This one screened as part of a Classics Series at a local theater. It was my first time catching it on the big screen. I was a bit nervous going in; revisiting the huge landmarks of cinema sometimes does that - what if I discover that it's not as good as I thought it was the first two times I watched it. Well, it isn't; it's better. This is just a masterpiece for all time. The cast is stupendous. It's Pacino's best performance, I'd say, and easily De Niro's second or third best (Raging Bull and Taxi Driver are the possible spoilers there, but even they aren't sure things, he's so good here); the rest of the ensemble is equally magnificent, particularly Cazale. The scripting is so tight; the direction so minimal and striking; the emotions so intense. It's just . . . literally unbelievable how great this movie is. It just flies by, even at its extreme length. There are lot of new movies I'm looking forward to for the rest of the year; and I'm hoping to watch some more classics too. But it's not even a spoiler, I don't think; this is going to be my number one movie at the end of the year. I just don't see it happening any other way. If it's been a while since you saw this one, or if, heaven forbid, you've never seen it, it's way past time. Go see it again. If it's your first time or your hundred & first, it'll knock you out. Great film. Highly recommended. **** stars.
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Je n'aime pas dans les vieux films américains quand les conducteurs ne regardent pas la route. Et de ratage en ratage, on s'habitue à ne jamais dépasser le stade du brouillon. La vie n'est que l'interminable répétition d'une représentation qui n'aura jamais lieu.