The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Reviews and Ratings


  • Suz129
    November 23, 2009
    Suz129
    Beautiful cinematography. The movie was a bit slow, but worth watching.
  • undeadfeature
    November 23, 2009
    undeadfeature
    A slow burning western. This film contains amazing cinematography and powerful imagery but other than that it's not scoring any points. Some call Casey Affleck's and Brad Pitt's performances as "powerful". While they weren't hammy they're far from powerful. I don't mind when a mo...( read more)vie is slow but I do mind when there's no payoff. The entire story is wholly flat and uninteresting. It looks great but never becomes engaging or moving. I find I didn't care for the characters. It only picks up after the namesake of the film, when Ford shoots James, and the fallout thereof. What could have made for a great movie all its own (Ford's journey after the assassination) just becomes the falling action to a dull western. It's artsy and pretentious with an air of undeserved authority.
  • fredyamdc
    November 21, 2009
    fredyamdc
    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 may be 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.
  • rajiv23gooners
    November 12, 2009
    rajiv23gooners
    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..
  • odonoghuematthew
    November 11, 2009
    odonoghuematthew
    Best Actor in a supporting Role - 2007 - Best Directing 2007 -
  • theloneowl
    November 6, 2009
    theloneowl
    Il signor Brad Pitt film dopo film č sempre pių dannatamente bravo.
  • dukeakasmudge
    October 24, 2009
    dukeakasmudge
    Man it was tough not falling asleep while watching this movie
  • vdesheva
    October 18, 2009
    vdesheva
    In spite of the great acting the movie was too slow and even boring most of the time...:( Maybe only the last 20 minutes or so were really worth it...
  • jamesm1068
    October 3, 2009
    jamesm1068
    bad movie, don't waste your time, bad acting all around.
  • DanSmithAuthor
    October 3, 2009
    DanSmithAuthor
    Great scenery, some good acting, but too long and a bit boring.
  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    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!
  • giovannythegodfather
    September 29, 2009
    giovannythegodfather
    As his gang and legend begin to fragment, train-robber and outlaw Jesse James (Pitt) is a haunted man. He can feel his death approaching, but can he foresee that fringe gang-member Robert Ford (Affleck) will be the man to pull the trigger?

    Long of gestation, long of leng...( read more)th, and throat-dryingly long of title (word of mouth will require a deep breath), Brad Pitt?s new Western has likely left perplexed studio execs somewhat long in the face. They were surely banking on a sassy gunslinger, with Mr. Jolie whirling his Colt like a majorette. What the Australian director of Chopper, Andrew Dominik - in only his second movie - has delivered is a slow, meditative poem that harkens to the verdant sprawl of Terrence Malick?s Days Of Heaven. Thrill-seekers may want to apply elsewhere.

    Dominik is cultivating a not-unfamiliar revisionist evocation of America?s formative days. Even if it doesn?t resonate across an entire career like Unforgiven, it shares that film?s contemplative power and unmaking of myth. Even if it isn?t as thrusting as McCabe & Mrs. Miller, it shares its sepia-hued authenticity and indistinct morality. Even if it isn?t as ironic and outrageous as the Spaghettis, it too is something to do with death. And even if it isn?t as squib-splattering as Peckinpah, it answers to his elegiac heart. This
    is the Western as psychological landscape, where unheroic souls drift toward divided destinies.

    The source is Ron Hansen?s fictional recreation of the chaotic events that brought James-gang-hopeful Robert Ford (Affleck) to shoot his iconic leader in the back as he dusted the frame of a picture. Dominik faithfully matches the book?s shapelessness: like the messy throes of history it is made up of shards and slivers, strands of plot that loosely knot together. But beneath this rambling, talkative style - nudged onward by a lyrical narration from an uncredited storyteller - can be felt the inexorable drift towards the assassination, towards death.

    To fulfil his mordant vision, Dominik hired Coens regular Roger Deakins to paint a melancholic beauty of weather-swept horizons and desolate farmhouses in post-Civil War Kansas and Missouri. Apart from the crystalline blue of Pitt?s eyes, the film appears drained of true colour, to be left bronze and faded like those haunting daguerrotypes of frock-coated gents beneath whose glazed expressions hid murder. The sensation is one of a spell or dream. It never gathers momentum like a thriller, yet the menace
    is inescapable as scenes travel disturbing and unpredictable paths. Any gunfire is scarce and unpleasantly vindictive, while the only outlawry we witness is a brutal night-time train robbery that frames the gang as no more than wanton thieves. Dominik is seeking the point at which history, populated by tearaways and psychopaths, translates into folklore. What creates mythology out of dastardly killers?

