Review of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) by Jack W — 26 Dec 2010

You absolutely have to get by the first hour of the film as the pacing is extremely slow and the narrative doesn't grab you right away. Once the film gets going though, it is gripping and tension filled.

Without the title, one would never know just where the film was headed. Pitt plays the titular role perfectly, reminiscent of the old roles he used to play. It is often forgotten how good he used to be.

Affleck is also spot on as the cowardly and misunderstood Ford, a man that expected fanfare and got betrayal. The cinematography is gorgeous and I really liked how Dominick extensively used mirrors, glass, out of focus shots and various lenses to show the fractures occurring within the minds of both the films protagonists.

The production design and score were also very well done and added depth to the film, allowing the audience to go deeper into the period. Really good film, just fight through that start!