Films/DVD Asylum

RE: thanks to this thread....

50.46.131.186

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In Reply to: RE: Once Upon a Time in the West, 1968. The ultimate western? posted by free.ranger on May 31, 2016 at 20:32:18

...I looked for a showing that I could set the dvr to. Nothing coming up in the next two weeks. So I searched ebay and found that there is a Blu-Ray available with both the 'restored' version as well as the 'theatrical release'.
$10.28 (free shipping) from ebay seller "Blow it outa here".
Fast delivery.
Having received the BRD, and getting ready for my first viewing, I opted for the restored version.(165 minutes or ~2 hrs 45 minutes)
This is, truth be told, the first time I've sat through this film. I'm not entirely certain why. Perhaps it was that no one else I knew was overtly positive about it. But now, I have to say I'm a fan of this film.
The real star of this film is its creator and director, Sergio Leone.
Set in a time of United States history just after the civil war, when railroads were only just reaching across to the Pacific. Hubs of commerce were only just starting to pop up along the path of the steam powered trains.
The director tells his story through the camera close-ups on his characters. We learn their motivations by seemingly being able to see through their eyes into the depths of depravity within their souls. This is the truly remarkable aspect that sets apart this film from any other wild west movie I've seen.
The restored version had some scenes in it that push the boundaries of the ratings system. Not quite an R rating yet not far from it. Claudia Cardinale entrances the viewer. Over time we learn that she is a pragmatic beauty that will use every physical asset she owns to both survive, and get what she wants. And she wins the hearts of more than a few hardened criminals in the process.
Finally, about 3/4 through the film we understand what all the ruckus is about. The deaths of innocents. All the killing. All the fighting. It is about the future and certain tracts of land. Who owns it. And who is willing to murder for it.
This movie really stands apart. Leone tells his story through his characters. And the characters aren't all that talkative. We learn through their actions who they really are and what they are about.
The cast is interesting. Leone must have chosen all of the characters by the unique character that can be seen in their faces. The best of the best from central casting. Jack Elam is unforgetable. Watching him deal with a fly that persists in exploring his face while he waits, hands on weapons, for the train to arrive. Woody Strode. A character actor that has been unforgettable in many roles, yet gets less credit than he deserves. Henry Fonda. Keenan Wynn. Charles Bronson. Jason Robards. Through the lens wielded by Sergio Leone, and assisted by an artful Hollywood make-up team, they all seem to be from the same mold.
This film is art.
-Steve

Edits: 06/18/16

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