it's not an edifying tale, it's just honest, albeit corny : life's full of ifs and buts but amounts to anything and then you die ... it's like so many good movies "1900 to 1950 in two hours ... epic soap opera, cecile b (rip) must of rolled over at sergio's production value
He can't have a Rosebud because he never rose to prominence. Remember that in Citizen Kane Rosebud is a symbol for Kane's separation from his roots by money, power and prominence. Noodles successfully separates from the power-hungry Max and resides in virtual anonymity in Detroit. But therein lies the problem for me. Where is the drama in that? Where is the tragedy? We see Max's tragedy, but where is Noodles'? And why wasn't Max the star of the film??
if there had to be a "tragedy" for deniro s character it's the opium "naps" he takes ... as for the purpose of max's surviving, it's to show "succes", since noodles is considered as a looser by the viewer ... leone's speaks through the character of noodles, this is his dream, and for every dreamer there's a "doer" ... he is not even saying that the "bad" (woods) dies, he's leaving it open ...
That is a very powerful, clear and succinct interpretation: "For every dreamer, there's a doer." This is a theme which appears throughout the movie. And under this idea, you can indeed say that Noodles' tragedy is his opium dreams. In other words, it is his addiction to unreality that keeps him from achieving Max's (albeit illegal) success. But I think the movie also frowns upon this kind of illicit action, because Max's crisis at the end is very real indeed.
sure, the interpretation is valid : leone tried to be moral, since noodles and max are broken, but the great strenght of the movie is to open up many interpretations, it never closes doors ... i think leone does not judge his characters, noodles gets eaten and max is no luckier (even though he is rich and powerfull), leone's beef is not morals, it's the loss of soul and the "monster" that he perceived in the american dream while growing up
The movie is much more complex than a simplistic "crime doesn't pay" melodrama.
The phone call to the police is the focal point of the story. Leone's intention was to let the viewer decide if the the 1968 scenes were all real or just an opium dream to satisfy Noodles' guilt of having indirectly caused the death of his friends despite his good intentions.
That is why the film ends in the opium den. The real themes of this film are friendship, betrayal and the passage of time.
It's so hard to get a thought out in 500 characters. Sorry if my previous posts weren't clear. My only problem with the movie is the end. It opens themes that were never explored throughout the rest of the film. Friendship is certainly important throughout this film, but what about betrayal? We don't find out until the last 10 minutes that Max had betrayed Noodles, risen to power without Noodles, and has now gotten himself in trouble. There are two problems with this.
(1) It feels tacked on. Instead of an epic conclusion, we get this tiny half-assed chat between Max and Noodles where all of the loose ends are tied up. Why? in a 3.5 hour movie?? (2) It just isn't satisfying! It would have been far more satisfying if Max HAD in fact died, and Noodles had in effect had to cope with killing his best friend. In fact, since Noodles thought he'd killed Max, this is what he should have been doing, but there is no evidence to suggest that he was grieving for Max.
Maybe your questions would be better served if you watched the DVD with audio commentary by Richard Schickel. A film like this is much more complex than your average gangster film. Like a Stanley Kubrick film, it requires the viewer to really think about the "what" and the "why" of the story. Most average people cannot, which is why the greatest directors of film (Welles, Kubrick, Leone, and Sam Peckinpah) were considered way ahead of their time. Their films require multiple viewings.
@rboltt I have listed to the commentary by Schickel. If you have only read my last posts, you missed the ones where I say that Once Upon a Time in America is a near perfect gangster film. I think the ending--the most important part of any film--here is flawed. For this reason the movie, imho, is imperfect. But if you think the ending works, I'm all ears: please tell me why.
Again, if the 1968 scenes were just an opium dream, them Max did in fact die. The point is an ambiguous one because the final scene takes place in the opium den, back in 1933 when prohibition ended. The previous scene with the garbage truck exemplifies this. We don't know for sure if it's Max or not. Nothing is made obvious in this story. Taking the plot literally, misses the point.
I agree with you on the fact that the primary emotion that had brought noodles back was that by raping debby, he had destroyed something pure and beautiful and it was this guilt that had been slowly eating him inside and who knows may have transformed into self loathing.
Meanwhile, it turns out that Max had been suffering too, the guilt that came with his lust for power ; that had killed two of his great freinds and made a refugee of his greatest one (Noodles).
Not to mention, it's way longer, way colder, and hits almost every taboo subject known to man and it's directed by Sergio Leone. It is definitely "the" greatest gangster film ever made... so far.
