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 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (DVD)
 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (DVD) ... ... / DVD released 31 March, 2008 at Warner Home Video / Features of the DVD: PAL / Of all the movies made about or glancingly involving the 19th-century outlaw Jesse Woodson James, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is the most reflective, most ambitious, most intricately fascinating, and indisputably most beautiful. Based on the novel of the same name by Ron Hansen, it picks up James late in his career, a few hours before his final train robbery, then covers the slow catastrophe of the gang's breakup over the next seven months even as the boss himself settles into an approximation of genteel retirement. But in another sense all of the movie is later than that. The very title assumes the audience's familiarity with James as a figure out of history and legend, and our awareness that he was--will be--murdered in his parlor one quiet afternoon by a back-shooting crony. The film--only the second to be made by New Zealand–born writer-director Andrew Dominik--reminds us that Dominik's debut film, Chopper, was the cunningly off-kilter portrait of another real-life criminal psychopath who became a kind of rock star to his society. The Jesse James of this telling is no Robin Hood robbing the rich to give to the poor, and that train robbery we witness is punctuated by acts of gratuitous brutality, not gallantry. Nineteen-year-old Bob Ford (Casey Affleck) seeks to join the James gang out of hero worship stoked by the dime novels he secretes under his bed, but his glam hero (Brad Pitt) is a monster who takes private glee in infecting his accomplices with his own paranoia, then murdering them for it. In the careful orchestration of James's final moments, there's even a hint that he takes satisfaction in his own demise. Affleck and Pitt (who co-produced with Ridley Scott, among others) are mesmerising in the title roles, but the movie is enriched by an exceptional supporting cast: Sam Shepard as Jesse's older, more stable brother Frank; Sam Rockwell as Bob Ford's own brother Charlie, whose post-assassination descent into madness is astonishing to behold; Paul Schneider, Garret Dillahunt, and Jeremy Renner as three variously doomed gang members; and Mary-Louise Parker, who as Jesse's wife Zee has few lines yet manages with looks and body language to invoke a well nigh-novelistic back-story for herself. There are also electrifying cameos by James Carville, doing solid actorly work as the governor of Missouri; Ted Levine, as a lawman of antic spirit; and Nick Cave, composer of the film's score (with Warren Ellis) and screenwriter of the Aussie western The Proposition, suddenly towering over a late scene to perform the folk song that set the terms for the book and movie's title. Still, the real co-star is Roger Deakins, probably the finest cinematographer at work today. The landscapes of the movie (mostly in Alberta and Manitoba) will linger in the memory as long as the distinctive faces, and we seem to feel the sting of its snows on our cheeks. Interior scenes are equally persuasive. Few westerns have conveyed so tangibly the bleakness and austerity of the spaces people of the frontier called home, and sought in vain to warm with human spirit. --Richard T. JamesonNewest Review: ... of all members of the cast was especially good, and I thought that both Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt performed well. The film ... more ... also did a great deal for the career of Casey Affleck, who was much appraised for his role in the film. In the film Robert Ford has great admiration for Jesse James and is often teased for this. This leads him from wanting to be close to Jesse to eventually killing him to become a celebrity in his own right and for the bounty money offered. Brad Pitt plays the role of Jesse James as an increasingly tired and paranoid man really well, but I have to wonder if the film is telling the story as it were, then why ...more |
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The Assassination of Jesse James by theCoward Robert Ford [DVD] [ ...
Release Date: 2008 - 03 - 31, Rating Suitable for 15 years and over, Last Update 09.11.2009 05:40
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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (DVD): The Art Picture of Jesse James... (965 words)
by - written on 08/03/08 (Very useful, 85 readings)
Rating:
(Also appears at ShaunMunro.co.uk) Director: Andrew Dominik Cast: Casey Affleck, Brad Pitt, Mary-Louise Parker Release Date: September 21st, 2007 (US), November 30th, 2007 (UK) Certificate: R (US), 15 (UK) The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, aside from being a mouthful, is one of the stranger pictures of the year, spinning an "art house" twist on the tale of Jesse James, and his assassination by the "coward" Robert Ford. Whilst there was little doubt that Brad Pitt would make the role of Jesse James his own, the film marks a breakthrough role for Casey Affleck, who received much ... Read the complete review
Brad Pitt shines as Jesse James (635 words)
by - written on 22/04/08 (Very useful, 38 readings)
Rating:
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford My husband and I just bought this DVD at the weekend from HMV. It was £10.99. They did have a two disc DVD with Special/Bonus features which was £14.99 but we decided to go with the cheaper one. I had been wanting to see this movie ever since it came out in the cinema. That may have something to do with the fact that Brad Pitt plays the title character, Jesse James. If you are a Brad fan then this movie is a must for you. He pretty much features in just about every scene and in my opinion is one of his best performances. He does look quite old and tired in this movie but I think that is just ... Read the complete review
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (DVD): not bad at all. (266 words)
by - written on 06/03/08 (Very useful, 39 readings)
Rating:
There once lived a man named Jesse James. He became an outlaw, killed many people and participated with his gang in many bank robberies. Jesse was killed by an acquaintance of his Robert Ford. The film is based on a 1983 book written by Ron Hansen. In the film Jesse James is portrayed as paranoid low life killer. Robert Ford is a coward. He has a complex relationship with Jesse. Has a lot of respect for Jesse but is also scared of him. Because Jesse is a cold killer and Ford knows it. When the government hires the Ford brothers to bring in outlaw Jesse James Robert finds it easier to kill the outlaw. The opportunity to do this is very difficult as ... Read the complete review
JESSE JAMES (253 words)
by - written on 18/04/08 (Useful, 35 readings)
Rating:
This DVD is now out and you can get it for under a tenner. Which it my opinion it is well worth it. Especially as the ever so good looking Brad Pitt is on it. Unfortunately westerns are not really my cup of tea, but I decided to give it a go after the write ups and I was glad that I did. This film is based on the book by Robert Hansen from 1983 and it's about train-robber and out law Jesse James who is played by the one and only Brad Pitt he can feel his death approaching, but can he foresee that fringe gang-member Robert Ford played by Casey Affleck will be the man to pull the trigger. The film as a whole gives you an insight of Jesse James in ... Read the complete review
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (DVD): Worth the One Watch (1010 words)
by - written on 27/01/09 (Very useful, 159 readings)
Rating:
The film follows the last days of Jesse James' life from the day he first meets his assassin Robert Ford till his death. Casey Affleck plays Robert Ford, an insecure 19-year-old young man who idolises Jesse James and gets a chance to first meet him by being brought along by his older brothers to do a job with the James brothers. James and his brother Frank do not show the same desire for fame and fortune as their posse. They are tired of their life, they want to live in peace but can't stay too long in one place in fear of being arrested. They decide on one last job to pay their final way. Ford begins to grow very close to James, staying in his ... Read the complete review
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