The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: 9.5

Rating: 10/10 (14 April 2018)

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is not only one of my favorite movie titles of all time. It is also one of my favorite movies of all time. 12th favorite to be exact. It's moved by an amazingly adapted script that nails the characterization of Jesse James just as much as the book does. While also keeping the dialogue that compels you to ponder, and contemplate. The beautiful music has a rhythm to it that parallels the rhythm of the story. The pacing of the movie is slow, but never drags. Giving you room to closely inspect the movie without missing a thing. A triple threat of cloud shots suggest time passing, and also gives room to breathe while giving you something pretty to look at. The cinematography has a cold dampness do it which emotes the same feeling as the music does, and seamlessly blending these aspects of the film into something unforgettable. A sort of breezy gloominess that sets a perfect tone. Also perfect is the plethora of characters and the cast that are elevated by the dynamic camera shots and movements that act as another character all together. Brad Pitt plays the infamous outlaw Jesse James. Watching him on screen ponder about his own morals and sanity is perplexingly magnetic. The lore around Jesse James himself makes you consider the possibility that Jesse was an omniscient being. A mysterious omniscient being who is slowly losing knowledge about himself. Hinting at the possibility that may he have gone and lost his mind. Casey Affleck portrays Robert Ford. An awkward and naive young man who idolized Jesse James to such an extent that when he met the real Jesse he eventually grew resentful of him. Ford's character arc highlights themes of expectations vs. reality. Sam Rockwell as Charley Ford, Paul Schneider as Dick Liddil, and Sam Shepard as Frank James are standouts amongst standout performances. Which this movie has a high number of. Each character is as memorable and unique as the last. Each character hypnotizes themselves into your mind causing you to think about them for a long period of time. Overall, this film is a masterfully crafted tale of media, myths, legends, and expectations that effortlessly paces through it's long but necessary runtime, and presents you with quintessential shots that tell a unique story within themselves, before giving you a conclusion that stains your mind with melancholy. So I give it a 9.5