This is Sergio Leones masterpiece and in my opinion the best gangster film ever made however it seems to be really misunderstood and very underrated
shareAgreed. My favorite movie for over thirty years. All we can do is keep spreading the word :)
shareI agree totally. It has great reviews I don't know if it's underrated maybe underappreciated, doesn't seem as iconic as other movies. I really love the movie, and I'd watch it more often if it wasn't so darn long. I don't find the length to take away from its greatness, it's just hard finding a certain day that you're totally invested in a movie that is near 4 hrs long, still an absolute epic movie though.
shareAnd the score, by Ennio Morricone....haunting....
shareI guess so. It is considered a masterpiece of cinema by many critics and viewers alike, although it does lack the iconic status that most highly regarded classics have. Ultimately, I'd say it's certainly misunderstood and underappreciated by "some."
Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!
The "lack of iconic status" seems to be totally man-made and only in the US to me. There is a code of silence around this film here in the US while it's truly iconic in Europe. The reason for that is beyond me (no, I don't believe it's the length). I feel especially bad for the actors like De Niro and McGovern whose best roles have been crossed out from their biographies, and in case of James Woods, it's downright tragic, he didn't get another chance to shine.
shareVampires. JC movie. Woods shines. And there are plenty of other movies where the bloke shines.
shareWhy the code of silence? Is it because the ‘hero’ is a multiple rapist?
I watched it again yesterday after having seen it many years ago and to be honest, I'm not that convinced anymore.
It started out great with the one scene that's basically the pivotal moment in the life of Noodles and all involved, but the pacing is really slow after that. The story jumps through time, from the beginning to the end, all in chronological order. Yet the events are at times sketchy and oddly enough very fast.
I guess I just never got the reason why Max held Noodles in such high esteem. The bond between the two never worked well for me, and that is pretty much the basis of the entire story.
Personally, I'ld say that the Godfather and Goodfellas are better gangster movies, mostly because this one was more about the bond between the two men, not necessarily the gangster element. The movie never really goes on about their dealings, how they do things, apart from a couple of scenes, and even those are more to highlight the relationship.
L'Amour est mort, vive la Haïne
This is not a "pure" gangster movie and it is more about friendship, betrayal, love, selfishness, ambition, corruption, etc.. so it cannot be compared to Goodfellas and Godfather that are the best "gangster" movies ever done in my opinion.
By the way I consider this movie a masterpiece that can't be compared to any other movie because it's incomparable and unique.
That is true, The Godfather and Goodfellas were about gangsters and their code and life. This movie doesn't have that as the main focus, I must admit.
But there just didn't seem all that much of a focus in it either.
Like I said, the friendship between Max and Noodles never worked for me, and without that, the rest doesn't really impress either I guess.
L'Amour est mort, vive la Haïne
Their friendship was complexe and this is what made it so strong. It was one of the most realistic relationship I've seen between two characters in a movie. They have this constant hate/love relationship. This is way better than what we are used to see. But, each its own I guess.
shareSorry but this viewer was bored senseless thirty minutes into this movie. Sergio's masterpiece it was not. This was a Wake me up, when the credits roll" type of movie.
It meanders on, and on and on: well, here's how not to write a screenplay!
As for this comment "...however it seems to be really misunderstood and very underrated" What are you talking about!??? 8.4/10 is anything BUT underrated!!!
Sure - the masses obviously love this movie. And sometimes they get it right, "Godfather", "Deerhunter" (DeNiro's best movie), "Scarface", "Casablanca", "Schindler's List", they even got the rating for "The Good The Bad and The Ugly" right.
But this movie they didn't. Same for Fight Club, another which almost 'sanctifies' violence for violence's sake. Both are incredibly overrated movies.
Remove the sociopathy. Remove the violence - and what's left? A thoroughly boring screenplay.
It never ceases to amaze me, just how many people enjoy the glorification/glamorisation of violence. It's as if violence is 'cool'. Well it isn't. It ruins lives and there is nothing 'cool' nor dignified about violence. Peace and respect between people is cool. Yet when so many members of society have such adoration for violent movies, it's no wonder that such is so sadly echoed in real life, again and again.
8.4/10. More like 4.4/10.
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Sandwiched between The Principle of Mediocrity & Rare Earth Theory, you should see The Fermi Paradox
are there not cartoons for people like you?
shareLeave the IMDb threads forever please.... Your opinion is not valued anywhere. You clearly have no clue what you're talking about. Stick with your Hollywood blockbusters you pleb ....
Yes this movie with an 8.4 is underrated. It deserves as high, if not higher than The Godfather Part 1 & 2. IMO it's much better than both, and both are 10/10 movies IMO
When this came out in '84, I remember it getting very little publicity.
It was only after a year or two later that I happened to catch it and I was blown away by it.
I liked it much more than The Godfather and couldn't understand how a movie of this caliber went under my radar.
It's still one of those movies that once it's playing and I happen on it, can't stop watching it.
Bump
shareIt's an amazing movie.
When folk talk about Great 'gangster / crime movies' they always mention Godfather, or Goodfellas at the top of their lists. Then they may talk about movies such as Heat (which is very close to the top), Scarface, etc, and then on to movies like Carlitos Way, The Untouchables, etc.
OUATIA is often 'forgotten' but when folk who have seen it remember to mention it then you get others saying how great it is, and as good or better than the top two...
Yes, one of the truly Underrated Greatest movies of all time,
I think the movie had some problems that prevented it from reaching the same status as other gangster classics or even the rest of Sergio Leone's filmography.
The non-linear storytelling was not necessary. The annoying telephone ring that lasts 10 minutes at the start of the movie is extremely off putting. The main protagonist rapes 2 women. The movie is very long. The soundtrack has some amazing songs, but they are repeated too often. Imagine hearing "Ecstasy of gold" 3 or 4 times in "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly", it would have diminished its impact. I personally found it annoying when Cockeye was whistling or playing his theme song and it obviously wasn't him playing. Elizabeth McGovern has older Deborah was bad casting. Bad old age make-up on all the characters. Max's son looking exactly like him was kinda dumb. Everything that happens after 1930 could be Noodle's opium fueled fantasy, or not. Would people like if a third of the "Godfather" was possibly's Fredo's dream?