@AlizeCiz I love both and agree Once Upon A Time In America is probably the best film ever made...but how is the godfather overrated ?? It quite obviously deserves its props
@AlizeCiz "Overrated" Godfather? When you take that sentence and add 22 thumbs up to it I have to say I am confused. The Godfather is great, and so is OUATIA now prefer whichever one you will, but to speak badly of The Godfather is to ignore it's brilliance in storytelling ,acting, and directing.
A critic called this movie when it had its premiare the worst movie that years. A couple of years later he saw the full version and then he called the movie one of the best movies in the 80:s. Proving that evryone who has the cut version should throw it away in the garbagecan and buy the real version.
My god De Niro is awful at giving interviews. He always seem's grumpy & hard to please.
Guy takes life way too seriously
The crossed eyebrows were a dead giveaway.
DownwiththeNWO2012 1 week ago
Robert DeNiro is a famous dolphin right?
WanderLink 1 week ago
oh my god
DonVanVliet83 1 month ago
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why do people hate on modern day hollywood films when hollywood has given us great films like The Departed, The Wrestler, Inception, Gran Tarino, Letters From Iwo Jima, 25th hour, kill bill, million dollar baby, Memento, there will be blood
ayiska57 2 months ago
@ayiska57 true but for every every good movie theres transformers, gi joe, the mummy, 10,000 bc, scream, scary movie, vampires suck, 2012, meet the spartans
conrod15reveiw 2 months ago 2
@conrod15reveiw that's junk!
1coteca 1 week ago
I wish they still had Opium Dens.
thegoosebrain 2 months ago 3
@thegoosebrain I agree now they have hookah lounges )-:
str8upgdawgyo 1 month ago
@str8upgdawgyo I know. I happen to live in suburban Detroit next to a suburb with a very large Arab population. They have quite a few around here. Hookah lounges are no Opium Den for sure. lol
thegoosebrain 1 month ago
I think this was by far DeNiro's best film.
thegoosebrain 2 months ago 2
well said
classy751 2 months ago
I would have loved to have seen this movie in a cinema with widescreen
DCCCLoyal 2 months ago
Once upon a time America was a decent country that actually had some freedoms that we're always being told we have. Now it's just a fucked up cesspool of corruption, lies and tyranny.
rataMacue22 2 months ago
@rataMacue22 and G R E E D ! ! !
Tusc9969 4 weeks ago
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MY FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL TIME!!!
BigMrJuarez 2 months ago
It was the American version that killed Sergio Leone
CKDindustry 2 months ago 2
When do you think the teenage stuff was set? WW1/ Titanic?
Noodles37UK 3 months ago
@Noodles37UK the 20's
CKDindustry 2 months ago
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one of the best films i have ever seen, but then what not to like beautifulmusic and classic scenes
72291907 3 months ago
Just finished watching it, what an incredible film, loved every 3 hours and 50min+ of it lol, just amazing, all i can say is thanks to Sergio for creating such a masterpiece.
TJFederer15 3 months ago 2
Who upset Roberto? This is the number one film of all time
MIKE21071964 4 months ago
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The best film ever made
pinfolder 4 months ago
saw this film for the first time a week or two ago, so impressed. i don't think it was quite as good as the godfather but still is massively overlooked in my opinion.
ilikevines 5 months ago
the ending was very twisted but overall this movie beats any nowaday bullshit movie that hollywood makes
kajcsapapa 5 months ago 23
That move started good ended sucking
nfsrf 6 months ago
somebody please explan this movie, Max wanted to rob fort knox Noodles snitches on him, then.....??
area51er6 6 months ago
Once Upon a Time in the West and Once Upon a Time in America are the two greatest films I've ever seen.
Cannibalization 6 months ago
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Just last night I was talking about this movie and not a lot of people know about it. Underrated masterpiece.
Riboh1 6 months ago
In my opinion, this is the best mob movie ever made. If I remember correctly, this was also the most violent mob movie, ever filmed up to that point.
TheJewishMobsters 6 months ago
@TheJewishMobsters i do agree with you that this was one of the most violent and graphic in terms of sex, violence and raped this gangster film ever was made. sergio was a genius in showing the brutality of how violent and sadistic this gangster world was. it should of won for best picture of the year. the cast was brilliant i love james woods in this performance
mrman3810 6 months ago 2
Once upon a time in America is a masterpiece. Its absolutely disgusting that they chopped two whole hours from the film for american theatrical release...
tomroxelf 7 months ago 36
@tomroxelf That sent Segio into severe depression and made him quit film making full stop. I'm so pissed at that, but this was his best film and my favourite film of all time.
MrSoprano92 4 months ago
@tomroxelf Leone was reportedly heartbroken by the American cut, and never made another film before his death in 1989.
