Review of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) by Japheth R — 20 Dec 2010

There's been a recent peak in interest for the "anti-western" this year with the Cohen Brothers' film No Country for Old Men being similar within the context that they are still technically Western films but with an approach that is outside the standard norms of the genre in a traditionally held sense. Unfortunately, where No Country succeeded in taking the Western genre to some place far darker and more estranged, Assassination seems to tries to deliver its deep and philosphical overtones all too seriously and with little reason for it.

There are rampant cliches that seem to hold down the film from being as great as it should have been, mostly involving the director's inability to make necessary cuts. Mind you, it's not the length that bothered me - long running times don't bother me - but it's all that empty self-explanatory imagery that makes up most of the film's needless length that bugs me (time lapse clips? Really?). The beginning and bits here and there really make me think I was watching some CBS special directed by someone who really took film school to heart. Outside of that, the acting was well done, especially Casey Affleck's frighteningly believable portrayal of Robert Ford. The last half of the film was also a lot stronger than the first half, mostly due to the powerful climax and beautiful denouement.