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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

Director: Andrew Dominik

Time Out rating

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11 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Back in 1949, ex-newspaperman Sam Fuller chose the oft-told but fascinating story of the shooting of America’s greatest outlaw by one of his hired guns for his snappily titled debut, ‘I Shot Jesse James’. Some of Fuller’s brevity wouldn’t go amiss in New Zealand-born director Andrew ‘Chopper’ Dominik’s latest – and needlessly strung-out – re-telling, whose highfalutin name is taken from the popular American ballad, heard in the film (sung by Nick Cave, the film’s co-composer, cameo-ing as a bar-room busker) and which also provided the title for the speculative book by Ron Hansen on which this large-scale US production is based.

The film – part psychological study, part ghostly chronicle of a death foretold – opens in 1881, hours before the Blue Cut, Missouri train robbery. The prematurely ageing, 34-year-old, ex- Confederate bushwacker, Jesse (Brad Pitt, scarred, rheumy-eyed and sickening) is chewing fat with his new recruits – his disgruntled brother, Frank (Sam Shepard) is still mooching around but most of the gang-members from his 16-year campaign of murder and robbery have either been killed or have abandoned him. One of the new boys, ‘queer’ 19-year-old neophyte Robert Ford (an eventually excellent Casey Affleck), all sleepy eyes and starstruck adolescent grins, tries to pally-up to the already-legendary but still unreadable and secretly- self-hating Jesse. He, maybe, sees something in the kid, can’t tell what, and lets him close, like you might a friend. As the months go by – and his paranoia deepens – he keeps him closer and closer…

If you can set aside its serious or art-movie pretensions, Dominik’s film can still be enjoyed as an unorthodox psychodrama, almost a study in myopic co-dependency, pathological or otherwise. This is a big ask, though, given the faux authoritative tone of Hugh Ross’ narration. Similarly, the beauty of cinematographer Roger Deakins’ wintry, mood-setting, ‘Western’ landscapes or the self-advertising accuracy of the costume and set-design prove mere trappings rather than comment in any meaningful way on the action or characters. Whatever mood he was searching for – Warner Brothers, it’s rumoured, suspected dangerous Terence Malick-style epic ambitions in his proffered three-and-a-half hour cut – Dominik’s finished movie may not satisfy action-hunters or western-buffs, but is, at its best, suffused with an apprehensiveness that is intriguing and oddly suited to, and suggestive of, the kind of peculiar, perverted emotional dynamics that can typify any self-imploding criminal fraternity. Seen in this context, the leads acquit themselves well, too: Pitt, toying with his death-wish like some private joke, is eminently watchable in a role with little developmental arc; while Affleck, as his unwitting nemesis, takes his own mysterious integrity right to the grave.

Author: Wally Hammond

Time Out London Issue 1945: November 27-December 4 2007

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User reviews of this film

Technoguy said...

Posted on May 24 2008 22:34 This film was too long.It lost me somewhere in the middle.It is an elegaic,autumnal,funereal western about a criminal psychopath who becomes
a legend in his own lifetime,Jesse James,played with languorous ease by
Brad Pitt.This film is not about action, it is a psychodrama about a fan
who turns critic to a celebrity he worships.The cinematography by Deakin
depicts beautifully the wide open plains of Missouri.Robert Ford is ably
played by Casey Affleck who worms his way past Frank James’s scornful
put down into the bosom of a tired 34 year old Jesse James.The minor characters
are acted and depicted well.I couldn’t take too well to the voiceover
which is often the death-knell to a good film. The film recalled in it’s
sepia tones, Days of Heaven and McCabb & Mrs. Miller.The modern western
has turned into a heritage of reconstruction and recreation.We know all along the scenario and how it will play out:it’s in the title and Jesse James seems
to nurture and play with the viper at his bosom.It is not strictly an assassination
as he offers his uncritical back to his would-be killer.The real problem is that films based on works of literature do not translate to the screen(cf. Atonement);
seeing a film is not like reading a book as word is imagination not vision.

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Foekenhasspoken said...

Posted on Jan 02 2008 20:08 The Timeout Reviewer should simply not be trusted on this film. ‘The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’ is a splendid, ambitious and lyrical film, driven by a complex array of fully realized and deeply nuanced characters. The acting is uniformly first class, with some of the minor players delivering performances every bit as excellent as those of Affleck and Pitt. It is a film of great depth and weight. Historical context is handled deftly, without ever becoming cliché as the film treads the historiographical middle-ground between competing interpretations of James, for and against. The cinematography is stunning and the score is perfect. If you are after an action-filled spaghetti western then you will be disappointed, but this is a terrific film. My only reservation was the vanity piece afforded to Nick Cave, though given his contribution to the film as a whole, perhaps he should be forgiven.

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Barbara Young said...

Posted on Dec 11 2007 12:30 I agree that there could have been some editing without adversely affecting the mood or development. It was a showcase for incredible acting. If one is not into the slow simmer of a psychological drama then they may indeed be bored. It was beautiful cinematography and a great soundtrack that added to the richness of the film. But again, I still believe it wouldn't have lost much if it was culled a bit.

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Lawrence said...

Posted on Dec 07 2007 16:59 A beautiful film. More like this from Holywood please.

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sarah milne said...

Posted on Dec 07 2007 12:08 this was possibly the worst, most boring film i have ever seen. half of the cinema walked out half way through and i wish i had done the same. do yourself a favour and never watch this movie. ever.

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Dave7 said...

Posted on Dec 05 2007 16:17 The comment you type in this box will appear on the A brilliant film with excellent persormances from the main characters. Visually beautiful with an excellent soundtrack. The slow pace and psychology of the two main characters made for compulsive viewing

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critique said...

Posted on Dec 05 2007 10:48 Agree with KB absolutely. An immaculately constructed, fascinating film. I would recommend it to anyone who loves cinema.

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Ianemmdubb said...

Posted on Dec 04 2007 14:52 Heavens what a long movie. I longed for some action (only one robbery in the whole film) but instead was treated to a masterclass of acting by Brad Pitt as a borderline psychotic Jesse but really not much else other than time.... then more time ..... followed by more time. I'm all for atmosphere but this movie could have been cut by 30 minutes without spoiling story or atmospherics

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Sutton said...

Posted on Dec 03 2007 13:39 A gripping film studying the minds and motives of 19th century gunslingers, shot with brilliant cinematography. The leads are superb and although a long film, it flies by. Worth seeing on the big screen.

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alfred looij said...

Posted on Nov 29 2007 21:36 I'm also suprised at the 3 star choice its a well played film
a top quality film very extraordinary the film has a grip on you so even its a long film you don't want it to end

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KB said...

Posted on Nov 27 2007 15:31 I'm suprised at the 3 star choice. I thought that the slow pace and stylisation were powerful contributors to a top quality film. They help convey the inhuman detachment and isolation necessary for the murder to take place, and the cult of celebrity to continue in all its delusional absurdity. As a study of the dangers of idolatry the film has strong contemporary resonance, made more powerful by the intelligent performance of a supercelebrity in the lead role (co-producer Pitt also insisted on keeping the long film title). It's a gripping ride, and one that's ultimately more thought provoking then emotionally wrenching. It is also a visual masterpiece. Instant classic.

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andy pearmain said...

Posted on Nov 25 2007 20:51 Extraordinary film - as much a serious work of history as a gripping, epic Western. Brad Pitt shows how to transcend celebrity and actually do movie acting. It looks beautiful - amazing cinematography - and it adapts beautifully too, with a voiceover narratve that actually stands up in its own right as a dramatic contribution. Possibly a bit too long, but with a film this good, more is very welcome. Go see.

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