Sergio Leone – A Retrospective

Great Directors I've gone through the work of a bunch of directors, every feature length film they ever made from Carl Th. Dreyer to Christopher Nolan. I've chosen directors whose work interests me, who have made films that I love. As I've gone through these dozens and dozens of films by recognizable filmmakers I've found…

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Sergio Leone: The Definitive Ranking

I grapple with Sergio Leone's legacy. On the one hand he had obvious talent, but on another I feel like most of his films were missing some necessary element that, if present, could have shot the film into true greatness. I think he hit that mark once, and yet I know I'm in a certain…

Once Upon a Time in America

#1 in my ranking of Sergio Leone's films. Taking over a decade to make after his previous film, Leone adapted The Hoods by Harry Grey into a six-hour film that he needed to cut down to four. The luxurious running time allows Leone to explore moments in similar ways as he had always done, but…

A Fistful of Dynamite (Duck, You Sucker)

#4 in my ranking of Sergio Leone's films. I wouldn't really call this a Western, though everyone labels it as such. It's too modern (set in the 1910s during the Mexican Revolution) and too focused on an actual revolution to fit. I'm not one for genre games, but it just helps settle me when I'm…

Once Upon a Time in the West

#3 in my ranking of Sergio Leone's films. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly felt like the work of someone in over his head, unsure of how to spend the massive amount of money for the large production. Once Upon a Time in the West feels like the work of a mature filmmaker with…