    As an actor, Pitt is most effective stalking the fringes of sanity - see how the jangling nerves of Twelve Monkeys and Fight Club made him luminous - so he is fittingly cast as Jesse James. Both are men unable to calculate the full meaning of their celebrity, another of the film?s preoccupations. James parses his notoriety in newspapers and observes the edgy devotion of his gang, especially Ford, but keeps a distance from reality as if he has one eye on the hell to come. When Pitt loosens the hinges a fraction, out spills a gurgling, terrifying laugh like a death knell. It is arguably the most nervy and effective thing he has ever done.

    Yet the honour of lead falls to Affleck as the strangely juvenile, certainly unstable sap Robert Ford. In the murky folds of his prickly 19 year-old mind, hero-worship (there is just a tease of homoeroticism) of James has become garbled with an idea of establishing his own fame. Affleck brilliantly gives life to this oddball weakling born for humiliation yet desperate for significance - the echoes of Lee Harvey Oswald and Mark Chapman must be intentional. ?You know what I expected?? recalls Ford, long after the titular event has left him reviled and desolate. ?Applause.? It isn?t morality that divides the likes of James and Ford; it is PR.
  • vince95
    September 19, 2009
    vince95
    very interesting story that holds together well for almost 3 hours. the performances should keep you watching, and there is plenty of old west eye candy - beautifully shot!
  • ElCochran90
    September 17, 2009
    ElCochran90
    Although The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a fantastic epic, it fails in one single aspect for me: the emphasis on the main characters. I understand at some point the director's original intentions of portraying each one's families and the crimes commi...( read more)ted by Frank and Jesse James for 25 years, as well as the character study of Bob after he killed Jesse, but most of those things weren't really necessary.

    Casey Affleck, although still gay and boring to me, surprisingly enough acted well in the film. Brad Pitt's performance was unbelievable and I'm starting to really like his acting in films. The direction, script and cinematography turned out to be amazing and better than I expected.

    Overall, this beautiful and thrilling film really tried to be one of those epics that were made in the 60's, such as Dr. Zhivago, and let me say it was a really nice modest attempt. I was surprised by this film.

    80/100
  • bradsteph
    September 12, 2009
    bradsteph
    A bit of a slow building movie but stick with it and it'll be worth your while.
  • TheSlowJoker
    September 11, 2009
    TheSlowJoker
    the movie did start of pretty slow and in some places it was kind of boring, but once it got going and got interesting it was actually quite good

    the acting was by far some of the best ive ever seen in a movie, i think when brad pitt needs to be he can be the best actor around ...( read more)especially in movies like these, he played the part of jessie james exceptionaly i personally couldnt fauit him in the movie

    and i thought sam rockwell and casey affleck both played great roles as well in supporting brad and they to both put in outstanding performances throughout the film

    i have to admit i didnt expect the ending to be the way it was, and its good that films are made to show people what the likes of jessie james was actually like all you hear about is the crimes he committed but you dont see or hear about how much of a loving dad he was and how much he valued his family (pretty similar to ned kelly)

