Morgan Bell
Kynaston
REVIEW: The Assassination of Jesse James
May 20th 2008 17:24
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Why such a long name?
According to Andrew Dominik, Brad Pitt had it put in his contract that the name of the movie was not to be changed. It's also the original title of the book upon which the film is based, and it's in keeping with the time the film is set.
Directed & Written: Andrew Dominik (Chopper) based on the novel by Ron Hansen
Starring: Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Twelve Monkeys, Kalifornia), Casey Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Drowning Mona, Oceans Eleven), Sam Rockwell (The Green Mile, Charlies Angels, Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy), Mary-Louise Parker (Fried Green Tomatoes, Boys On The Side, Angels In America)
Jesse James (Pitt) was a bank and train robbing outlaw just after the American Civil War who is widely regarded in the southern states as a confederate "robin hood" type character who refused to accept the rule of the northern states by bucking the system and becoming an enemy of the new government.
This film is a slow-paced, lengthy and detailed account of the events leading up to his assassination by his friend and fellow gang member Robert Ford (Affleck). This film goes to great lengths to explain James is paranoid, sadistic and unpredictable, a stark contrast to the legend most people believe. Frankly im really tired of seeing Pitt in the role of the zany impulsive nutcase, it is really wearing thin with me as i think every time he reaches for "crazy" he just ends up coming off ridiculous, he plays it too random to the point where you cant see the characters motivations at all . . . so Jesse James was paranoid and constantly tormented and tested those close to him . . . this film is as repetitive as it is blatant, there is no nice subtle characterisations with James here . . . scene after scene just showing everyone was scared of him, then theres the constant voice-over telling us again just incase we missed it . . . the thing which is fantastic about this film is the performances of Affleck and Rockwell as they really nail their characters . . . the script however is sadly lacking and spends an incredible amount of time documenting every tiny diary entry detail while neglecting to inform the audience of the broad concepts of the time. Robert Ford idolised Jesse James but resented him due to his erratic and cruel behaviour, Ford was put in a position by the government where he felt his only option was to assassinate him. I dont know why it takes two and a half hours to say this . . . its bleak and depressing and trying to be a biopic with reams of unnecessary conversational detail while ommitting all the interesting facts.
film trailer
Why such a long name?
According to Andrew Dominik, Brad Pitt had it put in his contract that the name of the movie was not to be changed. It's also the original title of the book upon which the film is based, and it's in keeping with the time the film is set.
Directed & Written: Andrew Dominik (Chopper) based on the novel by Ron Hansen
Starring: Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Twelve Monkeys, Kalifornia), Casey Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Drowning Mona, Oceans Eleven), Sam Rockwell (The Green Mile, Charlies Angels, Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy), Mary-Louise Parker (Fried Green Tomatoes, Boys On The Side, Angels In America)
Jesse James (Pitt) was a bank and train robbing outlaw just after the American Civil War who is widely regarded in the southern states as a confederate "robin hood" type character who refused to accept the rule of the northern states by bucking the system and becoming an enemy of the new government.
This film is a slow-paced, lengthy and detailed account of the events leading up to his assassination by his friend and fellow gang member Robert Ford (Affleck). This film goes to great lengths to explain James is paranoid, sadistic and unpredictable, a stark contrast to the legend most people believe. Frankly im really tired of seeing Pitt in the role of the zany impulsive nutcase, it is really wearing thin with me as i think every time he reaches for "crazy" he just ends up coming off ridiculous, he plays it too random to the point where you cant see the characters motivations at all . . . so Jesse James was paranoid and constantly tormented and tested those close to him . . . this film is as repetitive as it is blatant, there is no nice subtle characterisations with James here . . . scene after scene just showing everyone was scared of him, then theres the constant voice-over telling us again just incase we missed it . . . the thing which is fantastic about this film is the performances of Affleck and Rockwell as they really nail their characters . . . the script however is sadly lacking and spends an incredible amount of time documenting every tiny diary entry detail while neglecting to inform the audience of the broad concepts of the time. Robert Ford idolised Jesse James but resented him due to his erratic and cruel behaviour, Ford was put in a position by the government where he felt his only option was to assassinate him. I dont know why it takes two and a half hours to say this . . . its bleak and depressing and trying to be a biopic with reams of unnecessary conversational detail while ommitting all the interesting facts.
film trailer
| 119 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
i think Pitt does this terrible one-dimensional type of crazy which may work in comedies but not in moody character-driven dramas . . . i think he purposely takes on "crazy" roles to try and pitch himself as a serious actor and not just a pretty boy but unfortunately he lacks the range to pull it off.
you are absolutely right, there were a million things they COULD have done with this story, like painting the era and the politics more clearly (or at all) but instead they were dwelling on a series of boring conversations that really werent telling us anything that wasnt already established.
watch it to see a great performance for Affleck if you are in a really patience frame of mind . . . this film really doesnt grab your attention!
Comment by Aimzster
Reality TV
The Jeepney Stop
First Time Mum
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
yeah Casey Affleck is surprisingly good and i think hes good a big future ahead of him as a respected actor
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
I just loved this movie. I mean LOVED.
I would rate it a $15- film!!
I do admit I preferred Affleck's acting to Pitt's. But I am on planet Affleck at the moment. He is just brilliant. Rockwell is great in everything but I thought Brad suited the role well.
The cinematography in this film is phenomenal and I thought it deserved awards.
I liked the subtlety and believe that was what made it.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I'm with Jason, I was absolutely blown away by this film. Firstly, the title: conveys the reverence with which Jesse James is still held. Note the use of the word "assassination". And of, course Ford is portrayed as a "coward". It's ironic- you are meant to come out of the film feeling a little differently about the legend of Jesse James, then you did going into it. (But then I'm a sucker for long titles. My favourite song title of all time (not my favourite song) is If you leave me, can I come to? by Mental As Anything).
I didn't mind Pitt, though Affleck does steal the film from under him. I thought it was a wise move on the part of director Dominik to depart from the style of Chopper. I'm not usually into ultra slowly paced stylistic pieces either, but this film held me.
The only think I didn't like was the bad acting on the part of all the extras in that bar room scene at the end after Nick Cave's cameo. Apart from that, flawless. And the cinematography in that train robbery scene, whoa! If such things gave me orgasms....
Morgan I just gotta ask -how can you give Georgia Rules a better review than this film?
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Jason,
im a huge fan of Rockwell and i thought he was one of the highlights . . . i just thought the whole story was as dull, dark and frosty as the limited colour palette . . . i found the voice-over boring and tedious and i think they could have trimmed an hour out of it in the editing room and it would have got the same messages across . . . i didnt think the writing was subtle at all
Ruby,
i actually didnt really know anything about Jesse James before watching the film (not being totally up to scratch on my american history and folklore) and i came away from it not knowing much more . . . theres more info about the man on wiki than there was in the film, i think Dominik has gone into the film making too many assumptions about the audience . . . i just felt a little hammered over the head with the writers opinions as there was alot of redundant dialogue . . . you are being told what to think rather than letting the performances speak for themselves
i had issues with No Country For Old Men too (CLICKHERE for more . . . )
i thought Georgia Rule was surprisingly excellent . . . im a J.Lo fan who likes Gus Van Sant films (i wonder if they will ever collaborate? haha) so theres so rhymes or reason as to which film formulas will work on me!
thanks for the comments though, always great to read another point of view!