A movie that can't be shown in theaters

Alysa 2022-04-19 09:01:18

The director successfully structured the positive and negative aspects of the American Dream in the public mind, but also successfully structured the positive and negative aspects of human nature. These two positive and negative contradictions are intertwined: the successful people in the eyes of the world eventually die in depression because of the loss of their humanity; while the losers in the eyes of the world finally retain the beauty in their hearts and live with a clear conscience.

Why do you say that?

First, it was the first time I watched this film, and the chaotic editing of time and space at the beginning left me puzzled, and it returned to normal as the narrative became normalized later. I feel that the emotional rendering is not in place, and the brotherhood and love are not impressive. Then I suddenly remembered that I didn't understand it at the beginning, so I pulled the film again the next day. Surprise can't be said, but suddenly enlightenment is definitely there. Like tea, the more you taste, the more flavorful it is. Many seemingly strange lines can really be felt when you read them again.

Second, the film was shown in Europe with a nearly 4-hour version, which is also on the market now, but the director originally planned to edit it for 6 hours, because he felt that there was not enough time to support the entire film. However, when it was released in the United States, due to the many restrictions of the theater, taking into account the needs of the audience and the exhaustion period, it was finally cut into one and a half hours, and finally a series of criticism and abuse followed. related to this.

A movie in theaters will not come again after one pass, and this film, you have to chew it over and over again.

I will talk about what other bean friends rarely talk about but which impresses me very much - the opening paragraph of Fat Boy and Noodles

Caps chased the middle-aged noodles, and the fat boy resisted stubbornly, even though he might think his friend betrayed him

To be violently killed at the end, forced to say the slender hiding place under threat

When the caps went here, Noodles probably understood that Fat Boy leaked secrets, because they were the only brothers who knew the Chinese Theater.

But he understood very well. He believed that his brother was out of nowhere. The proof was that he escaped from the theater, and the first place he went to was the Fat Boys Tavern.

Fat Boy gave him the key, but there was only a pile of paper left in the box.

I think he should have concluded that the fat boy had stolen it, and only a few of them knew where the box was placed, and at least four people must be present to open the box, and the key was kept by the fat boy. That is to say, only the fat guy who keeps the key has this possibility.

And this lays the groundwork for their old age encounter: both parties feel that the other party has stolen the money

And the noodles even suspected that it was the fat boy who exposed his traces for 35 years, because no one among the brothers survived except him.

Let’s sort it out, before we met, Fat Boy thought that Noodles had swallowed a lot of money and betrayed himself and his friends; Noodles thought that Fat Boy had swallowed money and betrayed himself

But what impresses me the most is

The old fat boy showed a familiar smile when he saw the noodles, because he was released from prison after receiving noodles when he was middle-aged.

In this situation, you can't help but think that this is the most sincere and beautiful smile in the world

Back in old age, the fat boy had the urge to hug when he saw the noodles.

But Noodle deliberately took out a key to stop this action, because he had too many questions, and even had been observing Fat Boy and his place since he entered the door

The fat boy is really good. The old man is running the tavern by himself and is helpless.

He has never changed his original intention. He almost cried when he said the following words

What heights such trust has reached! How many people can do it? Even if you think your friend betrayed you

In fact, Fat Boy has always been the person who cares about noodles the most.

Not only that, when the middle-aged noodle and Deborah were dating, the fat boy specially turned off the hall lights and directed a band to play melodious movements.

wow~ so interesting


In fact, there are many details in the film, including noodles and MAX, noodles and Deborah's...

Without the impediment of MAX over and over again, the two of them have already made it. If they succeed, this love will be another story.

We all know that Deborah likes noodles very, very much, even if she finally meets Noodles, she persuades Noodles not to come to the banquet, in order to try to keep the best memories in Noodles heart

But she looked down on him, the way of dressing and ruffian life, and she yearned for a better life, a more noble art

But even so, in the film we can see a lot of details about liking noodles, this kind of liking really only comes from the heart, not for money, not for power, not for anything, just for love

That conversation in the barn, the passage she read from the bible, was just a confession, and in the end they all kissed, sweet and beautiful

This is the purest love

Teacher Dai Jinhua said that this is one of her favorite films, and her interpretation of it is that success structures the positive and negative sides of the American Dream.

