Tag: Sergio leone

Once Upon a Time in the West

Once Upon a Time in the West is a 1968 movie directed by Sergio Leone.

Once Upon a Time in the West is Sergio Leone’s tribute to the elegiac Western he made famous in his earlier works. The movie is essential Leone – it’s a gorgeous, layered visceral experience. Ennio Morricone’s sweeping score and the eyes of Charles Bronson, Claudia Cardinale and Henry Fonda are the stars of what is considered Leone’s masterpiece. Bronson takes on the prototypical Clint Eastwood role and adds his own unique charisma. Cardinale does the heavy lifting throughout the movie, employing a tough, cynical skin with touches of vulnerability.

THE BEST – The Music

It’s been said Leone plans his scenes based on music, which given Morricone’s beautiful arrangements, adds a rich, lyrical dimension to the movie. It’s impossible to picture certain scenes without Morricone’s score, including the final shootout.

THE WORST – My Own Personal Tastes

Once Upon a Time in the West is a nearly flawless Western that showcases the skill of a master filmmaker. The cinematography, music, staging and acting are superb throughout. Leone is patient with his narrative and gives his actors room to breathe. However, because of its technical brilliance – the spontaneity, clumsy weirdness and general chaos so endearing in most European Westerns is lacking.

FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 4.25/5

I enjoy a Corbucci Western more but Once Upon a Time in the West sees a master at the top of his craft. A quintessential Western.

The Tarantino Influences: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is a 1966 Sergio Leone Western. The movie’s themes, style and cinematography are major influences on most of Tarantino’s works.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly tells the story of three drifters who are seeking a bounty of buried money. The three men form ephemeral alliances with each other during their pursuit, constantly scheming to secure the riches for themselves.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is a unique entry for this project. The movie is continually cited as one of the greatest Westerns ever made, along with being a huge influence on Tarantino’s works – particularly during the second half of the director’s career. Although it’s possible that Tarantino references The Good, The Bad and The Ugly in all of his movies. Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown all borrow from the movie’s classic ending – a standoff in a Civil War cemetery. The atmosphere of Kill Bill, Volume 2 – particularly during the scenes with Budd and later Bill – are lifted entirely from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

The spacious scenery of the desert, which highlights Leone’s movie, is littered throughout Tarantino’s second half volume of movies. The opening scene of Inglorious Basterds borrows heavily from Leone’s introduction of Angel Eyes, while Django Unchained and Hateful Eight mimic the characters’ motivation and study ideas of trust.

On its surface, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is a simple movie. The characters are all motivated by the same thing – yet take different routes to achieve their goals. They are simply characterized – Blondie is the good guy, Angel Eyes is bad and Tuco is ugly. Yet all three characters are con men and tricksters – each both adapting to and taking advantage of their landscape, which is being devastated by war.

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