rating:
(out of
4 stars)United States; 2007
Directed by Andrew Dominik; produced by Jules Daly, Dede Gardner, Brad Pitt, Ridley Scott, David Valdes; screenplay by Andrew Dominik; based on the novel by Ron Hansen
Starring Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Brooklynn Proulx, Jeremy Renner, Garret Dillahunt, Paul Schneider, Pat Healy, Ted Levine, Zooey Deschanel
'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' is a well made film, very well made actually, but it plays at least an hour too long. Somwehere, caught in its 160 minutes, a terrific film can be found. Now it is still good, and never gets really dull, but it takes detours it should not have taken. The scenery may be good over there, but both start and finish look equally gorgeous, so there is no point to actually go.
Brad Pitt is Jesse James, Casey Affleck the coward Robert Ford, who eventually kills James. The film shows events leading up to that, and adds a little epilogue. It opens in Missouri, 1881, with the last train robbery of the James Gang, although only Jesse and brother Frank (Sam Shepard) are left from the original posse. They use local outlaws this time, and this is how we meet Robert and his brother Charley (Sam Rockwell), among others. Robert has a strange kind of fascination for Jesse; there is always a homosexual tension in their moments together, insinuated by Robert's manners and words.
The film could have followed these necessary characters, but in the middle part, where most of the hour chopping could have been done, the viewer is presented by numerous uninteresting supporting characters. Cousins, friends, enemies and wives all get their part of the story. Some smaller scenes are effective on their own, and some help to understand the main characters, but I could have done without many of them. As a result less screen time is given to Jesse, Robert and Charley (Frank disappears completely after thirty minutes or so), and even with its running time, 'The Assassination of Jesse James' does too little explaining. We understand the how and the why, but we never really see the transition of Robert Ford, who idolized Jesse to the fullest before shooting him in the back.
It seems director Andrew Dominik wanted to use all his beautiful images, shot by Roger Deakins ('Fargo', 'No Country for Old Men'), and in a way I can't blame him. The cinematographer catches the Missouri (or actually Alberta, Canada) landscapes in the most perfect way. The emptiness is easy to feel for the viewer. In it the lonely characters find their way. Even the voice over, by Hugh Ross, sounds distant, like a lonely voice. Costume design and art direction makes this film close to perfect on a technical level.
'The Assassination of Jesse James' is too long, but good. It is constantly gorgeous and the acting elevates it to a higher level. Pitt is better in roles where he is not the hero, and here he finds a nice balance between charm, evil and madness. We never really know what to make of him, but we always fear his unpredictability. Casey Affleck makes 2007 his year. 'Ocean's Thirteen' for entertainment, and breakthrough performances here and in 'Gone Baby Gone' will make him a much-requested performer. He carries this film most of the 160 minutes, and that is one of the more pleasant things about it.