The assassination of Jesse James is based on the true events and retells the story of the famous outlaws' final few months leading up to death, and his relationship with his killer Robert Ford. The film is set at a slow pace, for example the speed at which all the characters talk is rather ... Read review
Everyone in 1880s America knows Jesse James. He's the nation's most notorious criminal, ... more
hunted by the law in 10 states. He's also the land's greatest hero, lauded as a Robin Hood by the public. Robert Ford, meanwhile, is a nobody. That, however, isn't something the ambitious 19-year-old will settle for. He'll befriend Jesse, join his gang and gain his confidence, and eventually become his downfall.Friendship turns to rivalry and the quest for fame becomes obsession in this gripping epic produced by Ridley Scott, examining the last days of America's most famous outlaw, and featuring outstanding performances by Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck.
This is now a major Hollywood movie starring Brad Pitt. It is one of the greatest ... more
westerns ever written praised by John Irving as: "Wonderful...great storytelling...Ron Hansen has one of the most accomplished prose styles in contemporary fiction and this narrative is the best blend of fiction and history I've read in a long while." Hansen is one of the most acclaimed contemporary writers a novel for all fans of Cormac McCarthy and Elmore Leonard. Hansen re-creates the real West of the most famous outlaw of them all Jesse James and of his death at the hands of Robert Ford. Ford is drawn to Jesse uncertain if he wants to serve or destroy him or somehow become him. James a charismatic superstitious and moody man controls his ragged gang who fear his temper and quick shooting. This is the classic story of the American West and of how Ford would gain immortality as the "dirty little coward who laid poor Jesse in his grave". Combining history and fiction for a vivid recreation of the old West and the outlaws who dominated it Ron Hansen masterfully tells their story.
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Westerns - Director: Sergio Leone, Henry King, John Wayne - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Frankie Avalon, Clint Eastwood, Millard Mitchell, Lee Van Cleef, Patrick Wayne, Gregory Peck, Eli Wallach
Advantages: Great cast performances and a good film in general Disadvantages: Very slow pace and would be hard and boring to watch a second time
The assassination of Jesse James is based on the true events and retells the story of the famous outlaws' final few months leading up to death, and his relationship with his killer Robert Ford. The film is set at a slow pace, for example the speed at which all the characters talk is rather slow and you almost feel as though you know what will come next, particularly with the assassination scene.
The performance of all members of the ... ...and Brad Pitt performed well. The film also did a great deal for the career of Casey Affleck, who was much appraised for his role in the film. In the film Robert Ford has great admiration for Jesse James and is often teased for this. This leads him from wanting to be close to Jesse to eventually killing him to become a celebrity in his own right and for the bounty money offered. Brad Pitt plays the role of Jesse James as an increasingly tired and ... more
The assassination of Jesse James is based on the true events and retells the story of the famous outlaws' final few months leading up to death, and his relationship with his killer Robert Ford. The film is set at a slow pace, for example the speed at which all the characters talk is rather slow and you almost feel as though you know what will come next, particularly with the assassination scene.
The performance of all members of the cast was especially good, and I thought that both Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt performed well. The film also did a great deal for the career of Casey Affleck, who was much appraised for his role in the film. In the film Robert Ford has great admiration for Jesse James and is often teased for this. This leads him from wanting to be close to Jesse to eventually killing him to become a celebrity in his own right and for the bounty money offered. Brad Pitt plays the role of Jesse James as an increasingly tired and paranoid man really well, but I have to wonder if the film is telling the story as it were, then why does he take off his gun sling and just allow himself to be shot so easily? Yet even this scene is played well by all actors, however the speed at which it was played almost made me want to play it at twice the speed just to get it over with.
Although I am not a huge fan of Western's, this was a good, modern update of a well known story and all the quality that went into producing the film really distinguishes itself as a good film over older Western films. If there is one negative point I have to mention about the film is that it is rather long and at the regular talking scenes you nearly feel as though you could go to sleep with boredom. As a first time watch, the film is very good, albeit a little confusing and hard to follow at times, but watching it a second time would really require lots of fast forwarding through the most static parts of the film.
LukeG91 21.09.2009
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Review of The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (Blu-ray)
Based on the 1983 novel by Ron Hansen, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD captivatingly depicts the final few months of the legendary Jesse James's life. He was 34, and his days of ruthless robbing had dwindled, yet his fearsome reputation continued to swell. With an abundance of nickel-books retelling his brutal gun-slinging adventures, James had become a symbolic hero for many Americans, and a dazzling tabloid icon for the 19th-century media. A particular young man seduced by the wonderment of James, the shifty Robert Ford, wormed his way in as a James groupie, in the hopes of snagging a coveted spot alongside his brother Charley as one of the bandit's cronies. Ford, fiercely insecure and painfully aware that he would never be taken seriously by James (who, ever-plagued by paranoia and scepticism, found Ford’s earnest obsession a bit unsettling), grew increasingly angry with his idol, leading to a destructive path that ultimately ended in the anticlimactic death of Jesse James--and brought the treacherous Robert Ford the notoriety he had always wanted.
Release details
DVD Region
Blu-ray
Studio(s)
WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Interactive menu
Sound
Dolby Digital
Professional reviews
Review
A haunting retelling of one of the enduring outlaw sagas in American culture (Entertainment Weekly, 05/12/2007)
Dominik paints a richly detailed mosaic on locations in Calgary and Winnipeg, and you can only marvel at the visual miracles achieved by cinematographer Roger Deakins (Rolling Stone, 05/12/2007)
DVD Description
Based on the 1983 novel by Ron Hansen, THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD captivatingly depicts the final few months of the legendary Jesse James's life. He was 34, and his days of ruthless robbing had dwindled, yet his fearsome reputation continued to swell. With an abundance of nickel-books retelling his brutal gun-slinging adventures, James (portrayed by Brad Pitt, in one his most convincing and moving roles) had become a symbolic hero for many Americans, and a dazzling tabloid icon for the 19th-century media. A particular young man seduced by the wonderment of James, the shifty Robert Ford (a breakthrough performance by Casey Affleck), wormed his way in as a James groupie, in the hopes of snagging a coveted spot alongside his brother Charley (played by the always affable Sam Rockwell) as one of the bandit's cronies. Ford, fiercely insecure and painfully aware that he would never be taken seriously by James (who, ever-plagued by paranoia and scepticism, found Ford's earnest obsession a bit unsettling), grew increasingly angry with his idol, leading to a destructive path that ultimately ended in the anticlimactic death of Jesse James--and brought the treacherous Robert Ford the notoriety he had always wanted.
Although this film takes place in the late 1800's, its eerie relevance to modern-day celebrity-obsession scandals is astounding, and adds a fresh scope to what could be viewed as just another cinematic western. Director Andrew Dominick (CHOPPER) furthers the film from its genre by banishing cliched bullet-infested showdown scenes, instead embracing the relationships and interactions of the outlaws, and creates a mood of brooding and contemplation with exceptional camera angles and lighting. His intensely sophisticated approach to filmmaking illustrates the darkest corners of the characters, and insightfully provides a deeper, heartfelt portrayal revealing what the men might have been like behind their masks.
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