The best Western-ish movie of this century

Rating: 9/10 (27 March 2008)

It took me nearly six hours to finish watching this movie. Yes, I saw it twice. It's not too complicated to catch up or anything. But personally, I think this film is...a landmark. It deserved to see twice in a roll. It's very poetic and visually striking. This is, by far, the best Western-ish movie in this young century.
As I said, it's Western-ish. Because it is characters study film disguised in Western genre. There is no such think called "action" to be seen (except some very violent scenes). The film is, to me, possessed by Terrence Malick-like kind of touch (cue, blowing grasses scene!). I really wonder what took Andrew Dominik (of critically acclaimed, "Chopper") seven years hiatus before direct this amazing second feature.
If you want to look for any surprises, please look elsewhere. Because its title says it all (duh). It's about legendary outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt) who eventually got killed by coward Robert Ford (Casey Affleck). The film opened with the last "job" of James's gang after almost two decades of all kinds of robbery. Jesse's brother, Frank James (Sam Shepard) decided to retire and live in peace. Jesse, on the other hand, decided not to quit (one can assumed that he didn't know how). He recruits Ford brother, Charley (Sam Rockwell) and his younger brother, Robert.
Even though Charley is just another ordinary low-life criminal who didn't have any motivation in his own future, Robert has. Robert is a 19-years-old boy who idolizes Jesse since he remembered. He learned to be like Jesse in every single motion (at one point, Jesse asked "You want to be like me, or you want to be me?). But the more Jesse shows his vulnerability like a normal human being, the more Robert questioned himself whether he might be able to step over Jesse's reputation and make a legend on his own name.
One of the great things about this film is, they're able to make a full human being from two titular characters. Jesse is very bleak character who has two completely different personalities. He's a gentleman and family man who kept his secret identity well enough to not get caught. He's also paranoid madman and plain cold-blooded killer who is about to losing his damn mind. Only the other hand, Robert is simply...a child. He is a scared young man pretend to act tough. But when opportunity is knocking on his door, he over did it that it actually ruined his life.
I've gotta say, Casey Affleck is a lead in this film (Academy Award nominated him in supporting role really made no sense). I heard there's a 4 hours+ version of this film which Brad Pitt has a lot more things to do. Well, I hope I will have a chance to see it. Anyway, both actors are absolutely perfect for the role. For Brad, this is probably the best role to date. For Casey, 2007 is the best year for him (with the lead in Gone Baby Gone and...this).
I can see it why there's only a handful of people went to see this film (in America, of course). They expected for something but, in the end, they've got some completely different thing instead. I know, maybe you don't want to experience another "Dances with Wolves" (remember when was the last time you see this one?) I know it is decent movie. But that movie is boring as hell. "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" will prove you wrong that a long movie doesn't always have to be boring.