A Great Film

Rating: 10/10 (13 February 2004)

"Once Upon a Time in America" is simply a great film. The plot follows the lives of the close-knit members of a gang, from their early childhood to their late sixties. We see their relationships and interactions while they slip ever more deeply into their criminal ways, with the main focus being on "Noodles" (Robert De Niro), who has a love-hate relationship with the gang leader "Max" (James Woods), and an unfulfilled passion for the sister of one of the gang accomplices.
The story combines drama, action, violence (occasionally heavy), and emotion. All the actors are excellent in their roles, and De Niro is once again worthy of his name. The fact the the movie is a long one (more than 3 hrs.) does not make it boring at all, as the action is generally rolling fast.
If "Once Upon a Time in America" is not a 10/10 movie, then I don't know which one is. Don't miss it.