Loyal, kind, pure, and loyal people ended in tragedy. They lived alone and terrified for decades. In the end, even the most beautiful memories in my heart were shattered.

And the evil, scheming, snobbish person has gained power, money and women, but he is unhappy, in the eyes of the world he is brilliant, but in the end, he got nothing, of course the noodles can be seen, Just said this:

Therefore, the director successfully structured the positive and negative aspects of the American Dream in the public mind, but also successfully structured the positive and negative aspects of human nature. These two positive and negative contradictions are intertwined: the successful people in the eyes of the world eventually die in depression because of the loss of their humanity; while the losers in the eyes of the world finally retain the beauty in their hearts and live with a clear conscience.

Does it sound familiar? Isn't it like this in real life?

People are busy setting their sights on the so-called success paradigm, but they ignore the more magnanimous human nature and beauty. People are busy pursuing marriage within the established social framework, but neglect to pursue more authentic love.

View more about Once Upon a Time in America reviews

Extended Reading
  • Otto 2022-03-22 09:01:13

    After watching more than 4 hours of film length, it is estimated that many people’s health bars are almost empty. However, it is said that the original film has 6 or even 10 hours, but frankly you don’t think there is much redundant content, after all, it is almost A person's life is condensed into a few hours. Through the interweaving of three timelines from 1921 to 1933 to 1968, the director used several vivid characters to vividly depict the turbulent era of the gangster in the American Prohibition on paper. The uninterrupted telephone ringing at the beginning runs directly through the three timelines. , An extremely awesome narrative operation. If you recall carefully, you will find that the main female characters first have a relationship with Noodles and then with Max. It can be seen that Max has always been jealous of Noodles. Maybe there was really hurt in the street fight? The role played by Connery, who left a glimpse of film history, has always been a relatively secular one, while Noodles, who witnessed the death of his partner in his arms, are idealistic from beginning to end. Fortunately for the national poet, Prohibition is a heavy scar in American history, but it has nourished the art of film.

  • Assunta 2022-04-24 07:01:02

    I'm still young, and I won't pretend to be big in the future. This is the film review, more than three hours of film review. I may give 100 stars in the future, but now, I am still young, so I will not express my position. But why did Noodle do that to Deborah? Why?

Once Upon a Time in America quotes

  • Bugsy: [Bugsy and his gang have beaten Noodles and Max] You don't work for me, you don't work for no-one!

    Young Max: I don't like bosses.

    Bugsy: You'd be better off you stayed in the Bronx.

    Young Max: Woulda been better for *you*, too!

    [Bugsy spits on him, and he and his gang walk off]

    Young Max: I'm gonna kill him one of these days...

    Young Noodles: Yeah? Meanwhile, it looks like he killed US!

  • Frankie Minaldi: Hey, Joe, tell these guys the story about the pussy being insured. What is it? Tell these guys how you stumbled on this whole thing. Tell them the story. Come on. Pussy insurance, the insurance pussies. Tell them that story.

    Joe Minaldi: Life is stranger than shit, that's all. It's a pisser. No big story. I got this insurance agent, this Jew kid named David. He conned me into every policy in the world. Every policy, name it, dogs, house, wife, life, anything. I'm drinking with the boys one night. He comes in with his wife, a brunette with a nice ass who works for a jeweller. And he's still on the hustle, this guy. So I wink at the guys, I say, "Look... the most serious policy, you don't have me covered for." He goes, "What's that, Joe?" "Cock insurance. You make me a policy that when it don't work, I get a payment. I'll write out a check now." He thinks, and he says, "I don't know if the actuality gauges govern this... but we can make a policy. But you gotta guarantee you're in good health now." I says, "Look, leave her with me. Come back and see if it stands up. If it stands up, you know I'm in good health." The jerk leaves her. I screw her. Not only that, she likes it. And she tells me when her boss, the jeweller is shipping stones to Holland, where he keeps his stash - in a drawer in the safe - everything! Can't ask for more, right? Except, one better. I never paid the first premium on the new cock policy.

    Max: [laughing] Cock insurance...

    Joe Minaldi: Life is funnier than shit. But... be easy with the girl. I mean that. Be easy with the girl.