Robert De Niro and gangster epics go hand-in-hand. Do we love when he branches out and flexes his comedic and sci-fi chops? Sure. But at the heart of his career are multiple mafioso-centered movies that have solidified a place in history. His tough guy persona shined through in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II, which many cinema buffs would consider to be a rare case of a sequel that’s better than the original. Along with exploring the criminal underbelly through future productions, including Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas and Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables, the actor also has a penchant for digging into all things New York City.
A native to the city that never sleeps, De Niro’s early years undoubtedly informed the thespian he would eventually blossom into. Not only does the heart and soul of the Big Apple run through his veins, but his family’s Italian background has given him plenty of insight into how he would go on to portray Italian Americans in the many gritty and heavy drama roles he has taken on over the decades. From Taxi Driver to Mean Streets, A Bronx Tale and The Irishman, De Niro amplifies the bustling vibes and the cultural melting pot of the place that he calls home whenever he’s been given the opportunity.
Soon, audiences will be able to see one of the performer’s more under-the-radar New York-centered titles when Once Upon a Time in America lands on free streamer Tubi on March 1. Not only is the gangster epic a classic in De Niro’s strong docket of projects, but it also marks a crossover between the award-winning actor and celebrated Sergio Leone, who is best known for the foundational building blocks he laid for the classic spaghetti Western genre. Set in 1918 when different groups of Americans were fighting for their slice of the pie in New York City, the movie follows the lives of a group of friends who assemble a Jewish gang in hopes of boosting themselves to the top of the organized crime business. The heartbreaking film focuses on the ups and downs of friendship, love, grief, and heartbreak when those you care for the most stab you in the back.
Who Else Stars in ‘Once Upon a Time in America’?
Starring opposite De Niro in what would become Leone’s final feature before his death is a lineup that includes James Woods (Casino), Joe Pesci (Home Alone), Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey), Burt Young (Rocky) and Jennifer Connelly (Requiem for a Dream).
Once Upon a Time in America gets a second chance at success on Tubi on March 1.
- Release Date
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June 1, 1984
- Runtime
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229 Minutes
