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

 

Description: Genre: War & Western - Western / Theatrical Release: 2007 / Director: Andrew Dominik / Actors: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck ... more
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. Jameson

Newest Review: ... into actorly tedium, and flips convincingly into nastiness when he has to. There's a real sense of danger about his false ... more

 ... bonhomie and he dominates the film even though he doesn't hog the screen-time in the way you'd expect an A-lister to do. He perhaps makes too much use of hand gestures, as if he feels that's what great actors do (see also Tom Cruise in Eyes Wide Shut), but overall he is excellent. Casey Affleck is also very good as Ford. An awkward, nervous kid, he builds a completely convincing character without just hiding behind his twitchy mannerisms. He's one of those characters you dislike while simultaneously feeling sorry for. Th...more

shaneo632
Premium Review The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (DVD): The Art Picture of Jesse James... (965 words)
by shaneo632 - written on 08/03/08 (Very useful, 80 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 ...

Whizz11
Premium Review Brad Pitt shines as Jesse James (635 words)
by Whizz11 - written on 22/04/08 (Very useful, 31 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 ...

johns-log
Premium Review The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (DVD): not bad at all. (266 words)
by johns-log - written on 06/03/08 (Very useful, 35 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 ...

 
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