The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

4.0

DRAMA/WESTERN
U.S. Release Date: 09/21/07
Running Length: 160 Minutes
MPAA Classification: R (Violence, Sexual Situations)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1

Cast: Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Mary-Louise Parker, Sam Rockwell, Sam Shepard, Zooey Deschanel
Director: Andrew Dominik
Screenplay: Andrew Dominik (based on the novel by Ron Hansen)
Cinematography: Roger Deakins
Music: Nick Cave, Warren Ellis
U.S. Distributor: Warner Bros.

Review by: Carter Moulton

01/21/09

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is one of the most unfortunately overlooked films of 2007—partly because of its limited release and partly because of its hard-to-sell approach. At 160 minutes, the film has been labeled “boring” by some. To others, such as myself, The Assassination of Jesse James is a quiet, reflective storybook on screen. It’s an art house film that finds tranquility through cinematography and performances. Director (and writer) Andrew Dominik is impressive, effectively shifting techniques to fit his character’s emotions, and Casey Affleck gives the supporting performance of 2007—yes, even better than Javier Bardem’s in No Country For Old Men.

While most know the historical context, the year is 1881, and Jesse James (Brad Pitt) is the most sought-after outlaw in America. The film shows his final years of life, prior to his “assassination”. We see the James gang rob a train early on, but there isn’t a lot of gun slinging, as some might expect. Instead, Dominik crams diegetic sound and character development into the 160 minute runtime. James is suspicious of everyone—including his gang—because of the reward for his death. Brad Pitt is noteworthy as the desperate and paranoid James, always harmonizing frustration and self-conviction.

Photo © Warner Bros.

Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) grew up reading about James in comic books. His brother Charlie Ford (Sam Rockwell, who can be seen in The Green Mile, Choke) is a member of the James gang. Through Charlie, Robert meets James and joins the band. Often teased by James, and by everybody for that matter, Robert begins feeling a fiery resentment towards the man he once thought to be a hero. Casey Affleck plays Robert with an awkward, hidden brilliance. Using a child-like voice accompanied by flickering eyelids, he creates a character that is memorably unsettling.

In one scene (towards the end of the film), Robert uses a water pump to wash his face. Afterwards, he states that he’s feeling “peculiar”. Andrew Dominik directs this scene contrastingly different from the rest of the film. It’s full of cuts and odd camera angles that convey aesthetic storytelling through direction. By directing the film parallel to its story and tone, Dominik showcases the power—even if it might be a subtle and unpopular approach—of cinema at its best.

The Assassination of Jesse James is not only well performed and directed, but it's also scored beautifully. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis deliver minimal, solemn compositions that help frame this portrait of history. Roger Deakins’ cinematography is soft, delicately enhancing the film’s storybook structure. Interludes with a hazy focus separate scenes and feature a Wes-Anderson-like narration. It’s a western, but it’s done in an unconventional way—something we should applaud. It’s quiet and reflective, but as it allows us to enter its tone, an eerie, ghost-like smoke engulfs us. It’s full of wide-open spaces, but every inch of these spacial regions is packed with melancholy. You can see where I’m going with this: The Assassination of Jesse James is an atmospheric, innovative triumph.