The Assassination of a Great Movie by God Knows Who

Rating: 9/10 (9 April 2020)

Easily one of the most beautiful and riveting movies of the 21st century so far.
As with many movies, however, it was likely sandbagged by its own trailer. I'm no movie mogul, but I see this not as a western, but as a gangster film. Brad Pitt is the don, torn between his real family and his crime family. The cameo by Sam Shepherd in the early going is brief but important. Contrast that with his willingness to eliminate any gang members who cross him. How is he any different from Tony on The Sopranos?
Brad Pitt foregoes his usual twitches and grimaces and offers through his eyes, face and posture a tragic figure who knows he will be betrayed. The careful line he and director Andrew Dominik's walk is that we are not asked to sympathize with Jesse James. He is a stone-cold killer who pretty much got what was coming to him.
Casey Affleck portrays Robert Ford in a similarly affecting way: we see his shifting emotions but we don't exactly sympathize with him, either.
This is such a mournful, lyrical movie where everyone knows his fate - I mean, it's right there in the title! - but it's the journey that's so captivating.
My one quibble is the narration. It's usually a sign you haven't filmed a coherent narrative or you haven't cut a coherent version of the film. When the narration starts telling viewers what is already patently obvious from watching the film, well, then you're venturing into Oliver Stone-level narration-for-moviegoing-d0mmies. Maybe it was Ridley Scott's idea. Frankly, I'm half-surprised there weren't any scenes of unicorns in this movie. Maybe one day they'll show up in a Producer's Cut.