Once Upon a Time in the West

The music improves the image. To be honest, at the beginning, when a dirty, hirsute bloke is shown swatting a fly for three minutes, I thought that in the next 160 minutes I would die out of boredom. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, and in the end this film entertained me a lot more than The Godfather, for instance. Mostly thanks to the music, the direction and the performances, because the contents don’t stand out. I can’t get rid of the feeling that I will never be a fan of western as a genre. (02/01/2009)

The best western ever, there is not a single ingredient out of place. Very imaginative direction, great actors and a soundtrack that has long since transcended "mere" film music and become a musical treasure and legend. Leone had a very lucky hand in choosing the actors (as always). Henry Fonda handled his only one role as a villain with aplomb (the American audiences couldn't get over the fact that the model good guy was playing such an asshole), Charles Bronson played perhaps the best role of his career, Claudia Cardinale is a delight to the eye and Jason Robards as Cheyenne is one of my favourite movie characters ever. A must see in widescreen format, the VHS crop amounts to a crime on this cinematic gem. (02/03/2003)

You know what? After watching this artistic epic, I can see why so many people view it as the greatest cinematic achievement in history. Sergio Leone really created a masterpiece in every way. I knew the film would consist of many long expository shots, but everything makes sense. Even the opening, slowly flowing sequence leading to the reveal of the Harmonica character is breathtaking. And the soundtrack? What more can be said… Ennio Morricone composed something truly exceptional and legendary that goes beyond mere film music. Each of the four main characters has their unique musical motif (where else have you seen that?). I also enjoyed the central storyline. The revelation at the end actually explained why Harmonica had been after Frank all along, and cleverly enhanced everything that led to the final resolution. Last but not least, the cast… they gave their absolute best; I enjoyed how many sequences relied solely on looks and expressions (Charles Bronson was a great actor!). Words are not always necessary. Once Upon a Time in the West deserves all the admiration. A majestic work in every aspect. For me, it’s a 9/10. (12/09/2023)

Someone might mind that the genius music loops throughout the movie until you’re blue in the face. And someone might mind that it’s not very comprehensive at times and it’s very hard to watch out for details for those nearly three hours. But I don’t mind, because I’d rather get a temporary paralysis of the eyelid if that meant that I can watch every single second of a movie as genius as this western. (01/07/2014)

This movie is simply a gem, which sucks you in and enchants you with its soundtrack, atmosphere, and individual performances. Even though it is well over two hours long, you do not get bored for a minute, and thanks to the truly amazing soundtrack, you experience everything to the fullest. Furthermore, Claudia Cardinale is probably the most beautiful woman I have ever seen on the screen, and especially in this movie, she is simply irresistible. (02/04/2015)