4. Once Upon A Time In The West
One of Leone's most sprawling and, loathe I am to say the word but, "epic" movies (second only to Once Upon A Time In America), Once Upon A Time In The West is commonly regarded as the apex of his skills as a director. From the breathtakingly patient opening to the startling narrative crescendo, Leone fits a tale in between which reads seemingly as a microcosm for the foundation of America itself. The cast and performances are as impressive as you'd hope from Leone's magnum opus; it stars Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, Jason Robards and Claudia Cardinale, need I say more. However, what really makes this film stand out tall above the rest is in Leone's refined and perfectly judged cinematic technique. Eerie tracking shots juxtapose against bold close-ups to create an extraordinary visual contrast that adds tension and dynamism to each and every scene. The costume design is also sublime, with the long, beige dust coats that Frank and his gang wear now standing out as hugely iconic cinematic images; setting up an impression of a convergence between the criminals and the desert itself, distorting the boundaries both between and beyond their bounds. All in all Once Upon A Time In The West is simply just a virtuoso piece of film making, paced and executed to perfection.