MrRobin14669 3 months ago 2
@tomroxelf They took two hours off it?!So originally it was 5hrs 40mins?!
niloh96 3 weeks ago
@niloh96 think it was 4 hours 20 minutes mate
terrelowens39 2 weeks ago
And yes, Sergio Leone is big director. His "Spaghetti Western" are wonderful masterpiece of and for all time and Ennio Morricone is great composer who was enriched many beautiful movie and all that awesome human beings deserve credit... Rest in peace Leone.. Kinda sad, listening Deborah theme right now.. beautiful, nostalgic song from Once upon a time.
Freeindividua2 7 months ago
When i saw De Niro in Awaking movie i was aware that he is the biggest actor ever. De Niro is lovable and authentic figure. It's sad to see that he will one day go forever. We are happy generations to have such a great actor.
Freeindividua2 7 months ago
Once Upon a Time in America = Greatest Film Ever.
Not even kidding, I prefer this to the likes of The Godfather Films and Goodfellas. Such an overlooked masterpiece.
UndyingFury 7 months ago 2
You see, theres a perfect movie in here. But it badly needed some editing. Just not that 2 hour hackjob crap. Pacino is so crazy with rape in this movie. Lets see, I'm going to go rob my local bank. Hey, the counter womans hot. Lets rape her. Its something that just made me lose a connection with DeNiros character. Heck, I'm surprised it wasn't noodles committing suicide at the end instead of james woods character. Seemed noodles had done WAYY more morally wrong things...
tatsumaru12345 8 months ago
@tatsumaru12345 pacino?
AwesomeNightman 7 months ago
Are there anyone so helpful to try to traslate in italian the most important parts of this interview or maybe try to resume with own words(in english)?Askin this 'cause after watching the movie i've ever looked for a de niro's interview where he talks bout the movie,especially bout Noodles....Thank u very much.
Giggiresma 8 months ago
What happened with the editing and the subsequent releasing of this movie is just plain sad. They should've stuck with the original cut from the beginning. No movie has made such an impression on me since this one. I love everything about it.
Born28thMay 9 months ago
Everything about this film is perfect. In my opinion it stands side by side with 'Citizen Kane' and 'Apocalypse Now' as a demonstration of frame after frame of beautiful and perfect images. Many will disagree with me on that but it really is remarkable and i urge evreyone to watch it.
JOSKE123100 9 months ago
@JOSKE123100 I agree with you. This film struck a chord I never knew existed, the first time I saw it. The depiction of early 20th century New York City is flawless and as Guinnesstrail put it, mesmerizing to watch. I fell in love with the city and its history because of the movie. The casting and the actors' performances are beyond laudatur and the soundtrack is among the greatest ever made. This film is in my top 5 movies of all time.
Born28thMay 9 months ago
The only problems I have with this movie is that the casting is not as good as his other movies, its a little too graphic at times, and theres this odd sense in it at times that makes it feel really unlikeable. Like the guy jumping into the garbage truck and the opium den, I don't know why but I just didnt like those scenes :P
xaxie1 10 months ago
one of those movies that has you rapt in the first half, and loses you somewhere in the second. worth watching and in many ways beautiful but it just kinda leaves you flat
the edited version should be avoided like the plague-its incomprehensible
PorkFrog 10 months ago
Yes, thank you Gheorghe Zamfir for incredible music and Mr. De Niro , turned an ordinary to an outstanding to watch.
znasif 11 months ago
God bless the pan-flute
keerkhor 11 months ago
They played jewish gangsters.
indyguy1000 1 year ago
@indyguy1000 Well what a surprise, Jews and Hollywood, not something you see very often is it?
blade004 10 months ago
@blade004 Movies about Jewish Gangsters is what you don't see very often....Prick !
Clamms 10 months ago
@Clamms I will agree with you on that one, the light that is always painted is that the Jewish are the victims and everyone else is antisemitic for saying the slightest thing. Yes what happened in WW2 (i know that has no relation to the movie) was terrible but thereafter since the time until present day it's gotten to point of where you can now compare it to criticizing Islam and having death threats placed upon you. No you won't get that from the Jewish but you will get legal pressure.
blade004 10 months ago
@blade004 This film is set in 1910's before ww2 and probably before ww1 so atrocities against European Jews were still a thought process of hitler in prison. The EE Jews who had to flee the Russian empire due to Antisemitism and murderous pogroms ended up in America as poor, refugees not like Italians who came to seek work. over 2mil came here between 1885 and 1914. They had to be strong and fight their way in just like anybody else. This chapter in American Jewry is what most people dont know.
Clamms 10 months ago
@Clamms Are you Jewish?
blade004 10 months ago
@blade004 Yes. I'm from Israel.
