Once upon A Time In America : Leone's deconstruction of the American myth

Once Upon A Time In America is Sergio Leone's final masterpiece. It's an epic tale of the cynicism way of the American dream with precise filmmaking. It is a great gangster movie juxtaposed with the prohibition era of America by one of cinema's finest filmmakers.

The storytelling method is unorthodox but is executed meticulously by Sergio Leone's filmmaking and his screenplay. It's a juxtaposition of old age and youth, guilt and sorrow. It is a brilliant tapestry of human drama interwoven with the cynical American dream. Leone's use of long tracking shots of characters juxtaposed with Prohibition-era America with its slow methodical pacing is an example of great cinema.

The cinematography by Tonino Delli Collio is spectacular and brings the Prohibition era of America alive in an astonishing manner. The cinematography and direction are spectacular.

The character work is layered and nuanced with well-written arcs for our central protagonists. Robert De Niro and James Woods are standouts in the principal cast and their conflict is interesting and emotionally investing. The supporting cast is wonderful and precipitous. The character work and storytelling is an intricate set of flashbacks of two timelines out of chronological order which keeps the mystery factor intact.

The production and set design are impeccable from an 80's production with lush sets filled with subdued lighting and camerawork which gives the impression of Prohibition-era America and the dynamic lighting for 60's America which reflects the grime of America.

Overall Once Upon A Time in America is an underappreciated masterpiece of the mafia genre that needs to be celebrated and remembered like its other mafia genre classics like The Godfather / Irishman.