Great film, excellent camera shots and angles, outstanding performances by De Niro and Woods!

Rating: Null/10 (22 July 2003)

Once Upon a Time in America is performed well by De Niro and Woods, scripted better by Grey and the rest of the writers, and directed best by Sergio Leone. It is the journey of a man going back to face his past. When Noodles (De Niro) steps off the train and back onto the streets of his former stomping grounds, he is forced to remember his childhood as a trouble maker, and his earlier adult life as a gangster. Told in a series of flashbacks we are introduced soon to Max (Woods), Cockeye, and Patsy.
This epic focuses on friendship, and betrayal. Noodles is the level headed of the group, while Max is fairly quiet, yet a hot head. Woods and De Niro give outstanding performances as two friends who slowly drift apart, yet try to stay close. It is very obvious that they are headed in opposite directions. Noodles wants to settle down and live life, while Max wants to keep working. Greed plays a major role in coming between the two. Max has one last offer. A suicide mission. Noodles knows the risk they would be taking but Max doesn't care figuring if he dies, he'd die rich and go down fighting. There are excellent camera shots and angles. Especially between Max and Noodles. Brilliant eye contact that was so real and sincere. In Max and Noodle's final showdown I couldn't help but feel for them both. I am not much of a crier during movies, but I did in this. You get so attatched to the characters, and their on-screen chemisrty is amazing, you would think you were watching two brothers. Excellent portrayal of life in the underground world of organized crime. Sergio Leone did a supurb job on this epic chroincle.