The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

With a title that really isn't the spoiler it appears to be, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a masterwork that already has the feel of a classic. It's a complex, beautifully shot, elegiac tale set in the fading West that examines the price of fame and misguided hero worship. In today's celebrity-obsessed world (no matter how dubious the "beloved" personality may be), it seems even more pertinent now than it was then. Don't go expecting an action-filled shoot 'em up on the lines of that other recent western 3:10 to Yuma. Instead, expect a thoughtful, dialogue-rich contemplation on truth vs. fiction in the final days of a criminal who continues to fascinate. In fact, if Jesse were around today, he'd probably be accorded rock star status and lauded for each new holdup. Brad Pitt, as the legendary outlaw, has never before found a role that fits as easily as this one. The basic plot revolves around a fan, Robert Ford (Casey Affleck who shows he has got what it takes to become a major star), who learned everything he knows from dime novels spotlighting the activities of this 19th-century antihero. Ford, a sycophant if ever there was one, either wants to be with Jesse or just be Jesse. After circumstances find him joining up with James in the twilight of his years, he soon hatches a plan to kill the self-proclaimed "fastest gun in the West." With stunning cinematography perfectly capturing a time and place in an America long ago, this take on the last days of an iconic Western figure constantly surprises and intrigues.