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

I've been meaning to watch The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford for years but I kept putting it off because of the length. Two hours and forty minutes is a long time and you really have to have your head in the game to watch such a long movie. But people over Twitter kept talking about it --mainly posting beautiful gifs of Sam Rockwell-- and then Margaret posted "Sam Rockwell's performance in "Jesse James" is some kind of a miracle" which I wanted to read. And what's the best way to avoid spoilers? Watch the film. 

Just in case you didn't get it by the title, the film is about the assassination of Jesse James (Brad Pitt) by Robert Ford (Casey Affleck). Actually, it's more about the events that led up to the killing. The film is indeed a dramatization of the last seven months in the life of James. 

Yeah, I do realize I'm basically saying the same thing over and over but the fact is that there isn't much of a plot here. The little there is is also quite disjointed and jumps around a little and it's not always easy to understand what the heck is going on. To that, add the snail's pace that could make you fall asleep at eight in the morning. 

Unless it doesn't. That's the peculiar thing about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It's supposed to be boring and unengaging, instead, it's very interesting and engaging from start to finish. Not much happens in the film but I just couldn't take my eyes off of it. 

How does the film manage to do that? It's very simple, with great characters. Their characterization and development are outstanding. The film's main focus is the psychology of the characters. We don't get to know their backgrounds, why they do what they do, how they became who they are. Instead, we learn who they are.

Jesse James is, in a few words, a psychotic family man. He is a cold-blooded murderer considered a hero by many and a loving father and husband, but most of all he is an enigma, even to himself. And this is probably Brad Pitt's greatest performance ever, one very charismatic and interesting. Robert Ford, on the other hand, is a nobody. He is obsessed with Jesse James so much that leads him to an inferiority complex. He doesn't want to be like Jesse James, he wants to be Jesse James. That being impossible, he decides to kill him so to become a hero --he will be the only one to think so as people will keep reminded James after his death and forget about Ford. The performance from Casey Affleck is also great, easily the best in the film. I don't know what it is but there's something about him that makes him perfect for this character. Also, the chemistry between Pitt and Affleck and the relationship between James and Ford are very intriguing.

Warner Bros

Although the supporting characters aren't as complex and developed, the supporting cast does a wonderful job as well. Sam Rockwell is amazing as Ford's not-so-bright but good-hearted brother Charley, giving the magnetic and charming performance required by the role. Also great in the role of other outlaws are Jeremy Renner, Paul Schneider and Garrett Dillahunt. And at last but not least, there's Mary-Louise Parker. She doesn't have a lot of screen time --her character, James's wife is definitely underused-- but she really stands out. 

Another weird thing about The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is that the film is very detached and distant from the characters, hell, the characters are detached and distant from themselves, and yet I somehow felt close to them, and I cared about them --and of course I picked a side.

That's not all. The film doesn't only deliver great characters and performances but an outstanding, Oscar-worthy cinematography by Roger Deakins. The blurry and dreamy landscapes, the wheat fields, the snow, the mud, it's all gorgeous. And the camera movements, the way it lingers on the characters for the perfect amount of time. At last, there's a beautiful and haunting musical score by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.

There's one thing left to say, go watch this film if you haven't already.