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Xugumad · 10-23-2001, 12:11 AM

Once Upon A Time In America

Not a western. Sergio Leone's last film. The 4-hour version, of course; the US got the butchered 2.5h version that made no sense. Pauline Kael saw that version, wrote a damning review, saw the full version, and fell in love with it. Once you've experienced it, life will never really look the same to you.

James Woods basically defines the performance that he'd try to imitate and give again and again for the rest of his career. His smooth malevolence is utterly stunning. DeNiro is utterly flawless as a sort of Kubrickian anti-hero, all stares and observations, his actions inhibited by childhood trauma and suddenly flaring violence. DeNiro is a man lost in society, formed by prison, and released upon an unsuspecting world. Yet he is emotionally crippled to an extent that allows Woods to emotionally outmaneuver him.

Tuesday Weld is unbelievable, her pain and struggle manifesting in a perfectly nuanced performance. Her drawn face when attempting to betray her lover to save his life is unforgettable; the ultimate irony that would follow gives you one of those feelings of dread and emptiness, having witnessed human weakness, yet being utterly unable to do anything about it.

Oh, and Elizabeth McGovern. Beautiful and yet so cold. Not a good actress by any means, yet perfect for the role. Distant and emotionally untouchable, she is betrayed by the man she herself pushed away, and in the end loses everything because she desired to be more than she is. The scene where she wipes the make-up off her aged face will stick in your memory forever. That is, if the rape scene hasn't already scarred you thoroughly. Traumatizing, paralyzing.

Forget everything you know about films. Go find the 227minute version of this film, pop it in, and spend 4 times UTTERLY GLUED to the screen. Ennio Morricone's best score, Tonino Delli Colli's soft focus-yet-hard edged photography, and the completely flawless art direction and production design will have you enthralled. The script is brilliant, to say the least. The temporal arrangement works so completely that it should be the stock teaching material in film schools regarding film logic and script direction. And if you think I exaggerating the acting of Woods and DeNiro - their 'young' counterparts are staggeringly convincing. Personally I think that they show the by far best teen/kid acting I've ever seen on film.

Do yourself a favour, and check it out:
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0087843

Alternatively, the VHS version can be bought here:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6300271617/

You may also want to have a look at the review of the Laserdisc, as there's no DVD of it out (yet) (good review, as well).
http://www.filmsondisc.com/LaserRevi...in_america.htm

In addition, there's a very convincing outline of the film at
http://film.tierranet.com/directors/...e/america.html

And finally, although this probably isn't anyone's cup of tea (do NOT read this if you haven't seen the film yet), there is a very scholarly analysis of the film at: http://film.tierranet.com/directors/...s/bartual.html

The laserdisc review describes OUATIA as a 'hallucinatory' film; take that in the best possible way - it will draw you in, and never really let you go. A poetic work of genius.

X.

10-23-2001, 12:11 AM	#17
Xugumad Punisher of Good Deeds Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 183	Once Upon A Time In America Not a western. Sergio Leone's last film. The 4-hour version, of course; the US got the butchered 2.5h version that made no sense. Pauline Kael saw that version, wrote a damning review, saw the full version, and fell in love with it. Once you've experienced it, life will never really look the same to you. James Woods basically defines the performance that he'd try to imitate and give again and again for the rest of his career. His smooth malevolence is utterly stunning. DeNiro is utterly flawless as a sort of Kubrickian anti-hero, all stares and observations, his actions inhibited by childhood trauma and suddenly flaring violence. DeNiro is a man lost in society, formed by prison, and released upon an unsuspecting world. Yet he is emotionally crippled to an extent that allows Woods to emotionally outmaneuver him. Tuesday Weld is unbelievable, her pain and struggle manifesting in a perfectly nuanced performance. Her drawn face when attempting to betray her lover to save his life is unforgettable; the ultimate irony that would follow gives you one of those feelings of dread and emptiness, having witnessed human weakness, yet being utterly unable to do anything about it. Oh, and Elizabeth McGovern. Beautiful and yet so cold. Not a good actress by any means, yet perfect for the role. Distant and emotionally untouchable, she is betrayed by the man she herself pushed away, and in the end loses everything because she desired to be more than she is. The scene where she wipes the make-up off her aged face will stick in your memory forever. That is, if the rape scene hasn't already scarred you thoroughly. Traumatizing, paralyzing. Forget everything you know about films. Go find the 227minute version of this film, pop it in, and spend 4 times UTTERLY GLUED to the screen. Ennio Morricone's best score, Tonino Delli Colli's soft focus-yet-hard edged photography, and the completely flawless art direction and production design will have you enthralled. The script is brilliant, to say the least. The temporal arrangement works so completely that it should be the stock teaching material in film schools regarding film logic and script direction. And if you think I exaggerating the acting of Woods and DeNiro - their 'young' counterparts are staggeringly convincing. Personally I think that they show the by far best teen/kid acting I've ever seen on film. Do yourself a favour, and check it out: http://us.imdb.com/Title?0087843 Alternatively, the VHS version can be bought here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/6300271617/ You may also want to have a look at the review of the Laserdisc, as there's no DVD of it out (yet) (good review, as well). http://www.filmsondisc.com/LaserRevi...in_america.htm In addition, there's a very convincing outline of the film at http://film.tierranet.com/directors/...e/america.html And finally, although this probably isn't anyone's cup of tea (do NOT read this if you haven't seen the film yet), there is a very scholarly analysis of the film at: http://film.tierranet.com/directors/...s/bartual.html The laserdisc review describes OUATIA as a 'hallucinatory' film; take that in the best possible way - it will draw you in, and never really let you go. A poetic work of genius. X.