The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Strong violence.
| Director: | Andrew Dominik |
| Actors: | Brad Pitt, Mary-Louise Parker, Brooklynn Proulx, Dustin Bollinger, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell |
As the charismatic and unpredictable Jesse James plans his next great robbery, he wages war on his enemies, who are trying to collect the reward money - and the glory - riding on his capture. But the greatest threat to his life may ultimately come from those he trusts the most.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 160mins |
| Origin: | UNITED STATES |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 |
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Member Reviews (116)
116 Member
Reviews
Wally
says
Its not bad movie but so slow falling asleep through parts very slow
moviebuff
says
This film is a" MASTERPIECE",one of the most underrated films ever released.
One cannot mention the strengths of this extraordinary film,suffice to say its flawless.
Will be in my top films of all time list,yes its that good ,a classic.
Le goret
says
Great cinematography, great acting, but way too slow. Too many characters coming in and out without any introduction. The plot is very protracted and many scenes serve no purpose at all. A disappointment.
Zig
says
Meandering film, great actors and beautifully shot but so long & slow, also muffled voices... fast forward
roy page
says
could'nt quite get the story , but it came through in the end
Liz x
says
This is one of those films you either love or hate. I happen to love it.
It's a bit of an epic and pretty slow paced (as 'epic' stories can be), but I enjoyed it much, much more than I had anticipated. Great story, depth of characters, great acting, great scenes through-out. I am so glad I accidentally put this in my viewing queue. It is probably in my top 20 or so flicks,
I'll be back to see this again.
Tami
says
Very slow paced and long film. I fell asleep on my first two attempts of watching it and finally made it through on the third. The acting was good and Brad Pitt was typically very convincing in his role but I think you have to really be a fan of that genre of film to want to stay the course.
JCG
says
turgid
Kate
says
Boring, I didn't end up watching the whole thing, just couldn't.
Lena
says
Don't bother with this one one of t he worst and most boring movies I have ever seen
Deborah
says
Impossible to understand, the sound track and dialogue are incomprehensible. Gave up.
Simone
says
did not enjoy at all one of the worst movies iv watched very boring
Karena C.
says
I was expecting greater things. I thought the pace was too slow
Bridget
says
A little slow at the beginning, but interesting documentary/drama format. Brad Pitt does an excellent rendition of a psychopath. Well worth a watch, just be patient with the sometimes slow pace.
Graham
says
Good story but too slow and long.
RoyF
says
what a amazing film, this film is half about jesse james and jalf about the coward robert ford, how this movie is told this is what you called a epic western film and very amazing and the last act is the most amazing film in this film just loved it, its a film i can watch over and over again its in my top 25 films.
Sara
says
was a very dragged out movie with a slow story line. Not the best brad pitt movie.
Liz C.
says
The title isn't the only long part of this movie. This is one long haul. A good one mind. It's like going into a deep and colourful coma. The cinematography is sublime and the whole tone is measured and languid. It matters not that you know the ending, when you get there it's still a surprise.
Cassandra
says
Firstly the music was brilliant, by a brilliant artist, Nick Cave. Affleck was mesmermising and although he was portrayed as the coward and a snake, he was so affecting that I just had to find out what made him tick. Pitt was his usual excellence, and all the acting was top grade. It was both a hauntingly beautiful movie and a menacing, edgy story. I thoroughly enjoyed it all the way through.
Shirley
says
Very impressive film. Superb acting, particularly by Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck. Stunning cinematography with some shots a work of art which could be shown in an art gallery. Interesting story with excellent direction. Definitely a five star film in my view.
Rick S.
says
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING
Chantman
says
Launguid, slow but rivetting western with only occasional action but plenty of good characters. Stylistically similar to early films by Terence Malik like Days of Heaven. Brad Pitt gives one of his best performances here as Jesse James., but the star of the film is Casey Affleck ( Ben's brother) as Robert Ford. His portrayal of the cowardly sidekick who worships Jesse but envies him, makes for fascinating viewing. The film ,directed by NZer Andrew Dominik (Chopper), is too long but it also sustains attention for its 3 hour duration.
Billy
says
YAWN !!! - very slow movie...
Jack K.
says
Celebrity fixation began many years before the press and gossip mag writers glorified Hollywood actors. Folk hero and outlaw Jesse James is brought back to earth by Brad Pitt’s portrayal of James as a repugnant psychopathic robber. With little depth to his character and piddling background to his degenerate deeds, there’s no doubting his menacing grip over gang members. His killer, hero worshiper Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) projects an extreme example of a creepy, misguided groupie, who’s resentful of his mediocrity and fears for his life. His betrayal of James gains the notoriety (and reward) Ford believes he deserves, learning too late it’s tinged with the hate reserved for traitors. Over-length, slow paced and brooding, the film has a daguerreotype quality. Three and a half stars.
