Help > Once Upon a Time in America...

I'm gonna stop pretending I know what this movie is all about in the end...so I'm gonna ask, What's going on there? Didn't Max die? What's he doing as Senator? What's with the garbage truck? Help me, please.

Hey! Yea I was quite confused myself. There's just so much going on in that scene alone. I mean I would like to see the Directors Cut, which is 10 hours long.

Max(Woods) faked his own death, as I understood. He changed his identity and became a senator. He is being investigated, and is afraid his empire will collapse. So he calls on De Niro to kill him. Woods only wanted to die from De Niro's hand. If De Niro did kill him by the time he would get outside he would be killed, and put in to the garbage truck. Woods wanted to die, but he didn't want to leave De Niro alive. When De Niro didn't proceed with the murder, we see Woods call of the garbage truck. The real reason why Woods called of the attack is because he realized the real reason why De Niro betrayed him. When the truck leaves and enters the tunnel, we see Max's face(body double who looks similar). The truck symbolizes Max.

I think we also hear a gun shot which is the mystery part of the movie(Did De Niro get Shot or not). But I don't recall hearing it in my version. Maybe I wasn't paying close attention.

I Just saw this for the first time the other day and it confused the fuck outta me lol, great film tho

i believe it was Almamatter who wrote something about Sergio Leone. he read the book and said Once Upon a Time in America was wrote to have an ending that depends on the viewer. the viewer can set different endings, its like a fantasy book for adults. that garbage truck also confused me but what came to my mind first was James Woods committed suicide by grinding himself . . .

GoodFella

Look. I saw it this way.

Max faked his death and became a senator with a huge empire that had only recently in the movei started to crumble. Max Call on David to murder him because Max screwed Dave over by making him think he died and making him live with it. When Dave didn't do It Max commited suicide (Garbage Tuck. Owch!) The Truck driving off is Max symbolicly.

That's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Taken from http://www.aboutfilm.com/movies/o/onceamerica.htm

You MUST watch the uncut version. There is a short version that is extremely confusing. The uncut version makes a lot more sense and is the ONLY version to watch!

Don Cardi

I haven't watched the movie in a couple of years.Waiting for it to come out on DVD. However if memory serves me correctly, MAX kills himself in the garbage truck because DeNiro REFUSED to kill him. I always felt that in order for Max to clear his conscience, he needed Noodles to kill him, and therefore he would die with piece of mind. Noodles sees this when he meets Max, and realizes that the best payback to Max is for him ( noodles ) NOT to kill Max. Again, I haven't seen this movie in several years, so my memory of the ending may be a bit clouded.

Don Cardi

Wait no longer. It's already out.

Thank You Joltin Joe!!!!!

Don Cardi

You MUST watch the uncut version. There is a short version that is extremely confusing. The uncut version makes a lot more sense and is the ONLY version to watch!

Don Cardi [/b][/quote]the version i've seen is 226 minutes. is it the uncut version? if not how long is the uncut version?

GoodFella

Yes, it is the uncut version. The Two-Disc Special Edition is 220 minutes long, including extras. I'm intending to buy it, but I also want the uncut version, do you have it on VHS?


Regards.

Yes, it is the uncut version. The Two-Disc Special Edition is 220 minutes long, including extras. I'm intending to buy it, but I also want the uncut version, do you have it on VHS?


Regards. [/b][/quote]Thanks MC14!

GoodFella

Some day, and that day may never come I'll call upon you to do me a service.

Some day, and that day may never come I'll call upon you to do me a service. [/b][/quote]Stay with me MC14, help me meet death.

GoodFella