The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

dreamy evocation but overlong

Beautiful photography and haunting music enhance this dreamy evocation of brutal life in Missouri in the years following the Civil War. It is also enhanced by fine performances by Pitt as the sociopath and paranoid Jesse James and by Affleck as the childish boy-man who hero worships him.
Affleck's Robert Ford is an archetype of the modern fan who takes his admiration for the celebrity a little too far, like the man who stalked Jodie Foster and several similar cases. But I never quite got an angle on his changeable character. He shows flashes of courage as well his own lust for celebrity. The movie suggests Ford kills James because it is his only way to achieve fame for himself.
Having said all this, the movie is very long and moves very slowly. It leaves many questions unanswered. Jesse's wife and family are unexplored characters and we never really know why a man who sleeps with a gun in his hand turns his back on his killer and allows himself to be killed. The final 20 minutes after the assassination may be the most interesting. Ford achieves fame but is labeled a coward and is himself stalked by a jealous "fan." This is almost the subject of another, separate movie.
Bottom line: worth seeing but drink lots of coffee to stay awake during the dull bits. August 3, 2008

Great, underated movie

Great underated move, with a subdued Brad Pitt in the title role. Soundtrack is great as well. Not a traditional western, but more of a character study with lots of undertone. August 2, 2008

An American Robin Hood

It is late 1800s and Jesse James, his older brother and gang of local unemployed men are robbing trains that carry money and goods. These are ruthless men who will do anything to get what they are looking for. They are not shy of being brutal or killing. Soon enough, the gang goes their separate ways but charismatic Jesse James manages to track them (and kill them) all. He knows that his brothers are all killed, or in a prison and being that Jesse is married, has wife and two children and enough money for the comfortable life for the rest of his life; he is trying to hang onto his freedom and dear life for as long as possible. Inside that brutal man with mood swings and anger eating him up, he is still a father and a husband who wants to take care of his own. Jesse is followed by two brothers: Robert and Charlie Ford who for the short period of time are living with his family. Jesse is keeping them around more out of fear for being betrayed to authorities than for the sake of showing kindness. He senses that young Bob Ford, who is only 19 years old, is trying to mimic him in every way. Jesse uses that so that one day it is Bob Ford who kills Jesse inside his own home. Watching this film is almost like watching Brad Pitt's movie "Seven" in reverse. This time it is Brad who plays a villain and young Casey Afflect an innocenet who gets sucked into a game of murder. Actress Mary-Louise Parker who plays Zee, Jesse's wife, is fantastic in her supporting role of a wife who knows how to keep distance from the world her husband hates so much, bears him children and manages to stay on his good side. But it is in his death that we see her full range of emotions for him. She is tormented by the fact that her husband is being taken pictures of and his body is displayed on ice for public viewing for days at the time, before he is finally put to rest. Her eyes show expression that is rarely seen on screen. I wish script was better for this film, although cast is at its best. My favorites are Sam Shepard and Mary-Luise Parker. July 31, 2008

You probably won't like this movie.

Not unless your tastes are different than those of general public at large. This movie is not a one-size-fits-all cup of tea. I went into this movie not knowing a thing about it nor very much about Jesse James which usually works best for me. right away the first thing I noticed was teh remarkable direction/cinematography. Next was the costumes and precise period attention to detail in the set design. Thank goodness I was watching this movie on Blu-ray because it was absolutely beautiful and flawless. it actually reminded me a lot of another recent film, "There will be Blood." Little did I know that both movies share teh same cinematographer, Roger Deakins.

Now if you liked "There will be Blood" you very well might like this as well. They share many qualities especially plodding along at their own damn pace. If you are impatient or have a hunger for action this movie will not satisfy you. But, on the other hand, if you enjoy US period pieces as well as severe character study and 1 very superb acting jobs, this might be for you. Brad Pitt is more than adequate as the infamous Jesse James. You can detect his mania just bellow the surface at all times. But the person who really commanded my attention was actor Casey Affleck as Robert Ford. Wow, what a piece of work. I almost don't want to say very much, I'd rather you see for yourself and make your own determination. But I simply hung on every half-cocked smirk and minute nervous twitch or stutter Affleck presented.

Now if you're looking for a modern western with, let's say, more action, then I'd recommend you watch the remake of 3:10 to Yuma instead. That is another fine film of a different ilk. The Assassination of Jesse James is for those who are looking for a more meditative experience while also being quite historically accurate with some room for dramatic interpretation. July 30, 2008

Grim and grimmer!

This film examines the last days of the notorious outlaw Jesse James. Pitt is competent in his portrayal of the brutal Jesse, who was paranoid and possibly suffering some sort of mental disorder. Pitt generates a little ambivalent sympathy for the character. But this is no glamorization of the bloody outlaw, quite the reverse, and his tendency towards sadistic, twisted violence is clearly shown. Casey Affleck is actually quite good in his role as James' murderer but the character he plays is such a strange man that it is hard to appreciate the performance.

This is another entry in the genre of dark, reality based westerns. The lives portrayed are so dismal and the story is so appalling it is hard to like this film. However, the grim psychological portraits create some interest; one can appreciate the beautiful cinematography filmed in Canada; and take pleasure in Pitt's usual top-quality performance which allows us to feel a little warmth for the evil man he portrays. I appreciate the artistry of this film but I would not like to see it again.

July 26, 2008

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