Brilliant character study on hero worship.

Rating: 9/10 (24 January 2008)

Based on the novel by Ron Hansen, The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford is a thoughtful, and intelligent movie, looking in the celebrity and hero worship in the so-called Wild West.
Robert Ford, played brilliantly by Casey Affleck becomes a member of the gang run by Jesse James (a mesmerizing performance from Brad Pitt) and his brother Frank. As time goes by, Ford becomes a friend of Jesse, who seems to enjoy the worship given to him by Ford. However as time passes, Ford sees the changes in Jesse who is becoming unstable, and has apparently being gunning down members of his own gang. When offered a deal by the law, Ford sees a way out, but has he the courage to do what needs to be done?
Directed and written for the screen by Andrew Dominik, the movie takes it's time telling it's story. Although western set, it's not a proper western, in that there is virtually no gunfights and set pieces in the movie. Instead this movie is all about character, and what drives them.
Although the main plot detail is giving away within the title, it's also a clever touch. On the face of it, that is what happens. However, as the movie shows, there is much more to the story than simply the gunning down (or assassination) of Jesse James. In fact one of the things the movie shows is what happens after this event, in relation to Robert Ford, and the effect it has on him.
The performances from the entire cast are superb, but as mentioned this movie belongs to both Pitt and Affleck. Pitt has shown over the years he can be good with the right material and he's brilliant here.
But this is Affleck's movie.
Better known, to me anyway, for supporting turns in the likes of the Ocean's 11/12/13 trilogy, here he shows just how good an actor he can be given the right material. With this movie, I think he's perhaps moved his career onto great things.
The movie is brilliantly shot by Roger Deakins, showing here, as he did in No Country For Old Men that he is one of the best, if not the best cinematographer working in movies today.
Andrew Dominik directs well, allowing the characters and story to breathe. If I had a criticism, then I'd say it is perhaps slightly too long.
But that is a minor flaw. This is a fantastic movie, and along with No Country For Old Men has got 2008 off to a fantastic year at the movies.