Still from Once Upon a Time in America (Image: Warner Bros)
A « masterpiece » gangster film hailed by one fan as better than The Godfather is streaming now in the UK. Once Upon a Time in America (1984) focuses on David “Noodles” Aaronson (Robert De Niro) a New York gangster who in 1968 returns to the city, years after going into hiding over a major betrayal.
« Most of his friends are gone, yet he feels his past is unresolved, » the blurb on Amazon Prime Video reads. « With flashbacks, the film follows Noodles from a tough kid in a Jewish slum through his rise to bootlegger and then Mafia boss. » The nearly four-hour long epic features an all-star cast which also includes James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Young, Tuesday Weld and Treat Williams.
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The film begins with a manhunt for on-the-run gangster David ‘Noodles’ Aaronson (De Niro) (Image: Warner Bros)
One fan hailed the crime thriller as a ‘masterpiece’ (Image: Warner Bros)
It was directed by Sergio Leone who also co-wrote screenplay in what marked the legendary filmmaker’s last feature film. The story was based on the 1952 novel The Hoods, by Harry Grey.
One fan on the popular r/movies subreddit asked fellow movie buffs how they rank Once Upon a Time in America compared to The Godfather by Francis Ford Copolla, and Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, both often hailed as the best the genre has ever produced.
One said Morricone’s standout gangster thriller is « more ambitious and achieves more than the other two ». « Technically I think it’s stronger than both as well and it also manages to transcend it’s genre which the other two don’t, » they added.
« It’s got elements that for all intents and purposes should not work and be cheesy but it perfectly captures a feeling of nostalgia and regret unlike any other movie.
Meanwhile, a fan on IMDb said while they would once have rated Goodfellas as the better film, « I now most definitely think otherwise ».
Once Upon a Time in America proved to be Sergio Leone’s final film. (Image: Warner Bros)
« Don’t get me wrong GF is a great film but it’s not one of the greats, I think Goodfellas is more of a quick gangster fix, definitely the first of a modern breed of blunt instrument Gangland films, ones which are full of brash characters, lots of gruesome killing and a hit parade soundtrack.
« Once Upon a Time in America is the opposite, a carefully crafted and honed (near) masterpiece of cinematic character storytelling. You feel part of what you’re watching, transported back to a different era. Just half a step behind The Godfather in my estimation. »
Another wrote that De Niro’s « weariness is astonishingly realistic and applause should be directed at De Niro and his method »., calling it a « true masterpiece ».
Another wrote: « I have seen many movies, good and bad. One thing for certain, Once Upon a Time in America is more than good.
« It is amazing, a true milestone in the crime drama genre. The cinematography, images, scenery and locations are all superb and quite sweeping, while Ennio Morricone’s score ranks up there with his very best.
« While the film clocks in at nearly four hours long, it never feels boring to me while the pace is quite elegiac everything else just compels you. I will admit, this is another film you need to see more than once to understand/appreciate it. »
The film has an 18 certificate and contains strong bloody violence and sexual violence – so viewer discretion is advised.
Once Upon a Time in America is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. It’s available to rent or buy on Prime, as well as on Apple TV and YouTube.
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