From just the first few minutes into Once Upon a Time in the West its magnificence is immediately evident. What is perhaps Leone’s best western opens with a beautifully orchestrated sequence that sees three unnamed gunmen awaiting the arrival of train and one of its passengers, ‘Harmonica’ (Charles Bronson). Leone builds tension in this scene using every tool at his disposal, most obviously in the effective use of a soundscape that manipulates sound effects and the score so as to control the audience’s reactions down to the finest detail. His almost patented use of wide shots and close-ups also both establishes and develops whilst at the same time never losing any engagement with the viewer. The opening is a lesson in filmmaking from one of cinema’s greatest experts and the excellence on display here continues throughout.
The fact that the film begins with the arrival of a...
The fact that the film begins with the arrival of a...
- 9/2/2011
- by Craig Skinner
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Chicago – Any conversation of the best Westerns in movie history that doesn’t include Sergio Leone’s “Once Upon a Time in the West” is incomplete. It’s one of those rare films that has truly gotten better with age. I’m not sure if it’s just that I appreciate it more the older I get, but I’m not alone. The film now ranks high on nearly every important list of the best movies ever made. Yes, it’s that good, and the Blu-ray restoration, which hit stores this week, is a beauty.
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0
For young readers, perhaps this reference will take hold — Sergio Leone was the Quentin Tarantino of his day. Clearly, there was no director with more influence on Qt than Leone with both men’s emphasis on long scenes of dialogue, often punctuated by brief outbursts of violence. The comparison holds even more with...
Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0
For young readers, perhaps this reference will take hold — Sergio Leone was the Quentin Tarantino of his day. Clearly, there was no director with more influence on Qt than Leone with both men’s emphasis on long scenes of dialogue, often punctuated by brief outbursts of violence. The comparison holds even more with...
- 6/2/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Director Sergio Leone’s glorious and acclaimed 1969 Western Once Upon a Time in the West makes its Blu-ray debut on May 31, 2011 from Paramount Home Entertainment.
Henry Fonda is bad to the bone in Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West.
If you’re a diehard Leone fan like me (Once Upon a Time in America baby!), you’ve got to be pumped about this one. I personally can’t wait to see the opening sequence—one of the greatest in movie history—in glorious high-definition. And my wife says she’s psyched to check out a bad ass Henry Fonda’s baby blues as rendered in Blu-ray.
The Once Upon a Time in the West Blu-ray will carry a list price of $19.95.
All the extras from Paramount’s 2003 Collector’s Edition of the film are being ported over to the Blu-ray. Here’s a complete list of...
Henry Fonda is bad to the bone in Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West.
If you’re a diehard Leone fan like me (Once Upon a Time in America baby!), you’ve got to be pumped about this one. I personally can’t wait to see the opening sequence—one of the greatest in movie history—in glorious high-definition. And my wife says she’s psyched to check out a bad ass Henry Fonda’s baby blues as rendered in Blu-ray.
The Once Upon a Time in the West Blu-ray will carry a list price of $19.95.
All the extras from Paramount’s 2003 Collector’s Edition of the film are being ported over to the Blu-ray. Here’s a complete list of...
- 3/22/2011
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
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