8.5
Once Upon a Time in the West
1968, 2h 46min -
Sergio Leone breathed new life into the western with this masterful epic, which stands as one of the genre’s most timeless artistic achievements. Henry Fonda, cast against his good-guy image, stars as Frank, a ruthless murderer who feels no remorse, even after annihilating Mrs. McBain’s (Claudia Cardinale) entire family. Charles Bronson plays the Man, a harmonica-wielding loner who will never forget how his brother was savagely tortured. Joining forces with Cheyenne (Jason Robards), who was wrongfully accused of Frank’s crimes, The Man sets out to put an end once and for all to the outlaw’s reign of terror. Leone choreographs the action with breathtaking virtuosity, all set to the swelling strains of Ennio Morricone’s iconic score.
