Review of Once Upon a Time in America (1984) by Arif B — 16 Jul 2012
How appropriate it is to watch this dream-like flick just after I had watched TV's 'Awake', which is all about a man having a dream within a dream. The flashback scenes are well done and so are the dissolves. I presume this is how Tarantino got the idea for the non-linear narrative in his 'Pulp Fiction'.
The characters and environment are a delight to watch, but the ending is certainly disappointing. How could Noodles not have known that the senator was his childhood friend, Max, whom he had given up to the Feds? The movie's surprise ending is based on the premise that Noodles didn't know that Max was alive. But in an age of media publicity, this is hard to believe. I'm sure Noodles would have seen the senator's picture in the papers.
The movie is partly a mediation on gangsterism and American culture, and it's also about the fragility of friendship. Friends are hard to come by, but Noodles has no scruples about betraying his childhood friends.
This review of Once Upon a Time in America (1984) was written by Arif B on 16 Jul 2012.
Once Upon a Time in America has generally received very positive reviews.
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