Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Mary-Louise Parker, Sam Rockwell, Sam Shepard ...( see more  see more... ) , Jeremy Renner , Paul Schneider

"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" delves into the private life and public exploits of America's most notorious outlaw. As the charismatic and unpredictable Jesse James (Brad...( read more  read more... ) Pitt) plans his next great robbery, he wages war on his enemies, who are trying to collect the reward money – and the glory – riding on his capture. But the greatest threat to his life may ultimately come from those he trusts the most.

Flixster Users

73% liked it

72,015 ratings

Critics

74% liked it

160 critics

R, 2 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Andrew Dominik

Release Date: October 5, 2007

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DVD Release Date: February 5, 2008

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Stats: 13,967 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (13,967)


  • February 5, 2010
    The most underrated film of 2007, is certainly one of it's best. A sweeping western about the fine line between truth and fiction, a homage to The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. This film containes some of the most spectacular cinematography I have seen in years.
  • January 2, 2010
    Everything about this film is pretentious: its length, its title, the length of its title...

    My girlfriend analysed it as a sort of selfportrait by a creator who feels pulled down by his necessarily inferior surrounding. I was just too bored to analyse it, so I'll say I agree wi...( read more)th her.

    A few good thing appear in this film arguably, the set is stunning, the supporting cast, starting by Casey Affleck is very good, there are often some beautiful images, but at the end of the day I just don't care about all those stuff. I do not care about the emotional life of a train robber, however successful. I do not care about a train robber looking melancholically to his daughter's shoe. I just do not care about this 3 hours-long masturbation, if anything because it might be painful.
  • October 1, 2009
    Its long, its slow in places but it?s very stylish and the last 20 minutes are fantastic. It makes up for sitting through endless inaudible dialogue and some mediocre acting. Affleck & Rockwell steal the show. All in all, I thought it was a very good film but not quite the 5 star...( read more) film I was expecting!
  • July 11, 2009
    This movie is long and slow moving but it is required to reveal the intensity of the characters. It's very dark and violent. Brad and Casey give excellent performances. Brad is the outlaw Jesse James in the latter years of his career. Casey is Robert Ford who admires and follows ...( read more)Jesse only to kill him.
  • April 27, 2009
    As a rule, I'm not a big fan of "westerns".

    But when they are more along the lines historical "period pieces" and made with as much passion and attention to detail as this film...what's not to love?

    This was a very slow and methodic look at the last few months of the life o...( read more)f the "notorious outlaw" and the people who surrounded him during those final days. And ultimately at the life of his murderer Robert Ford, who (in my opinion) was more of a sociopath then a "coward".

    This might not sound interesting to some...but the acting is top notch and I found myself rivited by every moment of this film. It was beautiful to watch (on several levels) and you really get a feel for the lives of these people and the social mores of that period in history.

    I found it interesting, sad and haunting.
  • February 9, 2010
    not a very interesting or thick plot but it was alright. bob ford was a loser! and casey affleck was really creepy in this movie...
  • February 5, 2010
    arty and pretty cowboy film.
  • January 29, 2010
    This was a pleasant surprise. Casey Affleck was particularly good, which is part of the surprise I had. I...well..I like it!
  • January 28, 2010
    BRAD,BRAD,BRAD!!!!!!!!
  • January 21, 2010
    It's a bit jumbled in the beginning. The direction of the film feels artsy. The film felt so long and seemed like it had nothing else to say. The other characters we travel through aren't as interesting as Robert Ford(Affleck). Affleck gives a strong performance as Ford and I was...( read more) glad to see him on screen.
    +There's a nice cameo by Nick Cave. It was nice to see.

