Movie Review: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Published September 20, 2007
While Brad Pitt is the lead in this long and winding tale, Casey Affleck is very impressive in his portrayal. I found myself concentrating more on Affleck's performance than Pitt's. Perhaps Robert Ford wanted a special connection with his idol or maybe he wanted to be Jesse James. As the story unfolded more emphasis was placed on the personality of Robert Ford and provided a good platform for the actors. The fine supporting cast consisted of Sam Shepard as Frank James, Mary-Louise Parker as Jesse's wife Zee, Paul Schneider, Zooey Deschanel, Jeremy Renner, and Garret Dillahunt.
In the final analysis, I feel there were many factors contributing to Robert Ford's killing of Jesse James. It could have been explained as self-defense because he was in fear for his life, or the opportunity for the reward money; my thought on the assassination is that it provided the irresistable opportunity to be great. As for the film itself, it was quite lengthy, but that never bothered me. I felt good about the two hours and thirty minutes run time because many of the scenes of the western landscape were given long, wide shots accompanied by good dramatic dialogue. This flick proved to be a fascinating piece of work.
Directed by: Andrew Dominik
Running time: 2 hours 32 mins.
Release date: September 21, 2007
Genre: Western
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures
MPAA Rating: R
- Movie Review: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
- Published: September 20, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Drama, Video: Westerns
- Writer: Gerald Wright
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- Gerald Wright's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
I was very sceptical about this movie, mainly because I don't care for westerns at all. However, after watching the film, all I can say is "WOW"! I've never seen anything like this before! All of the acting performances were first rate, and both Casey Affleck and Brad pitt deserved Oscars for their realistic, gritty performances as Robert Ford and Jesse James. Also, the cinematography was out of this world, the sound track was hauntingly surrealistic, and the story itself was absolutley compelling! As I was drawn farther and farther into the film, I felt as if I myself had been transported back to the American midwest in 1881, and was watching the entire fascinating drama play out before my very eyes! Incredible!!!!!
Alec is a fool! What a dilettanti! Why would a pesky student like him be having a debate with a professor? Absolute fiction!
I enjoyed the film. I especially liked the gun fight at the Ford household. Showing the guns to have a bad accuracy in that day and age, well, I liked that very much. I've heard that shotguns were used far more often for accurate shooting and that small guns were more for last resort and close-quarter fighting.
Sassy film!
EC
XXX
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Not. Interested. In. Psychology.
The problems I had with this film brought back memories of arguments that I had with the professor of my "Psychoanalysis and Literature" class. Since we don't actually have Jesse James around, any so-called psychological study is more about the minds of the director, producers and other than about Jesse James.
And I don't give a rat's ass about the film's director or producer.
Also, these kinds of approaches might be interesting for about 10 minutes in an Abnormal Psychology class, but are neither creative nor sustaining.
Give me a dime novel approach any day.