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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford [2007]

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Of all the movies made about or glancingly involving the 19th-century outlaw Jesse Woodson James, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is the most reflective, most ambitious, most intricately fascinating, and indisputably most beautiful. Based on the novel of the same name by Ron Hansen, it picks up James late in his career, a few hours before his final train robbery, then covers the slow catastrophe of the gang's breakup over the next seven months even as the boss himself settles into an approximation of genteel retirement. But in another sense all of the movie is later than that. The very title assumes the audience's familiarity with James as a figure out of history and legend, and our awareness that he was--will be--murdered in his parlor one quiet afternoon by a back-shooting crony.
The film--only the second to be made by New Zealand-born writer-director Andrew Dominik--reminds us that Dominik's debut film, Chopper, was the cunningly off-kilter portrait of another real-life criminal psychopath who became a kind of rock star to his society. The Jesse James of this telling is no Robin Hood robbing the rich to give to the poor, and that train robbery we witness is punctuated by acts of gratuitous brutality, not gallantry. Nineteen-year-old Bob Ford (Casey Affleck) seeks to join the James gang out of hero worship stoked by the dime novels he secretes under his bed, but his glam hero (Brad Pitt) is a monster who takes private glee in infecting his accomplices with his own paranoia, then murdering them for it. In the careful orchestration of James's final moments, there's even a hint that he takes satisfaction in his own demise. Affleck and Pitt (who co-produced with Ridley Scott, among others) are mesmerising in the title roles, but the movie is enriched by an exceptional supporting cast: Sam Shepard as Jesse's older, more stable brother Frank; Sam Rockwell as Bob Ford's own brother Charlie, whose post-assassination descent into madness is astonishing to behold; Paul Schneider, Garret Dillahunt, and Jeremy Renner as three variously doomed gang members; and Mary-Louise Parker, who as Jesse's wife Zee has few lines yet manages with looks and body language to invoke a well nigh-novelistic back-story for herself. There are also electrifying cameos by James Carville, doing solid actorly work as the governor of Missouri; Ted Levine, as a lawman of antic spirit; and Nick Cave, composer of the film's score (with Warren Ellis) and screenwriter of the Aussie western The Proposition, suddenly towering over a late scene to perform the folk song that set the terms for the book and movie's title.
Still, the real co-star is Roger Deakins, probably the finest cinematographer at work today. The landscapes of the movie (mostly in Alberta and Manitoba) will linger in the memory as long as the distinctive faces, and we seem to feel the sting of its snows on our cheeks. Interior scenes are equally persuasive. Few westerns have conveyed so tangibly the bleakness and austerity of the spaces people of the frontier called home, and sought in vain to warm with human spirit. --Richard T. Jameson

A long boring film with no soul
Review date: 2008-07-03 Rating: 2 out of 10

A long boring film with no soul.
Brad Pitt is not menacing enough, the mumbling of petty criminals did not engage me in any way.
Very very boring

Reviews

Riveting...
Review date: 2008-06-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

I'd like to begin by saying i'm a big fan of Western movies. I absolutely Love em'. However this film is not exactly what I would call a Western in the traditional sense. It's not like any Clint Eastwood or John Wayne effort. I would go as far as to say that if you want the sort of western which has plenty of gun fights, bar brawls, droll one-liners or hoards of Indians swarming down hillsides to fight the cavalry this film probably isn't for you. However if you have an interest in learning a bit about the history of Jesse James & witnessing some truly first-rate acting then this film will blow you away.

I don't feel the need to write a hugely detailed review. What I will say is that Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck & Sam Rockwell really do a first-class job acting-wise. I was especially surprised by Brad Pitt as the previous films I had seen him in had not really convinced me but I feel he really outdid himself with this film. Casey Affleck was truly fasinating as Robert Ford & he really had me feeling sorry for the man by the end of the film. I think the media & general public were hard on him. The settings are beautiful. The story & character development are gripping & interesting.

The film is long but does not detract from the story. I especially like the fact that the film was historically accurate & that the director took time at the end of the film to tell us about the fate of Charlie & Robert Ford.

Overall an excellent addition to anyones DVD collection & certainly a film I will watch time & time again.

A fantastic critique of "celebrity".
Review date: 2008-06-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

It is an amazing study on what makes a celebrity - it is reasonably accurate depiction of the true story, but what made this film so fascinating to me is how it reflects the media culture of today and modern "celebrity" status.

Robert Ford is taken on a journey from his world of comic book stories, to meeting his hero, to finally seeing him for what he really is. Ultimately however Ford is still obsessed by the world of celebrity and thinks he can become what James was not by murdering him. It is only after this point he understands what James means to so many people. He is bemused by the number of people who still put the deceased James on a pedestal and see Ford as the villain. He seems to forget that just a short time before, he would have been one of them.

You can actually forget this is set in 1880's Missouri, you could replace the main characters with any number of modern day figures. The same psychology which made Robert Ford put James on a pedestal is still relevant, and notoriety in our society still breeds a strange kind of affection and hero worship from many quarters. Ultimately, despite the wrong that they do, we still appear to need (or at least want) people like Jesse James even though they are villified.

If you just want another action packed western, don't waste your time as this is not it. It is far more sophisticated than that and thoroughly deserves the acclaim. I see a real irony in that lots of people don't seem to get what this movie is trying to tell them ... those same people are what the film is all about. It is telling you to think deeper!

Weird...
Review date: 2008-06-23 Rating: 2 out of 10

I'm a big fan of this genre. I loved Butch and Sundance, revelled as Clint and Lee Van Cleef graced the silver screen. So I was excited as I read positive reviews of this movie and added it to my list.
I started watching. Slow moving is a metaphor for drop dead boring.
My daughter left after 20 minutes, my son after and hour. It has to get better I thought. It didn't. After about 2 hours, Jesse James is finally assasinated. Blessed relief. The End. But no, another half hour on the life of Robert Ford after the assasination. Historically accurate it may be. Interesting it is not. Even watching at double speed did not ease my pain. I now remember why I am not a fan of art movies.
It appears you'll either love this movie or hate it. I fall into the latter category. The acting is excellent, but if you want a western in the traditional genre, give this a wide berth.
If you want Western history presented in an artsy package, this might be your thing.
Weird...but not in a good way!!!!!

best movie of 2007
Review date: 2008-06-06 Rating: 10 out of 10

overlooked masterpiece that saw brad pitt give the best performance of his career,dont be put off by its running time this is worth the effort

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Mary-Louise Parker
Brad Pitt
Sam Rockwell
Casey Affleck
Brooklynn Proulx

Director(s):

Recording label: Warner Home Video
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
EAN: 7321900763738
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2008-03-31
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 155 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2007
Language: English (Unknown)
Language: English (Original Language)

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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford [2007]

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