Clamms 10 months ago
I love the movie but there is something I dont get?? Were Rob De Niro, James Woods, and William Forsythe Jewish, Irish, or Italian gangsters in the movie? What was their cultural background? Can anybody tell me for sure?
TonyGonzo1988 1 year ago
@TonyGonzo1988 I think they were Jewish. At least noodles and Deborah were.
michaelcorleonepate 1 year ago
@TonyGonzo1988
Jewish all of them, Jewish neighborhood, Jewish names, Jewish cemetery...
L'Chaim !
resheph 11 months ago
@TonyGonzo1988 The whole Gang was Jewish. The other Gangs controlled by Bugsy were Not. They were Italians with some Irish.
Clamms 10 months ago
@TonyGonzo1988 All of the main characters are jewish.
mooneepondskid 5 months ago
What about the untouchables
wiltonjs 1 year ago
You can't really pick a movie and say one is better. The Godfather, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, and Once upon a time are great movies. The 4 make top 10 of all time on my list. You just can't say one is better. They combine great acting, story telling, passion, and deliver. De niro is (in my opinion) through 70s, 80s, and 90s the best actor to ever live. See Deer Hunter, Casino, Awakenings, Cape fear, Jacknife, and taxi driver. He needs to do another gangster movie with Gandolfini,pesci, and Marty.
phinfan01 1 year ago 2
Great Great Movie Mr Deniro
onetrashdancer 1 year ago
The end was so messed up still don't understand it, if someone can explain the movie to me please, maybe I will like it more.
WCWite 1 year ago
@WCWite Its a very different mob movie from the Godfather. the story structure switches back from three time periods. To answer your question the ending could mean that Noodles is having a opium dream. You can make a lot of assumptions thats what makes this movie so great
crushf5 1 year ago
Preface Culture Of Critique.
Good story telling indeed.
Nationsnotregimes 1 year ago
fantastic film.
Leone was a god. It's terrible that he died at such a relatively young age. He could have made so many more wonderful films.
Many film critics had this on their "best of the decade" lists for the 1980s.
blue32ism 1 year ago
This is such a powerful, brilliant film...but very, very violent in more ways than one. But the plot, timing, characters, acting, sets, etc. are all utterly brilliant. A true masterpiece....did Leone ever make anything else? (Colossus of Rhodes doesn't count!)
antihostile 1 year ago
@antihostile The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
Snako85 1 year ago
I bought watched it other day omg good film but the raping was horrible
rianconnolly11 1 year ago
para mi la mejor pelicula de la historia del cine...lejosssssssss
y obviamente tambien la musica............
stradivariuuusssssssssssss!!!!
RAMADAMADU 1 year ago
This is one of the greatest under-rated films of all time. The movie is an epic and keeps you watching from begining to end with a fantastic soundtrack that is so hauntiing. Years and years after seeing this film I still find myself whistling cockeye's song.
yetoner 1 year ago 4
The producers ruined this movie, fucking corporate assholes... Many critics panned the movie when they first saw it (the cut version) but when they saw the whole film they changed their minds so Once Upon a Time in America today is considered as one of the best gangster movies ever... I also heard that Leone was so heartbroken about the cut that he never made another movie because of it...
Pentagon1311 1 year ago
leone was never strong on plot . did your fucking mother dropt you in the head you f. idiot..? this mouvie fucks citisane kane and the godfather under the tabel and laughs at them.......
epicvlas 1 year ago
@epicvlas I guess you didn´t get it at all. Surely OUATIA is great AND the thing with Leone´s plot is bit unseizable. But - in my opinion - for purpose. You don´t watch his movies to find out, who´s the killer...
So there is no need to compare with Citizen Kane (citisane kane???) or The Godfather. To think in dimensions of better or worse or fuck someone/something under the table is just not my category. So start some conduct and english lessons and try again later.
gehemiks 1 year ago
@guinnersstrail, best comment in youtube
yusgunawan 1 year ago
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My favorite movie of all times!
najbrzi28 1 year ago
classic
Josh360 1 year ago
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I have to say that to anyone who thinks that this is a beautiful epic, well scripted and wonderfully put together movie, my hat's off to you. James Woods should have been nominated for best actor or at least best supporting actor. Bobby Deniro is the tops as well.
joesolese 1 year ago
I have to say that for those of you who agree that this is a beautiful epic, and wonderfully scripted and well put together movie, My hat's off to you. James Woods should have been nominated for best actor and not to take anything away from Bobby Deniro, at least best supporting actor.
joesolese 1 year ago
@mezzodone Silvio Berlusconi rules.
