The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

by Ari

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is an ambitiously crafted and beautifully realized period epic that works extremely well despite its faults. Andrew Dominik has made a film of atmosphere, mood, tension, quiet contemplation and psychological complexity. It’s a western in the sense of Heaven’s Gate - a film that takes its time to build the characters and story without ever losing its grip of the viewer. It’s an engrossing film that’s more interested in behavior than it is plot. It’s about the long stares, the moments of silence and introspection, the nervous tension that’s never quite confronted but the cause of a significant level of fear. It is, in essence, a film concentrated entirely on emotion.

For those expecting a larger-than-life portrait of Jesse James, complete with adventure, excitement, and set-pieces, you may find yourself surprised by the delicate and subtle tone Dominik employs. It’s not a film about violence, although there are moments of strong bloodshed and brutal death. Like Heaven’s Gate, the film is comprised of the small moments that develop the relationships between the characters. It’s the meticulous detail that makes the story so alive and convincing, and the characters of Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) so compelling.

It’s also the mesmerizing performances by the two lead actors that create such a fascinating dynamic. While the story is mostly from Ford’s perspective, the central figure is undoubtedly Pitt’s frighteningly realistic portrayal of James. Like the people in his gang, you’re constantly in fear and in awe of his presence. He can be charming, he can be horrifying, he can be enigmatic. There’s an unpredictable intensity to the character that Pitt exudes with a brilliance unlike anything I’ve seen from him before. Casey Affleck is equally good as Ford. His character is always mistreated or misunderstood, making him search desperately for the moment when he can shine. Unfortunately that moments never comes, or at least not the way he wants or expects. Affleck portrays his confusion and conflict with an eerie, but sympathetic performance. Ford both idolizes and fears James, and Affleck balances those emotions perfectly. When he finally makes the decision to betray his hero and friend, his torment is surprisingly affecting.

Pitt and Affleck share many sequences together, and as much as I loved their exchanges of dialogue, I was more impressed by their moments spent watching and studying each other in silence. What’s not said between the two is as powerful as the things that are. There’s a connection they feel that’s part mystery, part warmth, and never fully explained. It’s an indescribable feeling between two people who aren’t quite sure if they’re friend or enemies. These are tremendous performances that will be remembered.

There is, however, one major issue that intrudes on the great work done by the talented cast: the voice-over. Throughout the film there’s a voice-over that basically gives you all the exposition. It's there just in case you can't follow the subtlety of the story. For a film that takes such care to create a poetic tone, it’s unnecessary to have an external voice tell you what the characters are thinking and feeling. We know what they’re going through because it’s all laid out by the performances, imagery, pacing, score, etc. I understand the narrator is telling the story as someone would tell a legend in person, but for a film as well made as this one, it only distracted from the excellence on display. It’s a minor flaw, but nothing terrible enough to ruin an overall epic experience.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is highly impressive work by Andrew Dominik. It’s only his second film, so he clearly possesses an enormous gift for filmmaking. This is one of the best of the year.