The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Average Rating: 7.1/10
Reviews Counted: 169
Fresh: 128 | Rotten: 41
On the strength of its two lead performances Assassination is an expertly crafted period piece, and an insightful look at one of the enduring figures of American lore.
Average Rating: 6.7/10
Critic Reviews: 42
Fresh: 28 | Rotten: 14
On the strength of its two lead performances Assassination is an expertly crafted period piece, and an insightful look at one of the enduring figures of American lore.
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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 90,080
Movie Info
Brad Pitt stars as legendary Wild West outlaw Jesse James in Chopper director Andrew Dominik's cinematic rendering of the events that would eventually bring about the death of the man rumored be the "fastest gun in the West." An eager recruit into James' notorious gang, Robert Ford eventually grows jealous of the famed outlaw. When Robert and his brother Charlie sense an opportunity to kill James, their murderous action elevates their target to near mythical status. Casey Affleck stars as Robert
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Cast
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Brad Pitt
Jesse James -
Casey Affleck
Robert Ford -
Sam Shepard
Frank James -
Mary-Louise Parker
Zee James -
Paul Schneider
Dick Liddil -
Jeremy Renner
Wood Hite -
Zooey Deschanel
Dorothy Evans -
Sam Rockwell
Charley Ford -
Garret Dillahunt
Ed Miller -
Brooklyn Proulx
Mary James -
Dustin Bollinger
Tim James -
Joel McNichol
Express Manager -
James DeFelice
Baggagemaster -
J.C. Roberts
Engineer -
Darrell Orydzuk
Ukranian Train Passenge... -
Jonathan Erich Drachenber...
Young Train Passenger -
Torben S. Hansen
Danish Train Passenger -
Alison Elliott
Martha Bolton -
Lauren Calvert
Ida -
Kailin See
Sarah Hite -
Tom Aldredge
Major George Hite -
Jesse Frechette
Albert Ford -
Pat Healy
Wilbur Ford -
Michael Parks
Henry Craig -
Ted Levine
Sheriff Timberlake -
Joel Duncan
Deputy -
James Carville
Governor Crittenden -
Stephanie Wahlstrom
Store Customer -
Adam Arlukiewicz
Newsboy -
Ian Ferrier
Photographer -
Michael Rogers
Onlooker at Jesse's Dea... -
Calvin Bliid
Small Boy at Jesse's De... -
Sarah Lind
Bob's Girlfriend -
Nick Cave
Bowery Saloon Singer -
Matthew Walker
Bowery Saloonkeeper -
Michael Copeman
Edward O'Kelly -
Laryssa Yanchak
Ella Mae Waterson -
Hugh Ross
Narrator -
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All Critics (171) | Top Critics (42) | Fresh (128) | Rotten (41) | DVD (20)
Writer-director Andrew Dominik takes his time with the story, but his languorous pacing allows tension to build -- and permits the actors, Affleck in particular, to add nuance and depth to characters who'll seem familiar only at first glance.
Top CriticThe Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is the story...of the moment in America when myth was murdered by mere celebrity and we were left, perhaps forever, with only the latter's meager consolations.
Moseying along for 160 minutes, this revisionist western by writer-director Andrew Dominik makes a wan attempt to present the Jesse James legend as the dawn of celebrity culture in America.
Awesome splendor and a striking essay on celebrity reward those who brave the 2 1/2-hour run time.
It's a view of the West beyond the myth that's worth enduring, if not relishing.
Brad Pitt as Jesse James: Seldom has an actor been so perfectly cast.
Affleck manages to strike so many right notes, that by the end of the film, it is easy to forget what a loathsome toady he was at film's start, and you cannot help but feel real pain as Ford's inevitably sad fate unravels before our eyes.
Examining the transient nature of memories and mythmaking, "Coward" understands there are as many crooked legacies in high definition, as there were 130 years ago in dog-eared dime-store paperbacks and ghoulish stage productions.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is an engrossing and hypnotic western that places a heavy emphasis on atmosphere, character and reality.