JuanMacready 1 year ago
what a movie what Music quality THE BST MOVIE at least one of the greatest
WutangClan4LiF3 1 year ago
@jaun maccready maybe you'll die before your 60......tread lightly please.......
cashdenali5150 1 year ago
great movie
NatoBord 1 year ago
This flick is by far the deepest mob movie ever made........!!! Anyone bashing it on here is simply uneducated, shallow......and absolutely unworthy.....there you have it!!!
Trutzblatt 1 year ago
@Trutzblatt It's just a sick, badly acted, racist film.
JuanMacready 1 year ago
@JuanMacready How is it racist?
SeaTac411 1 year ago
Sergio is great. I would say Sergio and Alfred Hitchcock are the 2 best directors ever. Way before the next best Steven Spielberg.
JOSEPHBLIE 1 year ago
A truly sick, evil, racist movie which rightly flopped.
JuanMacready 1 year ago
@JuanMacready Have you actually watched the unedited, original version, not the American one? If not then kindly STFU and GTFO.
LilGreenGiant96 1 year ago
Yes. It's a sick piece of shit, and De Niro and Woods were both too old.
JuanMacready 1 year ago
@JuanMacready It's not real.None of the events in the film were based on true events.I have no idea why you can be so offended by something that was made to purely entertain adult audiences,and was not created with malicious intentions.Plus the US version flopped.The original won 7 different awards across various media associations.If it was a movie telling me to "burn the heretic and slay the inferior races" I would understand your anger.At the moment though, I do not.Tl;DR OMGWTFBBQ rage much?
LilGreenGiant96 1 year ago
I'm glad Leone died at only 60.
JuanMacready 1 year ago
@JuanMacready meh.
LilGreenGiant96 1 year ago
Though it should have been from cancer.
JuanMacready 1 year ago
@JuanMacready Again. Meh. Do you really think I care? There's no point trying to irritate me.
LilGreenGiant96 1 year ago
@JuanMacready ...did you get 60 already ? tells us if get there.
JohnnyDTK 1 year ago
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A deeply mysogynous film! Beautiful images, music, but also scenes that do not for one instant question the image of women portrayed. Violence is shown without any critique and only from a disturbing point of view. And what a flat character Robert de Niro is here. Compare to Scorsese films
daffodilsonafield 1 year ago
All the scenes from when they were kids was the best parts of this Movie. For me personally they stole the show from the Hollywood Big Wig actors. The kids in this film didnt get enough credit for their work.
BishopToKing7 1 year ago
@BishopToKing7 You are right , probably cos actors are vastly over rated ( and paid ) compared to other arts.
DROTTOHARRIS 1 year ago
such an unappreciated movie and also one of the biggest examples of how studio intervention can completely ruin art
cryjesuscry 1 year ago
I just ordered the 2 disc special 229 minutes, can't wait to watch this. I've been waiting a while now
Neurotripsicks 1 year ago
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JustAnotherJimiFan 1 year ago
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JustAnotherJimiFan 1 year ago
this is one of the best gangster films ever, without doubt, and i also wan't to mention: goodfellas and the godfather. such masterpieces...
cvhdrd 1 year ago
Heh heh, 2:37, they cut the scene short...
tommyt1971 1 year ago
Are you into Italian gangster movies, and crooked cops. Come by my channel and watch a upcoming film that my father, and I premiere in called "Old Secrets No Lies". You can watch the trailer and music video under my Playlist. Thanks for the support and don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe while your there.
MrRaffaeleLS 1 year ago
if anyone knows the music playing from 0:40-1:40 PLEASE TELL ME!
serviceisntfreek 1 year ago
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A truly horrid, racist movie with De Niro and Woods both far too old for their characters.
I'm glad that fat fuck Leone died at only 60.
FrankClanton 1 year ago
i forgot just how good deniro was in this alot of sceins in this film with no speaking but waves of emoishion in his face needed for the sceins
stef1652 1 year ago
i would love to know who sergio leone originally wanted besides de niro. (0.25) i think de niro was about to say but then he says he forgets.
1tyresius 1 year ago
he wanted gerard depardieu, he said it in another interview in 1984 at le festival de cannes
stanislavski1985 1 year ago
@stanislavski1985
thanks stanislavski, i have often wondered. with all respect to depardieu...i'm glad he didnt play noodles...de niro was perfect for the part. imo.
1tyresius 1 year ago
De Niro was too old.
FrankClanton 1 year ago
Wauw guinness.... You said it all..... Nice man...
manna1974 1 year ago
I bought dvd with full version of this movie and it is just a great..
