The true story of notorious outlaw Jesse James and his murder at the
hands of one of his gang members whose idolization turned to resentment. BIOPIC/WESTERN
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The Assassination of
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Jesse James is one of the most notorious villains in American history. He murdered seventeen people (that we know of) and terrorized every town he visited. The painful truth of historical monsters is that some get mythologized, and history remembers the battles but forgets the blood. Outlaws like Billy the Kid, Butch Cassidy, and of course Jesse James have become more legend than human, which is why this film was such a refreshing change of pace to the usual western fare. Honestly, the only thing holding the film from being a nine to me is its mammoth runtime, a lot of which could've been cut down substantially. The title could've used a second draft as well. Apart from that, this is a poignant, reflective biopic of a monster and the coward who shot him in the back.
Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck are fantastic as Jesse James and Robert Ford respectively. The film is mostly through Ford's eyes, and you understand how much he idolized James. Of course, once he gets to know his hero, worship turns corrosive and he becomes resentful of James and his status. There's a hint of unrequited love there too, but that may just be me reading into it too much. Regardless, we spend a great deal of time watching Jesse James unravel due to paranoia and Robert Ford grow more and more confident and alone. I must also praise the beautiful score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis and Roger Deakins's expert cinematography. I really enjoyed this film, but I did feel it was too much. This could've been trimmed down to two hours without losing any crucial moments. Having said that, this film is one of the most introspective westerns I've ever seen, and any history buff should find themselves entranced. |