Review of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) by Kenneth B — 12 Jul 2011

An emotionally gripping western flavoured period piece by director Andrew Dominik telling the tale of Jesse James and his demise at the hands of Robert Ford. This film was a really great effort for a director who only had one previous film in his credits, but I guess chopper was also a magnificent directorial debut as well.

Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck in the lead roles work to a treat, while the supporting actors work really well in their roles. Pitt as Jesse James is a dark and powerful figure that no one dares to cross, when Jesse tells a joke everyone has to laugh.

Affleck does well also portraying ford as a once idolizing fan of James, before resenting his fame and popularity deciding to do the dirty. Solid acting is bolstered by the films stunning cinematography from Roger deakins,( a Coen brothers regular) his camera work takes the viewer back into the west with lush scenery of the countryside and mountains.

While the close ups put us inside the minds and emotions of the characters who throughout question their own choices and decisions. Nick Cave gives the film further depth with a old western styled soundtrack adding compositional tension when needed in a similar fashion to his work on the 2005 film The Proposition.

As a Beautifully constructed form of western cinema, this film is able to continually lure the viewer in, the film builds and builds tension to the eventual assassination by Ford where Ford learns; you can kill the man, but you can't kill the legend.

Great Movie!!