it be high time that american critic and fan alike start to debunk their unquestioned and sloppy veneration of film like sergio leone once upon a time in america . the checkered history of this opulent film ( and the grand and fanciful myth associate with it production and many version ) belie it mediocrity on a narrative level . the film lurch backward and forward in fit and start and it central figure adrift and seemingly out of place surround by the ersatz decadence of tower set and the minutia of production detail and the and by 1984 and cliche would but gorgeous cinematographic confection on offer to the audience . the plot time frame be confuse and gimmicky and laboured and lead some critic to imagine the noodle figure opium binging to be the antecedent of some future wouldream reality as well a the sepia tone remembrance . this ham hand and overly fan boy apologetic interpretation gloss over the glare narrative irregularity on display . even at this full ( . ) run time and figure appear and disappear with alarm suddenness represent the deborah character be fleetingly establish in child form and a cold and unattainable trophy female and not even hint at the gravity with which she will re establish her relationship with a post prison noodle and the say re union henceforth ring completely false . the deaden pace be somewhat to blame and certain sequence drag along stagnantly for far too long and signify very little and hint at a director with so little restraint and narrative economy that he often feel obligate to usurp every iota of screen time possible in order to show off his production and fatal for a film that contain figure so sullen and aloof . the trajectory of the figure live be present to u a a microcosm mirror the historical trajectory of america teen through prohibition and it spoil and end with the ( arguable ) ruin of it moribund central figure ( save deborah a make up department fumble or intentional one wonder ) . this notion be commonplace and even banal . the cast of character a imagine in the one note script ( write by seven italian no less ) be flatly and awkwardly play by all but the young actor and who at least venture a few variant facial expression . this be understandable give the almost unworkable material . some critic state that the character may seem so impenetrably self absorb and but actively seek their own goal and assume the compliance of others ( e. g. when noodle get out of prison and max pick him up and offer him a hooker without ask him whether or not this be what he desire and later make deal assume noodle will comply ) . this explanation of their abrupt and abrasive disposition be unsatisfactorily extraneous and merely serf to highlight the complicated end the film unwavering supporter will go to to defend their position regard a film unfortunately short on sense . although ennio morricone score be much revere and it be undeniably schmaltzy and repetitive and it gush with an emotional redolence that the scene themselves and many violent and just do not warrant . at point it be questionable whether or not morricone be watch the same film i be so incongruous be his work . a a paean to american filmmaking and it succeed in term of mood ( help by a few stroke of masterful edit segue between time period ) and visuals ( not help by say score ) but lack narrative cohesion and fluidity .