Mabuchalli 1 year ago 2
Leone was never strong on plot but that is not the reason why you watch Leone. You watch him because his work mesmerizes you. I don't know how many times I have revisited the scene where the boys turn in slow motion to run from Bugsy. How do you approximate the visceral? Critics (and wives) have had a difficult time with Leone for this reason; his films are preoccupied with nostalgia, pure and simple, so they work inside the little boy in all of us. Hence, love always comes in the form of a gun.
guinnesstrail 2 years ago 45
I agree. Leone could have half the footage needed for a movie, yet make it twice as good as most other directors could. That is, if the studio doesn't get involved *cough**cough*
cheeseleader09 1 year ago 2
@guinnesstrail i dont like ur praise of leone. ur boasting about someone u've never met and talking about it like its ur work and saying that 'everybody' loves it. thats not true and u shouldnt ever speak on anyones behalf because then ur misrepresenting ppl. with that said, i am a HUGE fan of sergio leone and i love every movie he made. but dont speak like u own the movie. its for everybody to enjoy and make their own opinion of it. thank you.
serviceisntfreek 1 year ago
@serviceisntfreek
My words are hardly praise. But I stand by them. There is so much wrong with your argument that I know where to begin--fuck off.
guinnesstrail 1 year ago
@guinnesstrail first i thought u were smart, but that was just a myth. im right.
serviceisntfreek 1 year ago
@serviceisntfreek
I didn't start this, you did. I'd suggest you stay ahead of the curve by just letting it go.
guinnesstrail 1 year ago
@guinnesstrail u know what, fuck off.
serviceisntfreek 1 year ago
@serviceisntfreek
I'm advising you again to let it go.
guinnesstrail 1 year ago
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@guinnesstrail fuck off cunt
serviceisntfreek 1 year ago
@guinnesstrail But he always was strong on STORY. This one has to be his most complex too.
tommyt1971 1 year ago
@guinnesstrail: This movie, however, has a brilliant plot. It is based on the primary myth of modern America, the myth of making it no matter what the cost. That is Max. And, in his sad way, Noodles. Max rises above the streets to the height of our society. Noodles was always second-rate. The parallels with the Godfather are very strong, including the mythic aspects and the conflict between brothers, in Godfather series it is Michael and Fredo. Obviously Leone's version is better in every way.
lebarosky 1 year ago 14
@guinnesstrail Maybe critics didn't like him at one point, but his movies all have stellar ratings on rotten tomatoes right now, and most of the old reviews look pretty positive as well.
Quadzilla99 1 year ago
@guinnesstrail Yeah. The plot was not great. In fact you can guess what's happened since the very beginning. BUT the whole movie is really intense ! That's what is great about Leone's movies.
KingTeDdY62 10 months ago
I just watched the movie for the first time, just amazing, beautiful movie. I read how the studio completely butchered the movie by editing it. Leone never did another movie
trulysarcastic 2 years ago 16
@trulysarcastic because he died shortly after, although he was planning his next film and from what I've read it was going to be even bigger and even when he was on his death bed he was still working on it, now thats dedication.
woollybully100 10 months ago
@trulysarcastic Leone never did another movie because he died right after it.
mistaseuss 8 months ago
What made this great ,was it was a full movie from beginning to end , perfect job on casting , probably Deniro best work
onetrashdancer 2 years ago
This is the most overlooked film of all time, and one of the very, very best.
mynameisiansmum 2 years ago 2
Funny one of the best grease BALL movie's ever made and they were all Jews HA HA HA
onetrashdancer 2 years ago
too bad italy's stopped dreaming and giving the world such great directors
deathbysterotype 2 years ago 3
zat's ze joke, leone's united american producers made their own version, instead of respecting his work ... once upon a time in mexico (by rodrigez) is pop corn, leone's movie is art, in so many words : their version might as well have had another name ...
cacaoueterealisateur 2 years ago
that's ze joke ... once upon a time in mexico is pop corn, leone's once upon a time in america is a real movie that must of (hopefully) made leone pride... the leone's producers made their own version instead of respecting his work, that version might as well be called something else ...
cacaoueterealisateur 2 years ago
once upon a time in mexico is a masterpiece and leone's only movie (and the godfather is clearly in a lesser category) all thanks to no us studio eveer realy backing this great movie director ... what do you expect from the country that kicked charlie chaplin out (or never realy courted him back)
instead the us of a is still pouring tepid shitty "conventionnal" movies by the 100s ... industry, not art ... i suppose that's what they earn for not caring
cacaoueterealisateur 2 years ago
I must agree movie give you the chills , this was one of his best .
