Retro Film Review: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
The author of this review lives in the part of the world where robbers, rapists and psychopathic mass murderers , when political, economic and cultural circumstances align in that direction, may be given the status of national heroes and moral exemplars. One, however, can take some sort of comfort in the fact that this phenomenon isn’t limited to this area and that can be found even in seemingly more progressive and civilised countries. One of those is provided Jesse James (1847 – 1882), man whose conduct during US Civil War was such that, if repeated today, could have lead to Hague courthouse, and it was followed by long career of outlaw; specific combination of political circumstances following the Civil War turned him into a national hero. The heroic fame surrounding James is perhaps most deservedly attributed to the manner of his demise, which is the subject of the 2007 film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
The film, based on a 1983 novel by Ron Hansen, begins its narrative in the autumn of 1881. Jesse James (played by Pitt) has spent the previous decade under the banner of continuing the Civil War by other means, specifically fighting against the despised Northerners through bloody bank and train robberies, becoming America's most wanted outlaw and a hero to the defeated Southerners. Although he managed to evade authorities, Pitt finds himself without his most loyal friends or associates—all either dead or imprisoned—forcing him to fill his gang with young, inexperienced recruits, including 19-year-old Robert Ford (played by Casey Affleck). The young man is captivated by James and obsessed with the idea that he will become a famous outlaw in his company. However, as time passes, it becomes increasingly clear that this will not happen, leading Ford to conclude that he can secure a place in history in a different way.
Although many Hollywood filmmakers have addressed this theme in one way or another, The Assassination of Jesse James was meant to be another great Western and an example of how contemporary Hollywood can still produce quality examples of that genre. Ridley Scott served as producer for the project, which boasted an impressive cast. Brad Pitt's portrayal of the paranoid psychopath showcased his exceptional acting talent after a long time away from such roles, reminding the public that he was more than just Angelina Jolie's husband. Young Casey Affleck also delivered a masterful performance as a complex character, with supporting actors like Paul Schneider as the outlaw seducer Dick Little and former Clinton campaign strategist James Carville as Governor Crittenden making notable contributions. The melancholic atmosphere reminiscent of revisionist Westerns from the early 1970s was enhanced by Roger Deakins' brilliant cinematography.
Unfortunately, a key figure in the entire project fell short—New Zealand director Andrew Dominik. Given that his previous film Chopper—a disturbing yet fascinating adaptation of Australian criminal Mark Brandon Read's autobiography—had a similar theme, one could assume that The Assassination of Jesse James would be a hit. However, this did not happen because Dominik took his source material too seriously. Viewers cannot doubt for a moment that this is an adaptation of literary work—the narration by Hugh Ross constantly delves into trivial details while suddenly shifting focus onto secondary characters halfway through the film.
Such digressions—acceptable in literary media—consume valuable screen time, leaving little room to explain why the film's 'hero' did what he did and even less for what should have been perhaps the most fascinating aspect—the life of Robert Ford after James' assassination and how media and popular legends interpreted that act differently than he had hoped. While watchable, this film demands much patience from average viewers who would find Western concepts more palatable in titles like 3:10 to Yuma.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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