Why did it not win any Oscars I would have given it Best PIcture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor, but I haven't seen the films that won oscars in that year.

And at the same time he is showing Max that he is finally at peace with himself. It's almost as though any bitterness and guilt that Noodles had carried within himself throughout the years has now been drained from him, as though this tremendous weight has been taken off his back.

Yes I see now, thanks DC!

There are some who believe that Noodles was dreaming the whole thing while he was in his opium stupor. However I do not believe that theory.

Here are some tidbits about the movie :

In preparation for his role as David "Noodles" Aaronson, Robert De Niro requested a private meeting with renowned crime boss, Meyer Lansky, upon whom the character was loosely based. The request was denied.


The actor at the end who walks up to the garbage truck was not James Woods, but an actor made up to look like James Woods.


Joe Pesci originally auditioned for Max, but Sergio Leone convinced him that he wouldn't be quite "right" for the part. As a favor to Pesci's friend Robert De Niro (the star of the film), Leone told Pesci that he could pick whichever of the available roles he wanted as his own instead. He chose the part of Frankie, which was considerably larger in the original script than it is in the finished movie.

"The Myth is Everything" - Sergio Leone

DC, I'm not the biggest fan of the opium theory, but consider this:

For centuries, people of culture around the world considered mind-altering narcotics to be a "key" of sorts to going outside the body and exploring the universe, through time and space. Marijuana, LSD, and especially Opium were such tools for such "voyages."

Your point is well taken. But I just never believed that it applied to the events in this movie. And now reading the book, I am even more sure that the opium theory does not apply.

I was off of work yesterday, and I was looking for something to watch. I was flipping through my DVD collection and came across Once Upon.... I hadn't watched it in a long time (because of the length), so I sat down and watched it.

It is quite possibly the greatest film I've ever had the pleasure of watching.

Next to Godfather and Godfather II, it's probably my favorite gangster movie.

It may be infamita, but depending on my mood, it's probably better than GF I and II, to me at least. It's really that great.

Best film of the 80's.

It's not an infamia. It's almost , on the level of The Godfather. Not quite, but almost. Perhaps a step or two below it, but very very close in my opinion.

They're all great films, and it's difficult to compare apples and pears, but I think I'd lean more naturally toward Once Upon a Time in America now; it really is a fantastic, fantastic film.

You're right Capo. Same basic genre, but two different kinds of stories / films.

I just found a brilliant article on OUATIA.

Click here:ONCE UPON A TIME IN AMERICA

Thanks PB. I remember reading that article a while back and was trying to locate it again to post here. But unfortunately I could not find it. Thanks again for finding and posting it here.

Great article.

Well i just bought this movie and watched it last night.I really enjoyed it and didnt mind what so ever that it moved slowly.I liked how alot of scenes were drawn out.This movie has a nice feel to it.I have to watch it again though as i found myself getting a little lost as its almost 4 hrs long.I dont compare it to Godfather but all in all,a great film.

I always enjoy the start,with the long long phone ring,it gets picked up but still carrys on.

Yeah when i chucked the movie on,my girlfriend was in the bedroom and she yelled out"what the fuck are you watching>A phone ringing non stop on the tellie".I even thought to myself"pick up the bloody phone"

I'm not sure. Maybe our Oscar expert Ronnie can weigh in?

I'll say this, the watered down two hour cut originally released in the U.S. greatly diminished the film itself and in turn it's chances of Oscars and such.

I watched it again today and enjoyed immensely.The first time i viewed it i had missed alot of subtle things which were needed.Plus i was getting a little confused with the plot.Annoyed,i put it on again sat down and didn't move from the couch.WOW..what a film.Superb story line,feel,acting and directing.The flashback to their child hood days are fun to watch and very entertaining.Im hoping it wasn't meant to be an opium induced dream.That would seriously wreck the movie for me.Anyways i would probably give it 9 / 10.Brilliant film.

A great film that is all the things that you say above. Most definitely one of my favorites. I can tell you that the story is not meant to be an opium induced dream. If you liked the film that much than I strongly suggest that you read the book that the film is based on called THE HOODS. Reading the book will give you such a deeper understanding and even more of an appreciation of the film.

Here is a LINK to the topic that discusses the book called THE HOODS

I can't find this book anywhere in UK,its not even on ebay or amazon..

ABEBOOKS.COM

The Hoods
Grey, Harry
Bookseller: Zardoz Books
(Westbury, WIL, United Kingdom)

The Hoods
Grey, Harry
Bookseller: Quartermelon
(United Kingdom, ., United Kingdom)

The Hoods
Grey, Harry
Bookseller: THESAINTBOOKSTORE
(Southport, ., United Kingdom)

Thanks for that DC,its just that ive got so many books to read im ganna wait till buying this..

Thanks for that info DC.I appreciate it.I will purchase the book for sure.I actually just watched the Making of Once Upon.... and it showed the book.Cant wait to read it.

It take it's out of circulation in shops..

What is De Niro smiling about at the end?Its almost as though he's relieved it was all a dream.