1900

It has been about 35 years since I first saw this movie. I thought it was a masterpiece then and watching it again, my opinion is the same. It is "Citizen Kane," "The Godfather,""Last Tango in Paris," Jules and Jim" and "La Dulce Vita" all rolled into one movie.

After a short prologue, the movie begins with the announcement that Giuseppe Verdi is dead. Verdi was the greatest opera composer of the 19th century. It is an important clue to the movie. The movie is really a non-singing opera about the first half of the 20th century.

All elements, writing, acting, cinematography, and music are superb. Its amazing seeing how young and beautiful Deniro, Depardieu and Dominique Sandra were back then. It is wonderful seeing Bert Lancaster and Sterling Haydon in one of their last works. Donald Sutherland is intense and terrifying.

Nobody can be considered a completely educated humanist or an artist without seeing this movie. It is far more than a movie, it is a poem and one of the greatest works of art in cinematic history.