Review of Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) by Zen B — 29 Dec 2010

Once Upon a Time in the West, by Sergio Lenone, is by far my favorite film. It is hard for me to compare it to other Leone classics, but most definitely my favorite out of all of them. The character development in this film is amazing. I always feel like I am right there in the film with the gun slingers, the whores, the bath house attendents, everyone. The close ups, the quick fight sequences and the auditory anticipation make the film what it is. But one thing is to be said, the film would be nothing with out Ennio Morricone's masterful score, Leone's classic pacing, and the phenomenal acting of Charles Bronson, Jason Robards, Henry Fonda, and Claudia Cardinale.

I don't normally buy soundtracks to films, but this is an exception. But before starting with the music, the overall use of audio in the film by Leone is exceptional. He keeps and intentionally tries to capture all of the sounds that you would hear if you were sitting at a trainstation about an hour past noon in the middle of nowhere Arizona in the mid 1800's. From the creaking of the windmill, to the water drops thudding on the gunhand's ten gallon, to the cracking of the knuckles before the shootout, to the infamous clattering of the ticker machine and the buzzing of the agitating fly, the first scene is a masterpiece in itself. The music doesn't come in till after the anticipated train leaves. All the other sounds fade out, and all you are left with is a darkly melodic hamonica, three gunhands and the revengefilled hero, Harmonica speaking over the erie plucking of the dark guitar melody. The the quick gunshots, then back to the windmill. It all happens so fast and unexpectedly, you as the viewer are left with your jaw swinging on the hinges.

From begining to end of the 145 min theatrical, or the 165 min restored, or the 171 min extended, you will be sure to have gotten your spurs dirty with a little mud, blood, classic Ennio Morricone. Go watch this masterpiece. Go now. 10/10.