Once Upon a Time in the West I was going to stick to my self imposed rule of only reviewing films and television shows brought in or since I came back from America for the timing being, but I've been listening to the musicial score by Ennio Morricone quite a bit for what is arguably my favourite movie of all time.

It's fair to say West is the quintessential western (there are other fantastic westerns) which director Sergio Leone made after completing the excellent Dollars Trilogy- everything about the film is great- The camera work, the shots, scenary, the Ennio Morricone score, the performances- Charles Bronson as never been better, Jason Robards spectuclar and a shocking performance by blue eyed American Boy Henry Fonda as the psycho (blue eyed) villain- who in one the best characters introductions uncarlingly slaughters an entire family. Storyline wise it's very simplistic it's about a train station been built and the four main characters playing a role (Claudia Cardinale is the female lead), but there is also Harmonica's quest (Bronson), why does he want revenge on Frank (which gives the film a brilliant climax), Cheyenne (Robards) veers almost comedy relief but like I've said Robards is terrific- so it's a film about the performances, the one off scenes, the music, the scenary- everything you tend to remember after seeing a film.Once Upon a Time in the West in a geniune cinematic classic and the best work of one of the most visually spectuclar directors who ever lived. This film should be part of any self respected DVD collection- this is one of the films that didn't get the full credit for ushering a new era of cinema but watch it and prepare to be blown away.

*****