Matthew B.
says
Visually stunning, quite tense in places, with an outstanding performance by Pitt as Jesse James. The only problem for me was keeping up with who was who and who did what to whom!
Veronica
says
I only watched about the first half hour of this. It was beautifully shot, but I found the character of Jesse James completely charmless and uninteresting, so I gave it away after that!
Kathy
says
This film was very bloody. Quite violent at times. Brad Pitt plays a peculiar part, but all the actors are good.
Stewart
says
I enjoyed the documentary style. Interesting historically. Better than many overly romanticised westerns
Peter D.
says
i could only watch about 40min, too bleak and boring.
Kristian C.
says
Tried giving it a chance but couldnt get into it. the repetition of westerns is hard to come to terms with. even with King Brad at the Helm i couldnt deal with another repeat of every western every made.
Special effects and better acting still cant support a Dodgy Storyline. Not narrow minded just need more..
Paul
says
A wonderful cinematography provides the framework for a historic yarn that feels authentic and generally atmospheric. Told in minute detail, the interactions of the characters lead the story to its inevitable conclusion. Casey Affleck excels in his portrayal of the sensitive, articulate, 20-year old admirer of the outlaw. Brad Pitt does an excellent job too, but this is yet another instance of Hollywood miscasting agreeable actors in the role of an extremely disagreeable character who was no Robin Hood and killed most of the 17 men he is credited with by shooting in the back. Unfortunately, the movie is overlong and morose. It would have benefited from tighter editing.
Katherine
says
Boring, snoring...tediously slow and self indulgent directing gave up 45mins into 2:45 long film..
Lynley D.
says
Unfortunately I couldn't get past the first hour, and turned it off. Maybe I shouldn't have - but it was SO boring, and virtually incomprehensible. Hard to understand the spoken words and hard to differentiate between all the murky hues on screen. Honestly - if you have to sit through garbage for an hour to get to the good stuff, is it really such a great movie?
Jodie
says
Good
Robert
says
This film really grabbed me, and it was well put together with the combination of dark imagery, music, sepia moments, excellent characterisation, and narration. The acting, particulary of newcomer Stacey Affleck, was brilliant and I am more than impressed with this young man and expect to see much more of him. I also continue to be much taken with the increasing ability of Brad Pitt to be absorbed in his characters, an ability I first really noted in Troy.
I recommend this film to those who like a look at the darker side of the human soul, and a good yarn as well.
Deb H.
says
One of the longest, slowest, most painful movies. In fact i could not watch to the end. Could of done with an hour of editing and voice coaching lessons for all those involved. The ability to Enunciate the english language is obviously a lost art.
Selar R.
says
Redefines the term "Boring". Every bit as long winded and pedantic as the title.
Tania
says
Certainly an interesting piece if you're in the mood for something a bit different
Elspeth N.
says
Definitely not one for the impatient - I found it just too long
Ondrea
says
Boring, fell asleep
Brenton
says
Unfortunately, just a little too slow and drawn out for my liking.
Charlie
says
After only 30 minutes I had lost patience with this one. Abysmal story-telling.
Nicole
says
VERY GOOD MOVIE ALL THE OLDER TYPES OF MOVIES FROM THIS ERA ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE A GOOD STORY LINE
Melinda R.
says
Unbelievably long and dull, except for the last half hour or so. No wonder it pretty much went straight to DVD in Australia.
Ben M.
says
First class casting, acting and directing. No question one of the most moody films in recent years.
However, it DRAGS on like molasses in the freezer and will struggles to hold the attention of most viewers. I found myself reaching for the FFWD button myself, in a vain attempt to advance the pace two- or threefold. It's just too SLOW and too LONG.
Brad Pitt was good in his role, but the dialogue was sometimes incomprehensible because of strange dialects spoken. I am sure it was all "in character", but geez it was drawn out longer than the War on Terror.
I guess the story had to be told, and I really was looking forward to it being told - but it just took far too long and in the end I was regretting the loss of two hours of my life that i would never get back.
One little point that I found fascinating was this: Jesse James, renowned bank/train robber and violent man extraordinaire, was in a way actually revered by the U.S. Joe Public and his death shocked the nation like he was some kind of hero!
One for the thinkers out there. But not for the impatient.
