Review of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) by Jens S — 26 Jun 2011

This calm, almost hypnotic Western ballad isn't exactly bursting with gunfights, horse chases or other things you may expect from the genre. The cast is well picked, delivering outstanding performances all around.

There is an atmosphere of constant threat and subtle hostility between the characters, you always expect anyone to burst into drawing his gun any minute. Especially Pitt creates an extremely charismatic Jesse James, but Casey Affleck brings coward Robert Ford to live really convincingly too.

The narrator and slow story-telling make this a movie you have to dig your nails into, but it's so rewarding, even touching in the end. The cinematography delivers some of the most beautiful images ever put on film.

An odd, strangely mesmerizing film that requires some work, but belongs to the gems of the genre.