• Latest
African Queen (1951)

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

October 5, 2021

Montpelier Police Dept. Virtual Reality Training System

May 24, 2022

Gifford to Offer Teens a Safe Sitter® Course

May 24, 2022
Vermont Foodbank Chief Financial Officer Julie-Ann Graves, 2022 Winner of the Remarkable Woman

Vermont Foodbank Chief Financial Officer Julie-Ann Graves, 2022 Winner of the Remarkable Woman

May 24, 2022
Barre Lions Club Community News

Barre Lions Club Community News

May 24, 2022
African Queen (1951)

From Here to Eternity (1953)

May 24, 2022
Student Artwork Graces Downtown Storefront

Student Artwork Graces Downtown Storefront

May 17, 2022
Vermont Plants Sunflowers for Ukraine Solidarity Update

Vermont Plants Sunflowers for Ukraine Solidarity Update

May 17, 2022

Upper Valley Everyone Eats Returns to Gifford in May

May 17, 2022
African Queen (1951)

Some Like it Hot (1959)

May 17, 2022
Just Some Thoughts

A Million Little Miracles

May 17, 2022
Young Wildlife Belong in the Wild

Young Wildlife Belong in the Wild

May 10, 2022
Make-A-Wish® Crowns Best Beard in Vermont and Raises Over $90,000 at Sixth Annual Vermont Beardies

Make-A-Wish® Crowns Best Beard in Vermont and Raises Over $90,000 at Sixth Annual Vermont Beardies

May 10, 2022
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
The World Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

1.5 Stars

vt-world by vt-world
October 5, 2021
in Max's View
0
African Queen (1951)

Once upon a time in Italy, Sergio Leone saved the Western genre. At the dawn of the Counter Culture movement, Hollywood Westerns were becoming old-fashioned, predictable, and bland.

Mr. Leone invited Clint Eastwood to Italy in 1964 and changed everything. Starting with “A Fistful of Dollars,” Leone’s Westerns were violent, moody art films for men rather than cowboy movies for boys.

Sergio Leone became so revered that he earned the right to make whatever movie he wanted with total artistic control.

The result was the four-hour epic disaster “Once Upon a Time in America.” “America” isn’t just bad; it is a monumental failure.

Leone tries to tell the story of four Jewish friends growing up in New York City in the early years of the 20th Century. The boys eagerly join the gangster underworld. They make it big during Prohibition – running a popular speakeasy and a classy brothel.

Two of the friends aren’t developed at all as characters. I don’t even remember their names.

If there is tension in the movie, it is the rivalry between Noodles (Robert De Niro) and Max (James Woods). Noodles is a conservative and hesitant businessman; Max likes to dream big and take risks.

We are supposed to believe that Max is an explosive criminal mastermind. But we don’t because he always acts like a childish hothead jerk.

The most preventable problem with “Once Upon a Time in America” is the amusing fact that none of the characters look or act even remotely Jewish. Hey, I get that Sergio Leone was born and raised in a country with approximately zero Jews. So … why didn’t he make a movie about Italian gangsters?

Apparently, Leone thinks that Jews are regular American tough guys who occasionally say “L’Chaim” and “tush.” The movie isn’t anti-Jew at all. It’s just funny that Mr. Leone seemingly knew nothing about Jews.

A more uncomfortable problem is Leone’s treatment of women. Oddly, almost every female character is single-mindedly sex crazed.

During a Detroit diamond heist, Noodles has semi-consensual sex with a married woman. A few scenes later, she is in New York working at the brothel. Did she like the rough treatment so much that she dropped everything to make a career out of it? It is never explained.

I don’t think “America” is necessary misogynistic. It’s just odd that Mr. Leone seemingly knew nothing about women.

Every hour or so, Noodles goes into an opium den to smoke himself comatose. And every time, I said to myself – “Oh, yeah. Noodles is some sort of junkie.” It’s easy to forget, because he never talks about drugs or acts high or indicates that he craves more opium.

Hey, everyone deals with their bad habits differently. But I couldn’t help but think that Mr. Leone seemingly knew nothing about addictive drugs.

Sometimes the very greatest directors make the most outrageously terrible films. That is certainly what happened here. Sergio Leone’s “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” is arguably the finest Western ever made. And “Once Upon a Time in America” is the most overrated Gangster film.

Previous Post

Mayor’s Report – September 2021

Next Post

Wants vs. Needs

Next Post
Just Some Thoughts

Wants vs. Needs

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In