The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

R

2007

2h 40m

Western

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

174 Reviews

75%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Infamous and unpredictable, Jesse James (Brad Pitt), nicknamed the fastest gun in the west, plans his next big heist while he launches pre-emptive strikes against those looking to collect the reward the law has placed on his head. Jesse's newest recruits, Robert (Casey Affleck) and Charley Ford (Sam Rockwell), grow increasingly jealous of the outlaw. When they sense an opportunity to kill Jesse, they gun him down, but their actions backfire when Jesse's fame is elevated to near mythical status.

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Critics Consensus

On the strength of its two lead performances Assassination is an expertly crafted period piece, and an insightful look at one of the enduring figures of American lore.

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David Jenkins

Time Out

02/06/2018

3/5

Pitt, toying with his death-wish like some private joke, is eminently watchable in a role with little developmental arc; while Affleck, as his unwitting nemesis, takes his own mysterious integrity right to the grave.

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Christopher Orr

The New Republic

09/18/2008

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is the story...of the moment in America when myth was murdered by mere celebrity and we were left, perhaps forever, with only the latter's meager consolations.

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Alonso Duralde

MSNBC

05/01/2008

5/5

Jesse James is that rarest of birds -- an art film with mass appeal.

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Gayle Sequeira

Film Companion

10/06/2022

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford plays out like an elegy to a fallen idol whose worshipper has decided it's time to dismantle the pedestal.

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James Croot

The Post NZ

09/28/2022

5/5

Not only one of the finest westerns ever made, even a decade-and-a-half on The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a terrific example of the power of the art form itself.

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

11/24/2020

3/10

Perhaps the least western Western ever made - and that's not a good sort of singularity.

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Craig R

@LVilleMovies 2d

Beautifully made film, but pacing is too slow to be ever pull you in. Two leads do excellent jobs.

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Kim P

@RT98672688 Jun 13

This film brings to mind another long historical tragedy in Barry Lyndon. A man who feels spurned and rejected from his rightful place of glory and the many missteps that his misconception has him take on the road to an inglorious end. The cinematography is superb and the acting is expertly nuanced to reflect resentment, fear, paranoia, ambition, and self-preservation at various times throughout the movie. Pitt's best performance as an actor, he embodies the mercurial mood and quirky personality of Jesse James yet loses none of the confidence and charisma the outlaw reportedly possessed. The movie is slow-moving and you basically know how it ends so it's like watching a long fuse burn before the expected bang at the end.

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Drew M.

@Stonehands211 Feb 26

What a movie. The main two performances from Affleck and Pitt are just outstanding. I was nervous each time they were on screen together. For such a slow burn of a film they really got a lot of tension out of the characters. I really loved the melancholic ending on up of it all too. Just beautiful. A great be careful what you wish for kind of scenario.

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Alex M

@alexkidinmovieworld Jan 26

Brad Pitt's finest moment (and I loved him in seven and fight club). It took me a good day or so after watching this to truly absorb his portal as a truly uwelcoming antihero. The cinematography is up there with Roger Deakins best work and given his follow up work I don't think Andrew Dominik will do better again. This is a film which will leave a sour taste in your mouth purposely and the themes of Jesse James being the world's first social media star is only a little slice of the pie... You have to work at analysing this film and I understand why audiences didn't overly love it... Just remember though we need unwelcoming films like this to challenge the popcorn fodder

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Michael G.

@micgriffin12 Dec 24

Nice little history lesson. Longer than it needed to be. Pitt was a solid Jesse James.

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Kamran G.

@kforkam Dec 10

As lazy a script as its title.

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Andrew Dominik

Director

Brad Pitt

Jesse James

Casey Affleck

Robert Ford

Sam Shepard

Frank James

Mary-Louise Parker

Zee James

Sam Rockwell

Charley Ford

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Synopsis

Infamous and unpredictable, Jesse James (Brad Pitt), nicknamed the fastest gun in the west, plans his next big heist while he launches pre-emptive strikes against those looking to collect the reward the law has placed on his head. Jesse's newest recruits, Robert (Casey Affleck) and Charley Ford (Sam Rockwell), grow increasingly jealous of the outlaw. When they sense an opportunity to kill Jesse, they gun him down, but their actions backfire when Jesse's fame is elevated to near mythical status.

Director: Andrew Dominik
Producer: Ridley Scott, Jules Daly, Brad Pitt, David Valdes, Dede Gardner
Screenwriter: Andrew Dominik
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Virtual Studios, Warner Bros., Scott Free Productions, Plan B Films, Jesse Films Inc.
Rating: R (Some Strong Violence|Brief Sexual References)
Genre: Western, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.9M
Runtime: 2h 40m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS