A gorgeous yet gritty post-civil war epic that lays bare the heart and soul of an American outlaw and his killer

Rating: 10/10 (4 April 2008)

While lesser movies hog the limelight, Andrew Dominik's poetic, 19th century western sits understated yet assured in the shadows, seemingly content with the fact that its subtle pace and content will not appeal to all. Despite exuding a stylish sheen of continuous visual class, professionalism and beauty, in addition to remaining rich in detail and elegiac in tone, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford has a running time, pacing and plot that'll disgruntle many. However, more importantly, it boasts a divine showcase of aesthetic, acoustic and cinematic elegance that's anchored so aptly by the pin-sharp performances of leading actors Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck. The former: yet again displaying his miscellaneous ability as a now experienced performer. The latter: an absolute revelation.
Adapted from the novel by Ron Hansen, the ten word title most certainly tells audiences the who and the what, but not the why, nor the how. These underlying questions are, in essence, the heart of Dominik's tale which begins with a melodiously tranquil introductory montage of the tale's forthcoming central character, of his family, of his criminal repertoire, his pen names, mind-set, severed finger and granulated eyelids. According to the omnipresent narration, the tale commences in Kansas City, Missouri shortly after Jesse's (Brad Pitt) 34th birthday. Following this harmonious preface, we're introduced to the outlaw's current crew of no-good petty criminals (including a superb Sam Rockwell) and the impending proverbial coward, Robert "Bob" Ford (Casey Affleck), an ambitious, Jesse-idolising 19 year old nobody yearning to be a somebody. Somebody like Jesse. Over time, as Jesse's caginess regarding his dysfunctional band of gunslingers creep disturbingly into sight, he and Bob develop an estranged friendship forged on reverence and commiseration that gradually decays leaving a pedestal of scepticism, jealousy, fixation and deception. Both men exude a constant air of unpredictability: their emotions bubbling vividly to the surface on numerous occasions. However, their outlooks on life and aspirations for the future couldn't be more apposed. Prone to suicidal bouts of depression, Jesse longs for a form of spiritual respite he knows can only come via one grave route. Bob, on the other hand, craves the long-overdue recognition of his peers and the public and the fame and supposed fortune that comes with it. Clouded as their visions are, though, a series of double-crosses within the band of outlaws involving; infidelity, adulteration, persecution and deceit lead to a fair share of bloodletting which inevitably paves the way for a moving climax which exemplifies the downfall of the legend and the defining of the coward.
Despite having one of Hollywood's leading men at the forefront, The Assassination of Jesse James is by no means glorified by the mere presence of its male lead who, allegedly, had it justly printed in his contract that the title of the film was not to changed. In this, Dominik's second feature, we see Pitt in an irregular yet unforgettable role in which his million dollar face is paraded not as a shrewd marketing tool, but a landscape of emotions awash with pain and distress, strife and paranoia, fear and depression. Pitt's deranged, dead-behind-the-eyes look is the unadulterated core of what has to be considered as his finest performance to date. Cold, moody, unsettling: Pitt delivers a multi-layered performance of a man in whom suspicion, grief, insomnia and misery suffer a series of head-on-collisions. Resulting in memorable screen performance that's equalled, if not surpassed, by the young Casey Affleck. Quite simply, Affleck is phenomenal as the unhinged, self-indulgent assassin, Ford. His odious, erratic and sometimes snivelling portrayal of the wanna-be outlaw is as fine-tuned, heartfelt and effective as that of co-star Pitt's, if not so: more. Affleck's performance emerges as one of the film's genuine high-points; excelling far beyond the confines of the expected yet emotional climax; radiating sheer acting impeccability, class and awe throughout; provoking pity, spite, disgust, anger and ultimate sympathy from a compelled audience.
Sticking relatively close to the principles aired throughout his debut urban cult-classic Chopper, Dominik is able to present another in-depth dissection of the emotionally complex mind of a murderous criminal renowned with notoriety yet an estranged sense of heroism. Don't expect to see any self-inflicted earlobe hacking or mother-in-law thrashings here, though. Despite preserving similar theses to Chopper such as; mistrust, confusion, obsession, fear of death, fear of life, fear of friend and foe, Dominik has approached The Assassination of Jesse James in a much more patient, less explicit and tantalising manner: integrating a host of prosaic, figurative dialogue that is given clarity, precision and cinematic cohesion by the consistently stunning aesthetics.
With Roger Deakins on photography, the visuals couldn't really fail. Bringing a distinct element of experience to the production, Deakins is able to speak to the audience in visual terms using; wheat-fields, sunsets; land, snow and sky scape's as vividly and expressively as writers use words.
Nick Cave's harmoniously soft yet menacing score further aids the subtle mood of the tale. How it failed to even be nominated for the Academy Award for best original score remains the bitterest of mysteries. Together with Deakins, though, the atmosphere created by the visual: audio components are as bolstering to Dominik's feature as the polished performances of his leading men. Least I forget Hugh Ross's pitch perfect omniscient narration- a character in its own right- which, quite simply, ties the entire motion-picture together with veritable sincerity and style.
IN SHORT: Slow in places, stirring in others. Dominik's epic yarn will most certainly be met by the cold shoulders of many, but by the utmost respect of others. Laden with highly-convincing and even Oscar-worthy performances, The Assassination of Jesse James is as scenic and as a finely-tuned as any film in recent memory. Visually poetic. Lyrically distinct. Melodically immersing. But discreet it looks set to remain for many years to come.