Once Upon A Time In The West
Sergio Leone's original uncut masterpiece is a monumental epic. The picture itself is as big as its Monument Valley locations. As grand as it's fine distinguished cast, and as tough and bawdy as everybody imagines the old west. Henry Fonda plays the blackest character of his long career, and he's utterly convincing as Frank, the ruthless, murderous psychopath who suffers no conscience pangs after annihilating an entire family. Jason Robards is the half-breed falsely accused of the terrible slaughter. Charles Bronson plays The Man, who remembers how his brother was savagely tortured. Brilliantly directed be Leone, this glorious picture re-established the Western's significance to cinema art.
Member Reviews
And Happily Ever After - Squish
Interestingly, the plot of 'Once Upon A Time In The West' does not come quickly. In fact, for easily half an hour we're introduced to this wonderful world of dusty desert and their characters. I would even call this film very much a Mystery film, since so many questions hang in the air, from "what are these angry people all doing here?" to "why did the McBain family get killed?"
Try as I might to really get into it though, loving Henry Fonda as I do, loving Bronson as I do, loving Westerns and overdubbed Italian ladies as I do, it was a lot of wait for the big payoff, which was big, and paid off, but I gotta admit, I was a little too hyped up for what I got, no matter how great the direction and performances were from Claudia Cardinale, Gabriele Ferzetti, and everyone else.
Now, what I did enjoy most about the dynamic of these three characters and the dame they orbited around was how genuinely individual they were, each with very separate motivations. When Harmonica met Cheyenne, we didn't know if they'd be enemies, but doubted they'd be friends. The tension between them was thick, their relationship tenuous, their trust not to be easily forged. Throughout the film, they cross paths as strangers, who on occasion might have the same agenda. When Harmonica met the sinister Frank, again, we were left with a mystery as opposed to instant understanding of 'the way it was going to be between them'. Above all things, this is what made the film for me, that closed poker face attitude... and yeah, the cinematography was amazing.Henry Fonda makes an excellent bad guy. - houseplant
A story about friendship, revenge, outlaws, the story starts off introducing you with a man on a mission, you aren’t really sure what his mission is, all you can tell is he will stop at nothing to see it though. Then it introduced you to a woman, who is on her way to starting a new life, out in the country, with a new husband but by the time she makes it out there it’s all gone. Then there is the Outlaw who everyone is blaming for this, who is just trying to figure out why someone would do this. The three stories meet up and they work together to get to the bottom of everything.
It was beautifully shot, and the score was amazing, personally think it made the movie. And Henry Fonda was an amazing creepy bad guy. Everyone was spectacular, though, I’m still trying to get this straight, was Claudia Cardinale dubbed? Sometimes she didn’t match up with what was being said, but other times she was. Out of them all she sometimes seemed a little lacking, but if she was dubbed over that would probably explain it.
To be honest it felt like every scene was seemed to long. I know why, and a lot of it worked, added tension, but some of the times I noticed it drawing out. That’s not at all saying it wasn’t well done, it just it felt long. Just felt long to get the story going though, I found once it got going it’s flow was good and worth it all by the great conclusion.Left in the dust - Imperical
When it comes to spaghetti western movies three names come to mind Sergio Leone, Ennio Morricone and Clint Eastwood. Although this movie does not have Clint Eastwood, Henry Fondas performance well supplements the lack of the Eastwood. This movie and Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (Good,bad and the ugly) are the top western movies of all time with no arguement.
The epic story telling grips the viewer from begining to end with spectacular performances by Charles Brosnon, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards and Claudia Cardinale. The movie also presented Ennio Morricone greatest connection of track to scene. A memorable track to scene moment was the scene that launched of right as Charles Brosnon entered the scene for the final duel.
The story is basicially the dispute over some railroad track that connects several charactors in the process of the feud. As long as it maybe the plot definately doesn't evolve slow, it may seem that way for people who just can't stand to watch movies beyond the norm 120 mins. All the charactors are given a heart in this film to some degree and have very distinguishable features.
There are very little western movies that lock me to my seat but this was definately one of them. From epic one liners like Henry Fondas "How am I suppose to trust a man who can't even trust his pants." said to a man who has both suspenders and a belt conected to his pants. To Charles Brosnon saying "Can you play music with that too." sliding the revolver down the bar towards Harmonica.
The movie was one of the best western flicks of all time. It was entirely underrated and anyone who remotely likes western flicks would be left in the dust if they hadn't seen this one.
Member Reviews
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And Happily Ever After - Squish
Interestingly, the plot of 'Once Upon A Time In The West' does not come quickly. In fact, for easily half an hour we're introduced to this wonderful world of dusty desert and their characters. I would even call this film very much a Mystery film, since so ...Henry Fonda makes an excellent bad guy. - houseplant
A story about friendship, revenge, outlaws, the story starts off introducing you with a man on a mission, you aren’t really sure what his mission is, all you can tell is he will stop at nothing to see it though. Then it introduced you to a woman, who is on ...Left in the dust - Imperical
When it comes to spaghetti western movies three names come to mind Sergio Leone, Ennio Morricone and Clint Eastwood. Although this movie does not have Clint Eastwood, Henry Fondas performance well supplements the lack of the Eastwood. This movie and Buono, ...