A TRUE American MASTERPIECE

Rating: 10/10 (13 June 2005)

OUATIA is a fantastic character study of four friends during Prohibition. This film is excellent because the story itself is excellent. You care about the characters and you care about what happens to them. The music is perfect for this film. (*SPOILER WARNING*- If you haven't seen the movie yet, stop reading now.) The way Sergio Leone constructs the film with the flashbacks is flat-out brilliant. Robert De Niro is the perfect actor to portray Noodles because he can play him young, a gangster who wants power, and an old man, broken by the knowledge that his phone call to the police to saves his friends from a certain death inadvertently led to a shoot out with the police that caused their deaths anyway. The way De Niro portrays the broken Noodles who is broke in finances and spirit 35 yrs. after his friends' death is what makes his performance wonderful to watch. James Woods is another great actor who plays Noddles closest friend, Max. These two characters and actors make up the heart of the film. The final revelation of the film ties up all the loose ends and completes one of the most brilliant movie puzzles I have ever seen. I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves gangster films, stories about friendships, or a good mystery. I also recommend only watching the 4-hr. cut. I haven't seen the 2-1/2 hr. cut, but I heard it destroys the film.