What a mouthful. The title, I mean. The movie itself, also a cinematic mouthful at 2 hours and 40 odd minutes.
For me, this is a no brainer. I like movies like Tombstone (even with its questionable acting) and Unforgiven. All the actors in this one are good all the way around (Brad Pitt, Sam Rockwell, Garrett Dillahunt, Paul Schneider and, of course, Oscar nominated Casey Affleck).
In the end, it’s not really a western, but more of a biopic set against the late nineteenth century west. (I also think you’ve released a little steam when the title lets everyone know what’s coming. I had no idea going in about the story but for 2 hours I just keep thinking, I know Bob Ford’s gonna kill Jesse. Although, the title is a slight misnomer).
But here is the root of the story; Bob Ford is the baby of his family and is tired of being laughed at. Being the baby of a family, it’s true the world over, no matter what you do, your family’s opinion of you will never change. Bob struggles with finding a way to make a name for himself, of redeeming himself in the eyes of the world. He chooses the assassination of a worldwide hero of sorts. Jesse James is also dealing with his own issues, increasing paranoia and insomnia and anger are creating a miserable life.
Robert Ford commits his act but is not heralded as the hero as he imagined he would be. People enjoyed the folk-hero status of one of their outlaws and saw him as a coward for killing a man who had taken him in, taken him under his wing.
Casey Affleck really is outstanding as the confused man-boy character. His face an open plane of awe and jealousy, hatred and longing. And Brad Pitt should do more movies like this, more reminiscent of what made him famous in A River Runs Through It and the less great Legends of the Fall. Slow and deliberate, chewing the words up in his mouth before letting them out into the world.
As for the length of the movie, nothing after the assassination should have been trimmed but, the movie is so forthright with its themes, it leaves nothing to the imagination. A little editing of the ‘Jesse rides up to the house, is suspicious, takes a ride’ could have been forgiven. Whenever you feel yourself drifting away, the narration kicks in and brings you back around. The narrating choice really is to be commended. It is not overly “actor-ly,” but more appropriate to the genre. In the end, this movie is more of a slow burn, it gets better the more you think of it and it will definitely hold up on multiple viewings.
I like a good western, but as this review points out, this isn’t really western in the tradional sense. And that’s not a bad thing. One thing is for sure, this is a really beautiful movie. The cinematography is excellent. And the use of what feels like an antique lens helps give the visual effect of the time as much as the imperfect glass we seem to be peering through throughout the film.
The pacing is slow as the first two hours grind slowly ahead. This definetly helps to build up the unhappiness that is Jesse James, but it also builds the tense hyper-discomfort that is Charlie. Bob, well, he’s just creepy. His eyes seem to confused and angry even when he’s got a smile on his face. And the end, he is exactly what Jesse predicted he would be.
Great post. Great film. Now, let’s ride.