    overall i thought it was an outstanding movie that i would without a doubt see again and sit knowing im going to enjoy it from start to finish
  • krustyAB
    September 3, 2009
    krustyAB
    this was drier than sandpaper
  • fluturash
    September 3, 2009
    fluturash
    what along title,for such a short movie. kinda dull, and the title ruins the fun completely. a spoiler .
  • Bizbeth
    August 31, 2009
    Bizbeth
    A slow mover, which usually I love in a film, but sometime it was a bit much in this film.
    However I loved all the characterisations and the cast, particularly Affleck, were fantastic. I felt overwhelming sympathy for the character of Robert Ford. In most normal circumstances he...( read more) would be considered a hero, but due to America's obsession with outlaws, particularly the infamous Jessie James, Ford has gone down as a coward and the man who shot the hero. That's probably the part that stayed with me after watching this film, not the children and the wife who were left adandoned after Jessie was 'murdered' - after all it is no worse than Jessie himself did to hundreds of families. Instead I was left feeling a kind of outrage at how easily it is for the tables to turn, and for the bad guy to go down as the hero.
  • craissgirl
    August 28, 2009
    craissgirl
    An understated, slow-moving and dream-like movie - perhaps, sometimes, a little too slow moving. And was I the only one who felt sympathy for the character Robert Ford? The story of Jesse James is proof that the idiotic obsession with celebrity in the west is not a new phenomeno...( read more)n. The performances are all excellent - particularly from the wonderful Casey Affleck. The direction is sublime and the narraton is brilliantly scripted and lends a real sense of poignancy to an already moving film.
  • ristrawn
    August 28, 2009
    ristrawn
    lots of action & evasion...
  • SageSlowdive
    August 27, 2009
    SageSlowdive
    Affleck deserved the Oscar.
  • lawills
    August 21, 2009
    lawills
    This show had such potential. Instead it turned into one very long very boring movie. Needed some editing and some more energy/life.
  • jscottcorley
    August 8, 2009
    jscottcorley
    3 stars for the performance of Casey Affleck, but overall the film was meandering and lacked cohesion. There was confusion over where the focus of the film should be. This made it seem overlong.
  • eXquisit3
    August 7, 2009
    eXquisit3
    Too long....




    Too long...
  • mattdonovan2004
    July 30, 2009
    mattdonovan2004
    Beautifully filmed story of a legend, head and shoulders above the pack of films that have been committed to celluloid throughout the years about one of the enduring outlaw legends of the old West. Brad Pitt's best performance in many years, and Casey Affleck's breakthrough perfo...( read more)rmance; his performance as Ford was engrossing throughout, and now he has established himself without a doubt as a far stronger actor than his brother Ben (who will hopefully remain behind the camera from now on, playing to his strengths). One of my favourite movies of 2007
  • jfvirey
    July 23, 2009
    jfvirey
    Westerns are not usually my cup of tea, but this one was well worth my time. It is a slow-going -but never boring- psychological study of two men: outlaw Jesse James and the man who killed him, Robert Ford.

    My two fears about it were totally unfounded. First, I was afraid, gi...( read more)ven the title, that it would be some sort of paean to a worthless criminal, inverting values like a Michael Mann film. But it is nothing of the sort: even though Pitt does make his character "human" and somehow "relatable to", the film does portray him as an unbalanced sociopath. The "coward" Robert Ford is only described as such in the title because this is how US public opinion chose to remember him, rightly or wrongly, but he is not treated unfairly or unsympathetically by the director or the screenwriter (moreover, Casey Affleck was really brilliant in that role, stealing the show from Pitt.) On the contrary, the film is remarkable in its neutrality and lack of any agenda.

    And second, I expected some ponderous arsty-ness a la Terrence Malick, but although the film is a marvel of cinematography, its aesthetics is never gratuitous or showy, but only an expression of a genuine love of the period and the natural settings.

    Truly, this is one well-crafted film, with wonderful texture and authenticity, and none of the nihilism and gleeful amoralism you find in the movie portrayals of notorious outlaws. I don't even remember a single instance of strong language, and the violence was not overwhelming, though a brain or two get splattered.

