There is a high likelihood that many people, if asked, would tell you that their favourite gangster movie is the Francis Ford Coppola classic The Godfather. However, there is another gangster film that is a strong contender in the running for the best of all time and it came out nearly 10 years after the first Godfather movie, and it is streaming on Netflix.
Running at a cool three hours and 49 minutes, it is a gangster epic that everyone should watch at least once in their lives. Once Upon a Time in America is a staple in the genre and a cinematic masterpiece. Each scene, frame and performance influenced its impact and defined what makes filmmaking great. Made in 1984, the film has a 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.3/10 on IMDb.
The story follows best friends “Noodles” Aaronson, played by Robert De Niro and Max Bercovicz, played by James Woods, as they become prominent figures in New York’s criminal underworld by rising to the top of their local gang.
The film is based on Harry Grey’s book The Hoods (1952) and was adapted for the screen by Sergio Leone.
His timeless work would become the blueprint for many gangster films and performances later down the line.
Leone’s final film in his long directing career, he chose to delve into themes of fractured childhood friendships, desire for love, grieving and becoming greedy.
On top of De Niro and Bercovicz, the film starred Elizabeth McGovern, James Woods and Joe Pesci.
Once Upon a Time in America won two BAFTAs among its many awards and had even more nominations.
One critic wrote: “It isn’t just the echoing moments that keep you absorbed. It’s those reverberant dreamland settings and Leone’s majestic, billowing sense of film movement; the images seem to come at you in waves of feeling.”
Commenting on a Reddit thread debating which film out of The Godfather (series), Once Upon a Time in America and Goodfellas, is the best, one person said: “Once Upon a Time in America is way better than either Godfather or Goodfellas.”
Another said it was the best gangster film and added: “I also think it’s just the best movie period.”
One fan wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: “Once Upon a Time in America is a masterpiece movie. The plot, actors’ performance, directed by Sergio Leone, and Ennio Morricone’s music are a masterpiece. It’s one of the best performances of Robert De Niro. The film is The Godfather of the 80s.”
“Once Upon a Time in America is available to stream on Netflix.