not already seen it, you will be seeing this year, 2008 that is. Based on the novel by Ron Hansen the film itself reads, or in this case watches, like a novel. Not only because of its use of a voice-over narrator, but also because of its very slow pace. Almost as if director Andrew Dominik wants you to describe every little detail, becoming yourself a novelist, the story comes to literally unfold before your eyes. The cinematography is amazing with the camera slowly tracking to lead the audience into the landscape. While actors are seen playing their parts, the background filled with beautiful mountains call you from afar, willing to get your attention. Especially at the beginning the film features some beautifully lit shots with actor Brad Pitt standing in an open field. And as if all this visual beauty wasn't enough, there's also some pleasure for the ears. The soundtrack accompanying the images fits the image track so well. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis who composed the score found the perfect sounds to accompany the visual beauty and the film's slow pace. The Assassination Of Jesse James definitely isn't for those people only used to fast editing and who aren't able to keep concentrated for longer than some 10 seconds. Whereas in most films you only have to blink once to already miss another shot, here you won't be missing a thing as the camera lingers on every small detail, which isn't a bad thing at all, more the opposite. The Assassination Of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford is a hauntingly beautiful film and one of those westerns that is slower than those filled with chases and gunfire. Besides being one of the films with the best cinematography The Assassination is also one which features some of the best performances. Brad Pitt is good, gradually sliding into his role and making you see the character instead of the actor and celebrity that is Pitt. He finds a good balance between making Jesse look friendly, someone who you can look up to, but also deadly scary able to all of a sudden turn into some kind of crazy person ready to kill anyone standing in his way. But nomatter how good he is, or Sam Rockwell or Paul Schneider who both are also terrific, this film belongs to one person only and that person is Casey Affleck who gives the most brilliant performance, one that is among the best you'll find in film. He's a revelation and gives the performance every wannabe-actor dreams of giving. When he's not featured in one of the scenes you wish he was there, so fine, so stunning is what Affleck comes to show here. At first he makes Robert unexperienced, a young boy who dreams of one day becoming a first class cowboy like his role model Jesse. Being in his presence he can't seem to be able to wipe that grin of his face. As the title suggest, Robert seems like a real coward, one of whom you would never expect to reach the same status of a Jesse. Over time, however, Robert comes to find out Jesse isn't that great either. Reading stories about him in little books in which Jesse plays the hero, gradually he comes to believe Jesse was right when he said he should not believe these stories, which in contrast to the real events are merely lies. Also being mocked at for looking up to Jesse and knowing everything about him after Jesse keeps him under his wing for a while, taking him to places where Jesse always goes, Robert seems to lose his dream, though he holds onto it, being the only real thing he has to hold onto. Therefore when the assassination takes place, he is seen somewhat feeling indifferent about his actions, doing what he has always dreamt of doing, but also having doubts about his actions no longer sure this is really what he wanted. Looking at Affleck's portrayal, you come to feel for him. He puts Robert somewhere between this image of always being in his heart this little boy who dreams of one day becoming that big tree just like Jesse, and this young guy who is smarter than he looks and is determined in his actions and goal. He takes it all very seriously and one can not blame him for wanting what to him seems the best of life, the life Jesse lives. He is hismelf an admirer, but he too wants to be admired. It's this being torn between two different persona which makes you as a spectator like Robert, but also dislike him. Coming to think of it, he's really not that likeable and sometimes even a bit annoying. Being honest, you can not but admit you understand Jesse's mockings when he keeps asking Robert to tell him interesting stories about him, since he's the real expert when it comes to Jesse James. It's therefore somewhat a relief when eventually Robert comes to question his deeds and excepts life as it is, realizing his life will never be like Jesse's. This feeling of both finding him sympathetic, but at the same time annoying like a coward is, is part of what makes Affleck's performance so strong. He is one of the main reasons this film lingers and sticks with you long after seeing it. He's that impressive and people seeing this film will think of his performance when one day stumbling upon the film in a local videostore. Overall, thus, The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford is a very soothing and satisfying film, somber, melancholic, and art-house beautiful, with characters that show great development and unlock the most wonderful emotions inside of you, as well as appealing to the big audience with well known actors and a compelling story.What is it about?
Jesse James is someone who is deeply feared even by those who are close to him. His unexpected nature scares everyone and noone can be sure of him liking you or not. Amongst his many admirers is Robert Ford, a young guy who idolizes Jesse the bandit and looks up to him as if he's the ultimate hero. His older brother Charley Ford may count himself to that small group of people who has been priviliged to work with the James' brothers, making it possible for Robert to get close to the one person he has looked up to all his life. One day his dream can be said to come true when James briefly takes Robert under his wing showing him the
places he goes to and teaching him the tricks of a bandit. During this period Robert gets the chance to fully observe the guy, leading to him dressing up trying to look like his idol. His brother and friends come to mock him for it, finding his books in a box hidden under his bed, the books which tell stories about James. That's how famous he is. Soon though, Robert comes to get to know James real character. There's more than meets the eye and it's a side not so great as Robert might have hoped. Slowly he's becoming somewhat resentful, building thoughts and feelings which will make him do the one thing he hopes will put him on the same level as Jesse, assassinate him before anyone else does.Final Verdict: *****
In a short scene just some minutes before the long awaited assassination takes place, Robert can be seen outside washing his face with water from a small bucket. While doing so his actions are wonderfully accompanied by the film's score, being totally in line with the way you would picture a scene like this in your head. It's a perfect little scene showing Robert getting ready for the moment he's been waiting for all his life feeling both serene and beautific. It's just one of the many beautiful scenes The Assassination has to offer. Saying it's a masterpiece might sound as an over-statement an exaggeration, but this one asks for it. The Assassination is just that good. It is a masterpiece. It is a wonderful film perfectly carried out. It gives you the best experience and for me the best since The Fountain. True, at a certain moment you might feel
you have lost part of the plot, but if you just focus on the important things, eventually you will get back into it completely and the feeling of being lost will be entirely gone. Watching it a second time might be even more pleasant for me as I had not expected the film to go on that long after the assassination, which I thought would be the film's climax and ending. But there's more to come, so be prepared. But because of my expectations the thought did creep in my head, the one asking: it's still not over? I didn't want that though to be there, because for me the film can't last long enough, for me it could have went on for ages, nothing I would have loved more. But I could not shed it off. Next time, though, I will know and I will enjot it even more than I already did. Though the films are different and give different experiences, it was as good, or at least similar to my first experience of watching The Fountain. There's this magic that can not be explained. It's just is there and this film for some reason has it, which I myself did not expect. Therefore it was a real suprise finding out how extraordinary this film is, in ways I could have never expected. With a great score, great cinematography, great characters and story and great perfomances by both Pitt and Affleck, especially Affleck, The Assassination Of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford is the ultimate film to watch. Maybe you won't like it, but just go, because if you will like it, you will probably really love it and that's a love I wish for anyone to experience.
1 comment:
You write very well.
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