**** (4 stars)The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Genre: Biography/Drama
160 minutes - R rating
Director: Andrew Dominik
Starring: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, Paul Schneider, Jeremy Renner, Mary-Louise Parker, and Sam Shephard
Brief Plot: The story follows the last several months in the life of famous outlaw Jesse James. Robert Ford, who idolized the bandit in his childhood, decides to try and become famous by killing James.
Best Audience: This is not a fast paced thrill-a-minute movie that we are becoming accustomed to. It has no fast tempo or quick dialogue. It is a movie of mood and images. It has some brief graphic shooting violence and an inferred sexual situation with some vulgar dialogue but no profanity.
My Review: Despite having the longest movie title of the year this movie is a gem of filmmaking. I watched it three times and liked it each time. The flow is quiet and slow and it is a long 2 hours and 40 minutes, but there was a lot of this movie that I enjoyed. The dialogue was quaint, even strange, but perfect for the setting. The use of montages of the most random things like a chair in the sun worked so well for me. The authentic look of the sets and the beautiful lighting also caught my eye. The narration was marvelous. The acting was also very good. Casey Affleck won honors from film critics but I think that Pitt as Jesse James was even better. The downside of the movie is it could be a yawner if you are not in the right mood and if you don't care for the basic story that is told with such care you'll find it very annoying. All in all, though, this film was simple, sublime, powerful storytelling.
1 comments:
This movie was incredible. I am not sure I could have liked the movie much more. I am not sure why even, but it must have just jived well with me. It is no doubt shamefully overlooked by many and those that see it often miss its beauty, so I am pleased to read your kind words. Affleck and Pitt were both breathtaking and the cinematography was superb. I loved the narration which I was shocked to read that you also enjoyed. I think it could only have been better if it were a little longer. I just couldn't get enough.
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