Justin K.
says
I could not even finish watching this movie as was bored and turned it off after 50 minutes.
Weird just didn't do it for me
Wendy C.
says
Boring - yawn!!!!
Julie
says
boring!!!!!
Sandy L.
says
Have you got a rainy saturday afternoon free? This is a beautifully shot, slow, historically impressive, fabulously acted tragic story....a masterpiece if you have the patience. I'm glad I did.
Matthew W.
says
this is a strong film, but the other reviewers are right, the start is to slow, and it failed to keep my attention on DVD - if I'd seen it at the cinema I amy have enjoyed it more. Great cinematography and performances
Laurene W.
says
I was so glad when this one arrived. I like Brad Pitt and have always wanted to see it but I must say I was really disappointed in it and I felt that it was too long and drawn out and kind of boring. Sorry that is just the way I saw it
Bronwyn
says
I was expecting so much from this movie but it was soooo disappointing for a number of reasons. This is a long movie and moves at a snail's pace (took us 4 goes to get through it because I kept nodding off!!). Maybe I would have found it more interesting if I could have understood the actors - between the mumbling and the Southern accents, I found it really hard to follow what was happening. Subtitles would have been really useful. On a positive note, the scenery was beautiful.
Toni F.
says
Very slow, found it hard to get into.
Nigel B.
says
I wasn't sure what to expect with this film - it struck me as being the very definition of "love it or hate it" - but you can put me firmly in the former camp. One of the most beautiful films I've seen in years. Brad Pitt has never been better and Casey Affleck gives a career-defining performance. The only part of the film that annoyed me was James Carville as Governor Crittenden. It just struck me as pointless stunt casting.
Timothy B.
says
Long and boring. It's kind of interesting but OMG it drags on and on.
Jan H.
says
I was very dissapointed with this movie it took so long to get into the story and I could not understand half of the words
Jai R.
says
some great acting, but perhaps one of the most over-rated and boring movies i've ever seen, i suggest you keep a jug of coffee beside you to keep yourself awake.
Sharon
says
Couldn't get into it. Hubby enjoyed it
Lynnie
says
I didn't fall asleep so it wasn't too bad but slow, slow and slow. The pauses extracted from the film would have shortened it by an hour and they weren't all necessary.
willow
says
This is a film aiming for greatness but but missing the mark. It has a lot to enjoy, beautiful cinematography, brilliant performances from a terrific cast and a classic story. However, I think where the film aims to be poetic and elegiac, it is merely long and slow moving in parts. Brad Pitt's performance as Jesse James is great, among his best, he does a very honest job of portraying a folk hero who is actually a violent murderer. However, the eulogising of Jesse after he dies and the villifying of his murderer, Robert Ford was something I didnt understand. Maybe America has always idolised celebrity no matter what the reason behind it. Casey Affleck is unforgettable as Jesse's biggest fan and finally his killer, it is him that I identified with.
Josephine K.
says
Profoundly interesting. I thought the slow burn to the climax was full of tension and expectation. Brad Pitt was extraordinary in his paranoia and insecurity. Did Jesse James allow Robert Ford to get close to him because he knew the end was inevitable and thought it better to keep it in the family. The pace of the movie reflected the slower pace of life in those times. Events took a long time to unfold because of the time it took to cover the distances on horseback. The viewer has time to study the characters and the plot. Fascinating and unusual.
Belinda S.
says
So sloooooww, i turned it off after an hour.
Nigel W.
says
A languid psychological Western which I thought was let down by the performance of Brad Pitt who is unable to convincingly convey the menace and emotional instability of Jesse James (compare with Chopper). Affleck is great as Ford but the director's attempt to dissect the Western is often too self conscious and reverential.
Jessica T.
says
I couldn't even finish watching this - not even Brad Pitt could save it!
Ray N.
says
My favourite movie of 2007, where has casey affleck been?? The cinematography is amazing, I'll never forget the train robbery...highly recommended.
lissybug
says
While the cinematography is very good, I found this movie almost completely unwatchable. It was extremely slow moving, with very little action for a great majority of the film. I got to about the half-way mark and pretty much gave up and fast forwarded through the rest hoping for something great at the ending. But again, I was mostly disappointed.
Sue K.
says
beautiful photography,brilliant acting and a story that holds to the end.westerns are not my thing so was hesitant to watch as I thought I was in for a couple of hours of boredom....pleased to say I thought this was a great film
Anthony R.
says
A slow film requiring patience . Not bad but hard work
pato
says
This was a little hard to follow. Another one I didnt bother finishing as it was long and hard to watch in places. It wasn't my movie but Im sure others will enjoy it more than I did. Just be aware that it is a long movie and has parts not easy to follow and you're left wondering where that scene was going.
