Once Upon a Time in the West
Dir: Sergio Leone
1968
*****
Sergio Leone's 1968 Once Upon a Time in the West was the turning point for a genre and the inspiration for every Western that has been made ever since, whether it's been serious or a parody. Once Upon a Time in the West is probably the greatest western ever made, I have a soft spot for Westerns, the older James Stewart films, High Noon and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly come close to being favorites but this one edges all of them somewhat. The first 20 minutes is better than most films are in their entirety, Western or not. The mood and tone, the dust and the sweat, the yellow of the sand and the red of the blood, it is nothing short of beautiful. The performances and scenes that linger just that little bit longer than most make for an intense, exhilarating and thoroughly rewarding ride. Rightfully regarded as the classic it is. Credit is due though to Bernardo Bertolucci and Dario Argento who are often forgotten co-authors and one does have to wonder whether the film would be as memorable without the awesome score by the great Ennio Morricone.