Critic Reviews


November 30, 2007
Nigel Andrews, BadMovies.org B-Movie Reviews

How good to see gong-givers recognise that good acting can be covert, not overt, and that in the right artistic acoustic a performer doesn't need to shout to be heard. full review

November 30, 2007
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

Affleck and Pitt have prime charge of the tale's humanity and vitality. The first has nervous headlamp eyes and a wheedling, accosting intensity: he is like a homeless pet you would feel sorry for up ... full review

October 5, 2007
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie has the space and freedom of classic Western epics. full review

September 24, 2007
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

It is no mean feat to make a boring film about Jesse James, but Andrew Dominik has pulled it off in style. full review

September 21, 2007
Pete Hammond, Maxim

A masterwork that already has the feel of a classic. This take on the last days of an iconic western figure constantly surprises and intrigues. full review

September 21, 2007
Claudia Puig, USA Today

...heightened by a rare cinematic artistry that seamlessly melds a probing character essay with a lyrical Western epic. full review

September 21, 2007
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

A long, ambitious, fitfully rewarding movie. full review

September 20, 2007
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford represents a breakthrough in the moviegoing experience. It may be the first time we've been asked to watch a book on tape. full review

September 20, 2007
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

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. full review

September 19, 2007
Armond White, The New York Press

Fact is, The Assassination is nothing more than a misreading of Hollywood mythology. full review

View more The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • candleglow03
    November 13, 2008
    great movie i'm a fan of brad Pitt
  • gyvette
    February 29, 2008
    the film was a bit long, but I ended up really enjoying it. It showed what Jesse James was really like and I thought that was great. and it also showed why Ford killed him. It was a great story and I ended up liking Robert Ford in the end and really feeling sorry for him.
  • MorpheusOne
    February 22, 2008
    Considering who jesse james was, what he did, then it's apparent that he was the coward and Robert Ford was an honorable man! I hope this movie doesn't turn into a revisionist history piece of garbage.

    I hate brad pitt! Why did they choose him for this roll? He is so damned overated!
  • thedweeb
    February 6, 2008
    I thought this film was good, but a bit lengthy. It was however a beautiful film, and a fantastic character study.

    http://www.dvd-dweeb.com/reviews/review-the-assasination-of-jesse-james-by-the-coward-robert-ford
  • markggroesbeck
    November 8, 2007
    A wonderful art Western that strolls leisurely to its inevitable outcome, as the title suggests. When Robert Ford (Casey Affleck), joins the infamous James gang, we know that he will one day kill one of the most infamous criminals of the 19th century, Jesse James (Brad Pitt). The film fills in the details, showing us the reasons why Robert Ford did what he did on that significant day. Director Andrew Dominik's take on history has a homoerotic subtext suggesting Ford killed what he couldn't have. Pitt is understated and intimidating as Jesse James and Affleck is perfect as Ford, an annoying celebrity obsessed boy. A daring script, excellent performances and spectacular photography make this film a work of art.
  • MorpheusOne
    October 3, 2007
    Considering who jesse james was, what he did, then it's apparent that he was the coward and Robert Ford was an honorable man! I hope this movie doesn't turn into a revisionist history piece of garbage.

    I hate brad pitt! Why did they choose him for this roll? He is so damned overated!
  • akhan09
    September 4, 2007
    i saw da trailors n since den i juz cant wait 2 c dis movie...by da luk of it Brad has put his heart in2 dis movie n hopefully it wil NOT b disopointing 4 da fans...u Go Brad keep doin good movies :)
  • Thuckabe
    July 6, 2007
    Andrew Dominik's first film since Chopper (amazing). I can't wait.
  • BradPittIsHot
    May 21, 2007
    This looks like it will be good. =)

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts


  • Fun Fact:
    3 April 1882 Jesse James was assassinated by Robert Ford. Casey Affleck and Shia LaBeouf were up for the role of Ford opposite Brad Pitt. Shia LaBeouf was deemed too young for for the part.

The Assassination... : Watch Free on TV


The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Trivia

The Assassination of Jesse James ... Trivia


  • Which of these films has Naomi Watts NOT starred in?  Answer »
  • Whose singing irritates drunk Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) at the end of "The assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"?  Answer »
  • Complete the title of the film: The -- of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.   Answer »
  • Which actor starred in Fight Club Troy Legends of the fall Se7en Oceans Thirteen and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ?  Answer »

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