After all the early buzz surrounding The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford I was far more than interested to get my chance at watching it and within minutes you realize this is not an average film. Writer/director Andrew Dominik in his first major feature film fills out his cast perfectly and manages to capture a tone that I can only describe as haunting. Even though the title of the film gives away the ending there is so much more to the story, and a build-up that adds to the mystery of the whos and the whys of it all.
Jesse James is unique in every sense of the word and a polar opposite to Lionsgate’s 3:10 to Yuma. Unfortunately for people hoping the western will make a comeback will have to rely solely on Yuma because Jesse James will not be seen by a large number of audience members despite mega star Brad Pitt in the lead as James. Action is limited to only a couple of scenes, one of which happens inside the first 20 minutes of this 2 hour and 40 minute feature, but it this is not an action flick it is an emotional and tragic journey in every sense of the words. Dominik shows talent you probably wouldn’t have expected from a second time director as his storytelling decisions and pacing lead to obvious comparisons with Terrence Malik.
The film is told through flashbacks, side tales and upfront storytelling which will lead many to become restless believing the story is laboring on and never really getting anywhere. However, the one thing to remember is that this isn’t the life of Jesse James, this is the assassination of Jesse James and it happens as Jesse is slowly heading into retirement and a life with his wife and children where he assumes the name of Thomas Howard. The action scene I mention that happens early on in the film is the James Gang’s final train heist as Jesse’s older brother Frank (Sam Shepard) is calling it quits, leaving Jesse and his new band to their deeds.
Included in this new gang are the Ford boys, which include Charley (Sam Rockwell) and most notably Robert (Casey Affleck). Jesse’s trust of the Ford boys is never a certainty as he appears to become increasingly paranoid as the film moves on. Whether Jesse’s paranoia is directly related to his suspicion over Robert’s quiet and questionable demeanor or in relation to the bounty on his head, he can never quite seem to shake the young 19-year-old. Perhaps he is following the old anecdote of keep your friends close and your enemies closer, because in this case he has killed two birds with one stone.
The side tales I mention become increasingly important to the overall result of the story as such characters as Wood Hite (Jeremy Renner), Dick Liddil and Ed Miller are important parts of Jesse’s life and play a role in his emotional state leading up to the end of it. These characters define the mystique that is Jesse James. There is never a time they don’t seem to be afraid of Jesse regardless of whether he is in the same room, in the same house or even in the same state for that matter. At any time these three worry as if Jesse was God and would smite any one of them for any act of disobediance.
If there was one complaint to be had it would be in the limited amount of time we spend with Jesse and his domestic life with his wife Zee (Mary-Louise Parker). There is a story to be told there and considering the meticulous telling of the rest of the story it is surprising we didn’t learn anymore about the goings on in the James household. I also could have done without James Carville as a governor, that was a casting decision I don’t think I will ever understand as it immediately takes you out of the moment.
Historically the film is going to probably have several detractors as it offers up a curious theory on the actual assassination. Even as someone that doesn’t know the history of Jesse James it even had me scratching my head; primarily due to Pitt and Affleck play it more than how it is said to have happened. The final moments of Jesse’s life in this film play into the early paranoia he exhibits along with what can only be described as a realization that his days are numbered. Pitt manages to capture both of these states of being extremely well and deserves to be finally mentioned as one of the top tier actors in Hollywood for it, and not just another pretty face.
Casey Affleck should also get his due now that he has been praised up and down for Jesse James, but also deserves notoriety for his turn in big brother Ben’s Gone Baby Gone. Casey plays the wiry thin Robert Ford perfectly and while the first two hours of the film focus on the build up to the assassination, it is the ultimate result it plays on Ford’s life in the final moments of the film that truly show Casey’s talents.
Assassination of Jesse James is a triumph on most every level. If Oscar talk is your thing this one deserves a couple nods, but probably at the forefront will be cinematographer Roger Deakins who coincidentally is also receiving buzz for another Oscar hopeful in No Country for Old Men. The camera work he provides with this film is astonishingly beautiful and only assists that much more to the methodically paced storytelling.
