‘Masterpiece’ gangster movie ‘higher than Goodfellas and The Godfather’ | Films | Entertainment | EUROtoday

A “masterpiece” gangster movie hailed by one fan as higher than The Godfather is streaming now within the UK. Once Upon a Time in America (1984) focuses on David “Noodles” Aaronson (Robert De Niro) a New York gangster who in 1968 returns to town, years after going into hiding over a serious betrayal.

“Most of his friends are gone, yet he feels his past is unresolved,” the blurb on Amazon Prime Video reads. “With flashbacks, the film follows Noodles from a tough kid in a Jewish slum through his rise to bootlegger and then Mafia boss.” The practically four-hour lengthy epic options an all-star solid which additionally contains James Woods, Elizabeth McGovern, Joe Pesci, Burt Young, Tuesday Weld and Treat Williams.

It was directed by Sergio Leone who additionally co-wrote screenplay in what marked the legendary filmmaker’s final function movie. The story was based mostly on the 1952 novel The Hoods, by Harry Grey.

One fan on the favored r/motion pictures subreddit requested fellow film buffs how they rank Once Upon a Time in America in comparison with The Godfather by Francis Ford Copolla, and Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, each typically hailed as one of the best the style has ever produced.

One stated Morricone’s standout gangster thriller is “more ambitious and achieves more than the other two”. “Technically I think it’s stronger than both as well and it also manages to transcend it’s genre which the other two don’t,” they added.

“It’s got elements that for all intents and purposes should not work and be cheesy but it perfectly captures a feeling of nostalgia and regret unlike any other movie.

Meanwhile, a fan on IMDb said while they would once have rated Goodfellas as the better film, “I now most positively suppose in any other case”.

“Don’t get me fallacious GF is a superb movie but it surely’s not one of many greats, I feel Goodfellas is extra of a fast gangster repair, positively the primary of a contemporary breed of blunt instrument Gangland movies, ones that are filled with brash characters, plenty of grotesque killing and successful parade soundtrack.

“Once Upon a Time in America is the opposite, a carefully crafted and honed (near) masterpiece of cinematic character storytelling. You feel part of what you’re watching, transported back to a different era. Just half a step behind The Godfather in my estimation.”

Another wrote that De Niro’s “weariness is astonishingly realistic and applause should be directed at De Niro and his method”., calling it a “true masterpiece”.

Another wrote: “I have seen many movies, good and bad. One thing for certain, Once Upon a Time in America is more than good.

“It is superb, a real milestone within the crime drama style. The cinematography, photos, surroundings and places are all very good and fairly sweeping, whereas Ennio Morricone’s rating ranks up there along with his highest.

“While the film clocks in at nearly four hours long, it never feels boring to me while the pace is quite elegiac everything else just compels you. I will admit, this is another film you need to see more than once to understand/appreciate it.”

The movie has an 18 certificates and comprises robust bloody violence and sexual violence – so viewer discretion is suggested.

Once Upon a Time in America is streaming now on Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. It’s out there to lease or purchase on Prime, in addition to on Apple TV and YouTube.