2007 Directed by Andrew Dominik
Outlaw Jesse James is rumored to be the 'fastest gun in the West'. An eager recruit into James' notorious gang, Robert Ford eventually grows jealous of the famed outlaw and, when Robert and his brother sense an opportunity to kill James, their murderous action elevates their target to near mythical status.
Plan B Entertainment Virtual Studios Scott Free Productions Alberta Film Entertainment Jesse Films Inc. Warner Bros. Pictures
This is my first viewing since the film’s original release back in 2007 and I feel incredibly foolish for not having re-watched it sooner.
Quite simply The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a work of staggering brilliance and arguably the finest Western of the last twenty years. It is a film that exists on the border of two worlds - on one side it mythologizes the transitionary period of American history via the fable-building narration and dreamy photography, and on the other it slowly and methodically demystifies the characters that populate it and the falsehood of celebrity. It is this contradiction that is perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the film and mirrors the inner-conflict…
Dominik's best film.
Pitt's best performance.
Deakins' best work.
Affleck's perfect performance. That is not an exaggeration. Perfection is the only word for what he achieves here.
Made me forget, again, that I really don't like the western genre.
Legend was he could stop a train by staring it down.
The villain dies a villain's death, the coward, however, goes out alone. These golden wheat fields that never fail to make me somewhat religious reminds me of Malick's Days of Heaven, upped to a whole new level with the addition of Roger Deakins, being a ~ godsend ~ as always, stops at nothing to craft heart-stopping sequences like the opening train robbery. (Train emerging from darkness, light illuminating masked figures in the woods, Deakin's spell casted on every frame.) Brad Pitt is as menacing as Daniel Plainview, his presence is a continuous jump scare, adjusts his mask like a true fashion model, every close up of him is an ad for Prada or some other capitalist bullshit, I swear, even the wind dares not blow his direction. Just brilliant filmmaking, acting, storytelling.
I've had this DVD sitting on my shelf for the better part of a year now, and for some reason I just never got around to watching this film at all. I thought it would be good, but I didn't expect it to completely blow me away. Everyone is just fantastic in this. Casey Affleck was born to play Robert Ford. Brad Pitt reaches for his inner Tyler Durden in this skin crawling portrayal of the infamous outlaw. The narration is fantastic. The music is spot on. The cinematography is haunting. Just, every little detail about this film felt absolutely perfect to me, I quickly fell in love with it, and I believe it to be one of the greatest…
Robert Ford was fascinated and inspired by Jesse James, a man who can stop a train by staring it down. Legends and myths were told of him, adventures of him were published. Looking at him for the first time live Robert Ford either wanted to be Jesse James or replace him.
Set in 1881 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a story of two characters, one a bigger than life bad guy, an outlaw and the other fascinated by him.
When you look at Jesse James he was the person who you should be afraid of, never let him behind you. When you hear him walk in, you better be shaking. But as time went…
Film #7 of Florin's Recommendations
Part of My Top 10 Films of 2007
”…Rooms seemed hotter when he was in them. Rains fell straighter. Clocks slowed. Sounds were amplified…”
Okay, we know what’s going to happen, we know that a coward and weak character, named Robert Ford is going to kill the famous wild west outlaw Jesse James, we know who is who before even watching the film, Andrew Dominik’s audacious masterpiece has nothing to surprise, we know that there’s not going to be a twist, there’s not going to be a WTF moment, everything that we’re going to see is compressed in the title, that’s all.
So this film is not going to be about what’s going to happen…
If this film was viewed more like a another film in the crime genre (like the directors last film, Chopper) and less like a western, it wouldn't of gotten the muted response it got in 2007. (I certainly didn't give it the chance back then.)
Looking forward to seeing if this becomes this generations "Once Upon a Time in America" and finally get the uncut version to flesh it out.
It is so rare that a film combines so many of the elements I long for in cinema. I am a sucker for westerns. I think constantly about the power of celebrity and the phenomena of the super-fan. I love films that examine the cosmic bond between two individuals. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has all of those things and more, and I ate it right up.
I have never seen a film that has the scope and essence of an epic, while still having such specific psychodramatic elements running through it at its core. Barry Lyndon is the only thing that comes to mind in comparison, but even that doesn't balance the two genres…
Robert Ford comes across as a pathetic and jealous man, but Jesse James had it coming too.
I love Roger Deakins’ work here.
Tem toda a tensão do Western, mas também um retrato cru e íntimo dos personagens principais. Vc sente pelo protagonista e antagonista, não há vilões nem heróis nessa história, só arrependimento.
Obra-prima.
wheres jim wheres jim wheres jim wheres jim--- only Brad Pitt
Why is zoey deschanel in this for 5 seconds.
I liked this quiet a bit. Really strong performances from the cast. Was confused with the whole Jim cummings bit, cause he gets mentioned all the time but you never see him, completely threw me off the first half of the film. Also too long, would definitely benefit with being shorter.
Need to get in the habit of watching this once a year. So much poetry and beauty. Feels relevant now as ever.
My biggest takeaway from this film is that Roger Deakins is and will always be an artist with a camera. That was my favorite part of the movie, other than that it’s okay. It could benefit from shaving like 20 minutes off the runtime.
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