Why is it hailed as one of the greatest films ever?
Because its over 4 hours long and anyone who managed to sit through something that long will over praise it because they would be admitting they were foolish for saying otherwise
Nostalgia for Once Upon a Time in the West
Because it's really good.
Empire is even longer yet it's not well regarded.
>Because its over 4 hours long and anyone who managed to sit through something that long will over praise it
That doesn't explain Heaven's Gate.
I guess I felt a bit empty watching it as I assumed a big part of the film would be showing their rise to power as the poster implies rather than Noodles just getting released from prison and this criminal empire he waltz into already being completely set up, running smoothly for years, and at the height of its power, as well as the 'fall' part being also dramatic rather than more small scale and out off screen. Also, why did Leone do Jews specifically? He could have easily done Italians, his own people, or Irish, so I wonder why it was Jews specifically.
I love big epics like Ben-Hur because I can just leave them on and keep doing my own thing and basically live in the movie for a day
Such an underrated kino, also throwing yourself into a garbage truck is the most gangster way to comit suicide.
It's based on a novel, to be honest I don't think it mattered too much showing how their empire was actually built up (Godfather 2 does the same thing and ends the flashbacks when they open their first business).
Not disputing the quality, themes, etc. but a film being so highly praised and lauded tends to go hand in hand with how accessible and entertaining a film is to watch. I guess I just expected the experience to be higher on a pure entertainment level.