Once Upon a Time in America [Film Review]

Yeah... I was just expecting one of those classics of cinema that I just didn't completely catch onto. It happens a lot with these greats, and often I just need to give it another go and I find the greatness in it. It usually takes a little while though. I had my doubts at the beginning, but after the first thirty minutes or so, after I finally began understanding the timeline and what was going on (thanks to a wikipedia page...), I experienced a true cinematic classic.

It works rather subtly, but the last hour hits hard. You come to care for these characters, even though they're not even close to admirable and their morals are askew in many MANY ways. It even becomes very difficult to accept the main character, Noodles, as a good main character. But, then again, a main theme of this film is forgiveness.

In some ways, this reminded me of 25th Hour, as the characters dig holes for themselves with crime and examine their lives and how all of their actions have influenced their lives up to crucial and pivotal moments.

Ennio Morricone's beautiful and emotional soundtrack contributes hugely to the film. It accents a large number scenes and gives them a tragic feeling which they did in fact already have, but it emphasizes that feeling. I recognized some of the tracks as at least one had been used in <i>Kill Bill</i>, but the most emotional theme isn't, which made it more new and made its heartbreaking sound more shockingly beautiful.

The two key actors, Robert De Niro and James Woods, are nothing short of excellent. De Niro often has to entertain the audience on his own, especially in the first half hour, but in each scene he's absolutely tremendous. And James Woods gets angry several times, which seems to be the primary or at least the best use of his face. He seriously has a terrific angry face.

You can really get into the rhythm of this astonishingly deep and powerful four-hour long (practically) film. It's about how choices can affect your life... which is a common theme in films (The Place Beyond the Pines, Locke...) but it's still a really great theme, and there are many great films that have been made off of it.