onetrashdancer 2 years ago
Did you say mexico ,my friend find a taco stand ,your on the wrong vid , americans only fuck face
onetrashdancer 2 years ago
Leone was not popular in America because his movies were critical and financial flops. The reason for this is that the US studios cut an inferior and almost incomprehensible version of ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST. After that he made the forgettable DUCK, YOU SUCKER which secured his reputation as a talentless director. But now that Leone's own cuts of OUaTit WEST and OUaTi AMERICA have come to home video, as Roger Ebert says, "we are slowly beginning to see just how good he really was."
isselman2000 2 years ago
yeah, usa viewers are slow ..."duck you sucker" is great, much better than regular dime a dozen tasteless flicks, it's done without clout or much money and the result is really striking, ... "once upon a time in america" is the only movie where he had clout and means to do what he wanted not what he could, so it's his first and last movie ... it deserves posterity ...
cacaoueterealisateur 2 years ago
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isselman2000 2 years ago
I think ONCE ... WEST is superior to AMERICA. When I first saw AMERICA, I felt a bit cheated. I thought the incredible power and pacing of the first three hours led to a somewhat unsatisfying resolution. The first three hours have us believe that Noodles' major flaw is his lack of success in love despite his tremendous success in finance. But later we find that the movie really wasn't about Noodles' success, but Max's. There is nothing redeeming about Max and he does not work as a tragic hero.
isselman2000 2 years ago
For this reason, I don't think the movie works quite as well as it could have. Another reason is that the themes opened up at the end are not explored seriously throughout the course of the movie. Where does betrayal appear but in the end, for example? The ending ruins an otherwise perfect film.
isselman2000 2 years ago
there s no such thing as a good ending in a good movie ... only the journey the viewer takes counts ... i don't particularly fancy deniro or woods, don't particularly think the narrative is even that great ... but the visual and emotional journey is a real impressive one ...it's long but it gets the viewer so invested ... all the way through what seems three hours and when it ends, like his own rosebud, he leaves with a footnote ... "is he behind the truck"... great movie
cacaoueterealisateur 2 years ago
I wish someone could explain to me what the purpose of resurrecting Max is. That's the only major problem I have with the movie. I thought the movie would end with Noodles being the only one left alive and many years later, despite having risen from poverty to prosperity, regretting ever getting involved in crime. THEN we would have been able to talk about him having a Rosebud and things like that.
isselman2000 2 years ago
And it would have driven home the concrete message that money isn't everything. But with the horrible ending it does have, the movie has no concrete, universal message to send its viewers after that whole 3.5 hour journey.
isselman2000 2 years ago
and it should not, it should leave you free to imagine an outer story ... the rosebud is the peep hole in the wall defining the flashback ... it's not an edifying tale, it's just honest, albeit corny : life's full of ifs and buts but amounts to anything and then you die ... it's like so many good movies "1900 to 1950 in two hours ... epic soap opera, cecile b (rip) must of rolled over at sergio's production value
cacaoueterealisateur 2 years ago
He can't have a Rosebud because he never rose to prominence. Remember that in Citizen Kane Rosebud is a symbol for Kane's separation from his roots by money, power and prominence. Noodles successfully separates from the power-hungry Max and resides in virtual anonymity in Detroit. But therein lies the problem for me. Where is the drama in that? Where is the tragedy? We see Max's tragedy, but where is Noodles'? And why wasn't Max the star of the film??
isselman2000 2 years ago
if there had to be a "tragedy" for deniro s character it's the opium "naps" he takes ... as for the purpose of max's surviving, it's to show "succes", since noodles is considered as a looser by the viewer ... leone's speaks through the character of noodles, this is his dream, and for every dreamer there's a "doer" ... he is not even saying that the "bad" (woods) dies, he's leaving it open ...
cacaoueterealisateur 2 years ago
That is a very powerful, clear and succinct interpretation: "For every dreamer, there's a doer." This is a theme which appears throughout the movie. And under this idea, you can indeed say that Noodles' tragedy is his opium dreams. In other words, it is his addiction to unreality that keeps him from achieving Max's (albeit illegal) success. But I think the movie also frowns upon this kind of illicit action, because Max's crisis at the end is very real indeed.
isselman2000 2 years ago
sure, the interpretation is valid : leone tried to be moral, since noodles and max are broken, but the great strenght of the movie is to open up many interpretations, it never closes doors ... i think leone does not judge his characters, noodles gets eaten and max is no luckier (even though he is rich and powerfull), leone's beef is not morals, it's the loss of soul and the "monster" that he perceived in the american dream while growing up
cacaoueterealisateur 2 years ago
The movie is much more complex than a simplistic "crime doesn't pay" melodrama.
