you need the director's commentary to understand it

Rating: 8/10 (16 November 2003)

This is an interesting film, well worth watching for both its excellent period recreation of New York and also as another version of the gangster epic.
The commentary by the film critic Richard Schickel on the DVD is an absolute revelation  I didn't come anywhere near understanding how good this film is until I switched on this feature and watched it for a second time. He explains the opium den scene and how it's all probably just a dream. He also explains the unusual transitional shots favoured by Leone which always seem quite enigmatic and effective.