Cinematic aerophagia
ovaj film zahtijeva mnogo strpljenja od prosje%u010Dnog gledatelja
As the coward Robert Ford, Casey Affleck is a revelation. Nothing you have seen from him will prepare you for his brilliant work as the childlike young man who goes on to be the downfall of his hero.
Stylized like a Ken Burns documentary.
This film is far too long but the central relationship of James and Ford is fascinating.
As of October 1st 2007, this is officially the best film I have seen all year.
Jesse James is that rarest of birds -- an art film with mass appeal.
Even though the film looks beautiful there are things that rubbed me the wrong way.
Assassination is a throwback to another time when films were allowed to be unhurried, when audiences trusted multiple story lines to converge organically, and time and place were evoked with consummate craft.
When Ford finally pulls the trigger, it's a relief as the flick's final ten minutes spin into actually interesting terrain
A measured, brooding meander through dreams of loyalty, shadows of treachery, and the particular psychoses of celebrity for those on both sides of stardom...
Likely the most "difficult" film produced with Hollywood money and starring an A-list star since Eyes Wide Shut.
Develops a curious mood of impending fate and final destiny that rides along with the action.
This is the kind of picture that isn't afraid to put its characters under a microscope, and it knows that studying their psychology is far more rewarding than studying their gun-slinging skills.
...it's got a title that perfectly matches its subject matter: They're both too long by half.
Audience Reviews for The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Super Reviewer
Before I provide further praise, a few criticisms. I'm okay with long films with rather slow pacing, but I felt the middle should have been tightened up more, and have the final half hour drawn out more. As for the final scene, I'd rather have seen it than heard narration. The rest of the narration was hit or miss for me. I liked the music, but I wish it were more varied. More screen time for Zooey Deschanel would also have been nice, as would have been a few more (no more than 3) small scenes of violence, or one big set piece of it.
As much as I enjoyed the direction (despite the above issues), the cinematography by Roger Deakins is the real star of the show here. Some of the shots and compositions on display are so beautiful I can't really do them justice. The cast is great, even if some of the actors have little screen time. Despite screen time amounts, all performers are excellent, especially Pitt and Affleck. Renner and Rockwell are closely tied behind them for the best acting. About Pitt and Affleck: it's a toss-up for who's more impressive. Pitt, on one hand has to portray someone younger than his actual age, pull it off, and also downplay his ego and status as an A-lister. It works to his favor. Affleck on the other hand, much like the character, has to step out of the role of "the young one" and come into his own. Ford is a tough role because it would be so easy to over do it. His Oscar nomination is proof he succeeded.
This was my first exposure to director Andrew Dominik, and he has impressed me. At first it seemed like this was a Terrence Malick film, and I mean that as a compliment, but also as a way of saying what you should expect should you decide to see this (and you should).
This is a great film, but definitely not for all audiences. It's a scholar's dream too, as there is plenty of stuff to pore over, analyze, and discuss. If you've come this far in my review, then you'll probably know if this is one for you.
Super Reviewer
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- Narrator: By his own approximation, Bob assassinated Jesse James over 800 times. He suspected no one in history had ever so often or so publicly recapitulated an act of betrayal.
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- Jesse James: I guess I'll take my guns off... for fear the neighbors might spy them.
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- Robert Ford: You know what I expected? Applause. I was only 20 years old then. I couldn't see how it would look to people. I was surprised by what happened. They didn't applaud.
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- Dick Liddil: If you so much as mention my name to Jesse, Boyyyy... I'd find out about it. You had better believe that...and I'll look you up, I'll knock on your door, and I will be as mad as a hornet...I will be hot Dick Liddil.
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- Jesse James: It seems to me if you have something to confess, you outta be right and you spit it out now.
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- Charley Ford: You think it's all made up don't yea, think it's all yarns and newspaper stories.
- Robert Ford: He's just a human being.
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Movie: ID: 594235729 Title: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Release Date: 2007-10-05 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 4 Status: 1
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Foreign Titles
- Die Ermordung des Jesse James durch den Feigling Robert Ford (DE)
- L'Assassinat de Jesse James par le lâche Robert Ford (FR)
