Once Upon a Time in America (1984) was recently reviewed by Scoopy. I had never seen the film before today, and was somewhat skeptical of his near love affair with this film. Now that I have seen it, if anything, he understated how good it really is. Not only did Hollywood cut it by more than 50%, but they changed the time line into a linear progression, destroying all possible meaning, and didn't even bother with the Ennio Morricone score, which would have been a sure Oscar winner. The version recently released is very close to the "directors cut," but is missing a few minor scene snippets, because they were never looped in English.

I am a very visual person, and the visuals in this film are amazing. The period detail is perfect, and the camera creates mood without calling attention to itself. Perhaps what I like best about this character driven crime drama is that the show me the story, rather than tell me. I believe you could understand most o the film without speaking a single word of English. Scoop had trouble deciding between a C+ and an A. I don't understand how anyone who likes film could not love this one, making it a clear A. I normally wouldn't gladly sit through a film this long, and crime drama is not my favorite genre, but I was entranced beginning to end.

Other crap:

• Could you pick up a knife and cut a sausage on this plate?
• The pop diva and former Mouseketeer gets the Madame Tussaud treatment. An insider promises: "She will be our raunchiest model ever. For the first time we are installing balloons in her chest so her boobs heave in and out."
• Some folks call it stalking, others just say he need serious therapy, Limp Bizkit singer Fred Dusrt calls is 'mad dating skills'.
• The latest news on one of the most rediculous law suits in the news. Lee Wins Temporary Halt to Spike TV
• Further evidence that Hollywood has officially run out of original ideas. Warner Brothers is bringing the Lee Majors series "The Fall Guy" to the big screen
• Eighties pop star Adam Ant was arrested.
• Oscar Winner Gregory Peck Dies at 87.
• Legendary broadcaster David Brinkley Dies at 82

Here are the latest movie reviews available at scoopy.com.

• The yellow asterisks indicate that I wrote the review, and am deluded into thinking it includes humor.
• If there is a white asterisk, it means that there isn't any significant humor, but I inexplicably determined there might be something else of interest.
• A blue asterisk indicates the review is written by Tuna (or Lawdog or Junior or C2000 or Realist or ICMS or Mick Locke, or somebody else besides me)
• If there is no asterisk, I wrote it, but am too ashamed to admit it.

• Camilla Rutherford, goes full frontal and Juliette Lewis, is topless in scenes from "Picture Claire" (2001).

• Sammi Davis and Ione Skye, both topless in scenes from "Four Rooms".

• Isabelle Adjani, brief breast exposure from the French actress in scenes from the infamous "Ishtar" (1987).

• Patricia Arquette, brief toplessness in a love scene from "True Romance" (1993).

• Tanya Roberts, gorgeous toplessness, rear views and almost frontal nudity in scenes from the 80's classic "Sheena".

Be sure to pay Graphic Response a visit at his website. www.graphic-barry.com.

Chennin Blanc and Heather Lynn

Chennin Blanc and Jacklyn Lick

Heather Lynn, Ava Lake and Chennin Blanc (1, 2)