Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Mary-Louise Parker

"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

69,354 ratings

Critics

74% liked it

160 critics

R, 2 hrs. 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: 13,834 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (13,834)


  • 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.
  • April 10, 2009
    Aside from the scene-stealing supporting actors, this film is just really sad and is a relative snoozefest. Interesting editing, cinematography and storytelling style, though.
  • December 14, 2008
    A smouldering, intense and quite sensual meditation on friendship, betrayal and guilt that made my heart skip a beat. It's not only the most achingly beautiful piece of cinematic Americana since Terence Malick's Badlands but also the most obviously homoerotic western I think I ha...( read more)ve ever seen. A tale of one man's obsession with glory and fame - ultimately at the expense of those who love and trust him, that's seared with such ardent longing and male-amour, that it's sexual undertone simmers quite earnestly barely below the surface. Also, the acute recreation of a rugged, earthy and even naive masculinity is rendered with as much love and careful attention to detail as the romantic and elegiac long takes of the vistas and landscapes that, along with a lush and doleful score, help bring to life the world of America's old west and the outlaws who lived and died in it.

    I'm not entirely sure why I missed this at the cinema and feel a little sad that I saw it first on DVD instead of on the big screen. It surely loses a tiny bit of it's greatness dwarfed onto the small screen. But I'm glad I have seen it anyway because I really love this one. And to all those, with a Play Station-addled sensibility, that think this film is too long: I say IT'S NOT. It's about an hour too short!
  • November 19, 2009
    Some see westerns as action movies. TAoJJbtCRF could have easily been an action movie about the adventures of the James Brothers and the exciting death of James against Ford. Instead, it brings us a real look to that time, and with Robert Ford we feel the pain to discover that ma...( read more)ny of our favorite cowboys maybe as psychotic and paranoid as Brad Pitt's James is. He receives top billing, but the real star of the film is Casey Affleck, delivering an excellent performance. Brad Pitt is excelent, as always, but he is more like the character who allows Robert Ford to change, like Marlon Brando to Al Pacino in the Godfather. Beautiful scenes, music and the best part that gives the movie its unique aspect, the narrator.
  • November 12, 2009
    this is truly a modern masterpiece, everything is just perfect, the screenplay, the acting, the directing, the cinematography, the chemistry between brad pitt and casey affleck, the pace, and the running time.,
    i know most people criticize this movie for being slow-paced and over...( read more)long runtime and actionless western, but for me the timing of this movie is just perfect, the movie didn't feel 2 hours and 40 minutes, because there is no unnecessary scene, every scene is as important as the assassination scene, i didn't want it to end sooner at all, and honestly i wanted it to end later than it did (with additional scene of the death of robert ford, maybe?).,
    this is one of the best film in last 10 years and the best performance from casey affleck so far, so don't you dare to miss this stylish and elegant movie..
  • November 11, 2009
    Best Actor in a supporting Role - 2007 - Best Directing 2007 -
  • November 6, 2009
    Il signor Brad Pitt film dopo film č sempre pił dannatamente bravo.
  • October 24, 2009
    Man it was tough not falling asleep while watching this movie

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. =)

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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 »
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