An Amazing Film

Rating: 9/10 (21 October 2007)

There are few characters in cinematic history that are shown and rehashed more often than the famed outlaw, Jesse James. Despite the fact that this persona has been portrayed from seemingly every angle, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, raises the bar to new heights. Hollywood superstar heartthrob, Brad Pitt, and the lesser known, but arguably more talented Affleck brother, Casey, play the two title characters respectively.
The casting itself is genius. Having an unquestionably huge name portraying the also hugely famous Jesse James, and having a B-list actor playing the envious tagalong allows a clear sense of realism with their respective performances. Though Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will be Blood, is the early favourite for Best Actor at the Academy Awards, you can expect Pitt to at least get a nod. Casey Affleck has a very good chance at getting the golden statue for Best Supporting Actor. They are not the only noteworthy performances. The entire supporting cast does an excellent job with their characters, specifically Sam Rockwell, who plays Robert Ford's brother.
The story follows both Jesse James, and his murderer Robert Ford. At the beginning we join Robert Ford on his quest to meet his idol, Jesse James. He has heard and read the great tales of James and has idolized him all his life. When he finally meets the man of his dreams, he is sorely disappointed. James is not what Ford expected. As the famed felon reveals that the stories are false, the pained expression grows on Ford's face. The rest of the story develops, as Ford grows angrier with James, before his dramatic murder. Even though the story does not try to hide that Jesse James will be killed (just look at the title) the film still does an extraordinary job of building the suspense for the event.
This film is nothing short of a masterpiece. On every technical level The Assassination of Jesse James is magnificent. For starters, the cinematography is the best seen in film in over 10 years. Throughout the whole picture, the cinematography is so achingly beautiful it hurts. The landscapes, and the use of wind, combine for a visceral experience that sucks you into the picture and won't let you out. The dramatic use of light in contrast to shadow rivals that of The Third Man, which is no small accomplishment. The music is another aspect that is hit home by this piece. It is used beautifully to highlight a scene, where needed, and you cannot help but be swept away by it. Though, even more impressive than the use of music, is the use of silence. With music being used so extensively throughout the whole film, when it's quiet it is even more noticeable.
The film is not without flaw, though it is close to it. Clocking in at just less than three hours, this film is not for the impatient viewer. Director, Andrew Dominik, takes his time slowly building up the suspense (which could easily be mistaken for poor pacing) for the gut-wrenching climax. If you are going into it expecting to see Jesse James jump off rooftops and kill seven men with a single shot, you will be disappointed. My only real quarrel with the film is the narration. It is used very well at points, but at others it is entirely unnecessary. The viewer should be trusted to sort what was happening rather than being told straight out. It is almost as if they are questioning the intelligence of the viewer. That being said, it is really a rather small quarrel considering the narration is used to great effect at other points in the film. In short, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, is a cinematic masterpiece and should be viewed by any film fan without a short attention span. ****/4.