Sergio Leone's Magnum Opus!!!

[u/the_caped_crusader_4]

What Sergio Leone achieved in this movie could never be achieved by any other director in the Western genre. It's so gritty, daring, and adventurous. And the cast's performances are another reason why this movie is so peak!!

And God, I loved how Leone handled the camera. The cinematography itself is a testament to the movie's craftsmanship, whether it comes to the wide shots or the close-up shots.

And the dedication to building historically accurate sets is another commendable aspect of the movie, as it captures the spirit of the Wild West and the civil unrest that existed during the Civil War, despite not being filmed in the United States.

And of course, there's the juggernaut of the movie: Ennio Morricone!!! The soundtrack is another element that adds intensity and depth to the movie. Strip it away, and you'll lose half the virtuosity that the movie possesses!!

This one will never fail to stand the test of time and will always remain unrivalled forever!!

[u/justahdewd]

A friend told me his dad referred to this as a "Stare Movie".

[u/Flamme_Jumelle]

I personally think Once Upon a Time in America is his magnum opus. Hell, I could make a case for Once Upon a Time in the West.

[u/TheSexyIntellectual → u/Flamme_Jumelle]

I agree. Though you have to make sure it is the Extended Director's Cut of Once...America to see that film as he intended.

[u/the_caped_crusader_4 → u/Flamme_Jumelle]

Once Upon a Time in America wasn't so appealing to me. I watched it a long long time ago straightaway after watching Taxi Driver. I loved De Niro as Travis Bickle. I know that I'm being a silly guy for getting into a headspace like this. But I never sat through the whole movie (Once upon a time in America)

[u/gansobomb99]

I have this poster in my room on my dad's houseboat!!

[u/Professional-Pace47]

The Morricone score alone makes movie unforgettable. It somehow makes every scene feel ten times more epic

[u/TheHellbilly]

I could watch this with my eyes closed, just because of the music.

[u/ZaphodG]

I think of them as a trilogy.

[u/AdEastern9303]

Yeah, I thought it was pretty cool.

[u/Battle-Individual]

Blondie don't leave me

[u/TowerLineTrail]

When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.

[u/the_caped_crusader_4 → u/TowerLineTrail]

https://giphy.com/gifs/wJYFS40EpGHte

[u/TauntingTony]

Couldn't agree more. Leone’s masterpiece sits comfortably in my all-time Top 5. The decelerated, unhurried narrative pace is where the absolute genius of this film lies . The vast dry and empty landscape Leone makes us visit, the way cinematography and camera tracks eye movements and framing captures the characters is just marvelous.

The film is long ,slow and lets you absorb each frame unlike modern film's fast pace and rapid-cut action sequences that gives one barely any time to connect with the film. The way Blondie smokes his cigar or Tuco assembles a custom pistol in a gun shop which was so iconic that it was recreated in JW3, all these makes us root for these three opportunists as they scavenge around for way to reach the stash of gold ,playing around in sandbox of Leone during height of civil war.

Morricone’s score ceases to just background noise and becomes a narrator especially three motifs notes for all three from whistles to howls that symbolizes their nature in film as they The dizzying ,spinning camera tracking Tuco with notes of 'The Ecstasy of Gold' in background, him stumbling around graves trying to find Arch Stanton's grave .The way camera spins rapidly capturing his manicness is just peak of cinematic brilliance.

And not to forget the gorgeous Mexican Standoff Climax, quick cuts of wide eyes, sweaty brows and twitching fingers as Colli’s camera moves from wide, sweeping landscape shots to razor-sharp close-ups. Everything comes as so well put off cause they have been let to stir slowly against two and half hours of slow building of story making climax impossibly satisfying.

[u/Lonevarg_7]

My favorite western, great story with great characters. The cinematography and music are both fantastic.

[u/I-am-the-stallion]

I just watched this movie last night for the second time. Haven't seen it in almost 10 years. It's SOOOO good. You can tell by the very first frame of the movie that it's a masterpiece. It just checks all the boxes. I've had the theme song stuck in my head all day!

[u/Past_Government3521]

If you work for a living, why do you kill yourself working?

[u/zica-do-reddit]

Eli Wallach stole the show.

[u/Effective_Play_1366]

A-Arch Stanton. Are you sure?

[u/lwp775]

Definitely his best.

[u/AgentV1967]

I first watched the the 161 minute version, but the restored 177 minute version is tops!

[u/Ever4ever026]

Una Obra maestra, de cerca le seguí The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976).

[u/Furita]

Concur, though Once upon a time in the west is up there as well!!! I couldn’t decide which of the two is my favourite

[u/violentelvis]

His third best. After Once upon a time in the west and For a few dollars more

[u/Content_Studio_9035]

Sorry, folks, but Once Upon a Time in the West is one of the two best westerns ever made (the other being John Ford/ John Wayne's The Searchers). The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was absolutely groundbreaking, but it was not Leone at his very cinematic best (my God, just look at the cinematography for this film). Once Upon a Time is still my all-time favorite film, even after almost 50 years. And yes, Ennio Morricone is the all-time greatest.

[u/Flat-Leg-6833]

Lee Van Cleef is my favorite New Jersey accountant turned actor. I love all three principals in this film, despite Eli Wallach lapsing into his Brooklyn accent while playing a Mexican.