I've started to just start writing a little post about all of the films I see and really enjoy.
First on the list: Once Upon A Time in America by Sergio Leone, 1984
This was a very long, but very much epic crime film by Sergio Leone, one of the great Italian auteurs who has been cited as an influence to many film directors today.
The film stars Robert De Niro as "Noodles," an anti-hero from a NYC Jewish burrough who grows up on the streets with his gang of buddies. De Niro is by far the most impressive actor in the film. He's hard and complex, going to prison at a young age for many years after a revenge murder when his character is 12ish. He comes out from prison with his gang now being at the top during the Prohibition era.What makes this film so great for a modern cinephile is seeing how many films today reference it (most heavily Quentin Tarantino's spaghetti flick Kill Bill).
A number of people in my own age catagory (20s) criticize this film for being so long. It has an intermission about two hours in and there's a full hour or so after that.
None of the characters are entirely lovable but some are definitely detestable. The story is so well laid out, though that you can't help but be drawn in to the story of Noodles-- his child like love for Deborah (it should be noted that "young Deborah" played by Jennifer Connelly is much more talented than "adult Deborah" in the film) his relationship with the slightly psychotic and power hungry Maxy, and his over zealous approach to sexuality.
Why love De Niro's character? You want him throughout the film to be with Deborah, you want him to keep Maxy under control and do something more in his gang than he does. But, perhaps because he plays a "partner" like figure in the gang and yet seems to do nothing involvement wise as an adult you can keep hope that he's really not a mobster for life.
The film is shot beautifully with scenes from the era that don't exist anymore in the open (opium dens) and has a couple shot transitions that are just incredible for the time.
This is a must-see for not only it's cinematic impact but the story in general.
