Title trouble.

Rating: 7/10 (4 June 2020)

Also known as both 'Duck You Sucker' and 'Once Upon A Time... The Revolution' depending on territory and, even, theatrical run, 'A Fistful Of Dynamite (1971)' is probably Leone's most overlooked movie - aside from, perhaps, his first, 'The Colossus Of Rhodes (1961)'. It's by no means inferior to his other work, however. Set during the Mexican revolution near the turn of the twentieth century, the piece uses its time-period to portray Leone's underlying thesis that revolution is inherently violent. It follows two men who become caught up in the conflict and form a friendship along the way, with this dynamic being the driving force behind most of the narrative. The initially rather unlikable characters soon start to become rather empathetic, and their shared adventure becomes increasingly engaging as it goes on. At least in its full version, it's often an almost sentimental affair - especially during its slow-motion, near ethereal flashbacks. It's also a very brutal one, with plenty of mass shootings and pseudo war sequences. It almost revels in the destruction it sees on screen and it's as big an event as you'd expect. Yet, it doesn't quite feel like anything the director has done before. The picture is, essentially, a series of set-pieces that escalate until the narrative crescendos with its most personal, though still explosive, moment. It's unsurprisingly well-made and features yet another excellent score from Morricone, too. In the end, the movie is an entertaining time right the way through. 7/10