The phone call to the police is the focal point of the story. Leone's intention was to let the viewer decide if the the 1968 scenes were all real or just an opium dream to satisfy Noodles' guilt of having indirectly caused the death of his friends despite his good intentions.
That is why the film ends in the opium den. The real themes of this film are friendship, betrayal and the passage of time.
rboltt 2 years ago
It's so hard to get a thought out in 500 characters. Sorry if my previous posts weren't clear. My only problem with the movie is the end. It opens themes that were never explored throughout the rest of the film. Friendship is certainly important throughout this film, but what about betrayal? We don't find out until the last 10 minutes that Max had betrayed Noodles, risen to power without Noodles, and has now gotten himself in trouble. There are two problems with this.
isselman2000 2 years ago
(1) It feels tacked on. Instead of an epic conclusion, we get this tiny half-assed chat between Max and Noodles where all of the loose ends are tied up. Why? in a 3.5 hour movie?? (2) It just isn't satisfying! It would have been far more satisfying if Max HAD in fact died, and Noodles had in effect had to cope with killing his best friend. In fact, since Noodles thought he'd killed Max, this is what he should have been doing, but there is no evidence to suggest that he was grieving for Max.
isselman2000 2 years ago
Maybe your questions would be better served if you watched the DVD with audio commentary by Richard Schickel. A film like this is much more complex than your average gangster film. Like a Stanley Kubrick film, it requires the viewer to really think about the "what" and the "why" of the story. Most average people cannot, which is why the greatest directors of film (Welles, Kubrick, Leone, and Sam Peckinpah) were considered way ahead of their time. Their films require multiple viewings.
rboltt 2 years ago
@rboltt I have listed to the commentary by Schickel. If you have only read my last posts, you missed the ones where I say that Once Upon a Time in America is a near perfect gangster film. I think the ending--the most important part of any film--here is flawed. For this reason the movie, imho, is imperfect. But if you think the ending works, I'm all ears: please tell me why.
isselman2000 2 years ago
Again, if the 1968 scenes were just an opium dream, them Max did in fact die. The point is an ambiguous one because the final scene takes place in the opium den, back in 1933 when prohibition ended. The previous scene with the garbage truck exemplifies this. We don't know for sure if it's Max or not. Nothing is made obvious in this story. Taking the plot literally, misses the point.
rboltt 2 years ago
I agree with you on the fact that the primary emotion that had brought noodles back was that by raping debby, he had destroyed something pure and beautiful and it was this guilt that had been slowly eating him inside and who knows may have transformed into self loathing.
Meanwhile, it turns out that Max had been suffering too, the guilt that came with his lust for power ; that had killed two of his great freinds and made a refugee of his greatest one (Noodles).
supersatanic 2 years ago
my favorite movie. and as a film fan i don't think the godfather is overrated at all, but once upon a time in america is the best movie ever made.
lesassassins 2 years ago 3
DeNiros smile makes me want to smile and cry at the same time the mona lisa DeNiro kills it. . . .
dixon97a 2 years ago
2:45 ahhh the infamous smile! arghhh that + the garbage truck scene = <3
TheTwoWhoWereTaken 2 years ago
Godfather is good but not as good as this one which is one of the best movie ever made
Leone refused to direct the godfather to make it
cyberscriptor 2 years ago 11
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de niro is a such a moody runt
clazza01 2 years ago
one of the best movies of all time. way better than overrated godfather
AlizeCiz 2 years ago 22
Not to mention, it's way longer, way colder, and hits almost every taboo subject known to man and it's directed by Sergio Leone. It is definitely "the" greatest gangster film ever made... so far.
tzs111 2 years ago 8
@AlizeCiz I love both and agree Once Upon A Time In America is probably the best film ever made...but how is the godfather overrated ?? It quite obviously deserves its props
solidsnakex9x9 1 year ago
@AlizeCiz "Overrated" Godfather? When you take that sentence and add 22 thumbs up to it I have to say I am confused. The Godfather is great, and so is OUATIA now prefer whichever one you will, but to speak badly of The Godfather is to ignore it's brilliance in storytelling ,acting, and directing.
Whackooyzero 1 year ago
the best story ever
gabiivan 2 years ago 11
A critic called this movie when it had its premiare the worst movie that years. A couple of years later he saw the full version and then he called the movie one of the best movies in the 80:s. Proving that evryone who has the cut version should throw it away in the garbagecan and buy the real version.
backtoklondike 2 years ago 8
i aint seen the cut version, however id imagine it to be a complete different movie, also this is probably my most favoured old time gangster film
Meashisgod 2 years ago
i agree. best movie ever made. james woods says the same
Vitelli66 2 years ago 4
best movie ever made...
ivancrasci 2 years ago