    If you're renting it for the always enjoyable Zooey Deschanel, however, be warned that she only has two or three very brief scenes. But for me, she was the icing on the cake.
  • agentjade
    July 22, 2009
    agentjade
    A long drawn out movie requiring a lot of patience and/or love of Brad Pitt to finish.
  • lennyd44
    July 20, 2009
    lennyd44
    Watching this film is like flipping through a beautiful art album. Yes, it's really long but it was done intentionally for genre mood and time. I'm still scratching my head as to why the film did not win best cinematography and best score. Oh and Casey Affleck is superb as coward...( read more) Robert Ford.
  • tisasecret
    July 17, 2009
    tisasecret
    It was too slow and much too long for my liking so I did not complete it...I wasn't drawn in to the slightest by the acting either.
  • thmtsang
    July 11, 2009
    thmtsang
    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.
  • silentgal010
    July 9, 2009
    silentgal010
    its pretty good... brad pitt is amazing and so is casey affleck
  • melbrakel
    July 7, 2009
    melbrakel
    Epitome of snoozefest.
    Just so slow........
    boring........
    and much too long!!
    I could hardly stay awake.
    Casey Affleck was pretty decent, but Brad Pitt didn't act at all like how the character of Jesse James was described in the film! Was very disappointed, despite the raving ...( read more)reviews. Would never watch again if I could help it.
  • shellybrewer
    July 2, 2009
    shellybrewer
    My mind must have been misfiring when I put this on the Netflix queue. I was a few minutes into it when I realized I could care less who killed Jesse James, I'm just glad they did. He (and his gang) were a crucial part of when the bad guys rode in to my town and burned it down, k...( read more)illing plenty i n the deed. So yay to the coward. I skimmed the whole thing on fast forward. The whole story is pretty messed up.
  • willieclancy
    July 1, 2009
    willieclancy
    One thing we now know is Casey Affleck can really act, he is outstanding in this movie. The film however is very slow but great acting, scenery, and intense moments. Needed a little more action from me to be honest. Great film if your in the mood for a long slow film.
  • Arlecchino
    July 1, 2009
    Arlecchino
    Brilliant acting, stunning photography and fantastic music but more than half an hour too long for my taste. The narrator (Hugh Ross) really caught me though.
  • almanocturna9
    June 26, 2009
    almanocturna9
    Hiper lenta... pero muy buena pelicula
  • cutesyme23
    June 22, 2009
    cutesyme23
    I found most of this movie to be really slow moving, an interesting tale which is worth the watch if you dont mind the slow slog to get there.
  • necrobeast666
    June 20, 2009
    necrobeast666
    This movie seemed to be about 6 days long....
  • doctordoom
    June 15, 2009
    doctordoom
    This is a great western film based on the real events and life of Outlaw Jesse James and Robert"the Coward" Ford. First off the film was beautifully shot. From the images to the darkness of the film and the period of the film was great. The film also as a great cast. Brad Pitt wa...( read more)s excellent as Jesse James. Casey Affleck gives one of his best ever performances as Robert Ford. Plus a good supporting role from Sam Rockwell. The film may seem slow in parts but I found the characters are so well potrayed and the content was interesting to keep me watching. After watching the film I read up on the history of Jesse James and Robert Ford. The film is pretty near accurate to the history and how the characters were preceived. Overall a must see film for fans who enjoy westerns or just those who like real event based films.
  • michaelfsingson85
    June 9, 2009
    michaelfsingson85
    the pacing of the storty was too slow and it was very very detailed...
  • fidgit23
    June 8, 2009
    fidgit23
    Beautifully shot, quiet and incredible script, superb acting
  • SuicidalFrootLoop
    June 7, 2009
    SuicidalFrootLoop
    Narrator:He was ashamed of his persiflage, his boasting, his pretensions of courage and ruthlessness; he was sorry about his cold-bloodedness, his dispassion, his inability to express what he now believed was the case- that he truly regretted killing Jesse, that he missed ...( read more)the man as much as anybody and wished his murder hadn't been necessary. Even as he circulated his saloon he knew that the smiles disappeared when he passed by. He received so many menacing letters that he could read them without any reaction except curiosity. He kept to his apartment all day, flipping over playing cards, looking at his destiny in every King and Jack. Edward O'Kelly came up from Bachelor at one P.M. on the 8th. He had no grand scheme. No strategy. No agreement with higher authorities. Nothing but a vague longing for glory, and a generalized wish for revenge against Robert Ford. Edward O'Kelly would be ordered to serve a life sentence in the Colorado Penitentiary for second degree murder. Over seven thousand signatures would eventually be gathered in a petition asking for O'Kelly's release, and in 1902, Governor James B. Ullman would pardon the man. There would be no eulogies for Bob, no photographs of his body would be sold in sundries stores, no people would crowd the streets in the rain to see his funeral cortege, no biographies would be written about him, no children named after him, no one would ever pay twenty-five cents to stand in the rooms he grew up in. The shotgun would ignite, and Ella Mae would scream, but Robert Ford would only lay on the floor and look at the ceiling, the light going out of his eyes before he could find the right words.

Summary

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Summary