Amanda N.
says
I didn't have the energy to watch this one, even my husband found it labourious to sit through. Very hollywood. Think it only deserves one star, but I guess he sat through it.
stimpy
says
Slow and painful, but interesting to understand what happened.
Andrew H.
says
I agree with a lot of the reviews here that it is a touch slow but it kept me interested. It really focuses on tne characters and Casey Affleck puts in a fine performance. Subtitles are a great help too.
Carolyn A.
says
I gave up on this 1 hour in and then read the other reviews and thought "what?". Just couldn't take the slowness of it and found Casey Affleck's character torturous to watch. Maybe I should try again and just watch from where I stopped....I've obviously missed something along the way in watching this.
Amanda O.
says
Robert shoots Jesse!! Thats all there really is to this move - 2.5 hours of Brad Pitt mumbling. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Boring!!
Mark L.
says
Really good, but far too long. Also - to really get the most out of this - brush up on your American Western/outlaw history...
Charles T.
says
Excellent- just go for the ride
Colin Y.
says
No, sorry. Despite critical acclaim, this movie is try-hard. It's rambling, slow-paced and tries too hard to be artful. Doesn't hold your interest enough. I totally disagree with the movie critics who likened this movie to No Country For Old Men. That movie was far more superior and suspenseful. This movie is just a plain bore. The only saving grace is the excellent acting performances by all the cast.
Kevin D.
says
Overall excellent but strangely languid and empty with time slowing down as we edge nearer to the murder and then quickening up as we move away to Ford's demise.
Greta B.
says
Absolute nonsence, a job for Brad Pitt who plays mimself as usual 'BORING' .
I found the subtitles necessary as the dialogue is pathetic and the sound quality.
We (Husband and I ) tried to persist but it was just such poor quality all round.
What a waste of money
Janet W.
says
One of the most boring movies I have ever seen. The only reason I made it to the end was to see Jesse James get his cumuppance. He was a psycho and Robert Ford was indeed a nobody and a loser. I hope the snake killings weren't real because animal cruelty in films is disgusting and unacceptable.
Kezzawall
says
I waited with great anticipation to see this movie but how disappointing. It was one of the slowest and most boring movies I have seen in a long time. Didn't even wait to see the end. Even a dark and brooding Brad Pitt wasn't enough to hold my interest.
Geoff D.
says
Too long and poorly scripted. The characters mumbled their lines, too slow in places, disjointed. Needed more background to set the scene, especially as it relied on prior knowledge.
Madam Mim
says
I luckily was completely ignorant of the assasination of Jesse James and did not read the second half of the title so it was interesting to see how robert ford turns from fan to foe- and it was a nice surprise. for all those that know the story, you are interested in events and not the characters, and that is why you miss out i think. One of the best Pitt movies ever and Casey Affleck is always great to watch. Let yourself go with the flow and enjoy it.
Steve M.
says
Great film - really enjoyed it. At 2.5 hours it is a slow burner that you'll either love or give up on early. Focuses on the Ford brothers and essentially the betrayal some might say of Robert Ford [Casey Affleck] in eventually killing Jesse James [Brad Pitt] . Affleck is great in the role which really captures that period [1870s] in America. It's worth searching on the internet for the story of Jesse James death to understand the story before you watch this. Obviously quite similar in style to The Propsition with Nick Cave providing the music in both. People will either love or hate both films.
Julia B.
says
I was really looking forward to this movie and all I got out of it was relief I didn't waste $20 at the movies. Actors were great but the storyline was very slow
Andrea P.
says
although an interesting perilod piece it was dull and drawn out - would have been greatly improved if it was half the length.
John K.
says
good movie but not good enough to go for so long
Barry P.
says
One of the most boring, drawn-out dialogue-filled movies I've ever seen. Was there a story in here somewhere or just a bunch of actors trying to out-act each other. Don't put it on late at night - you wont make it past 30 minutes.
Ammie J.
says
Sorry to say that I did not enjoy this film at all. i probably had high expectations. I thought it was cinematographly beautiful, but far too slow to keep me interested. I also had trouble hearing and understanding the dialogue in that accent.
Kristy
says
A bit slow and dragged on at times but worth watching for sure.
Leith W.
says
Was disappointed by this movie. Far too long and drawn out. Despite the script being true to the original story, I was left thinking "just kill him and get it over with"!
Peter F.
says
Forget it..this movie is BORING..BORING..watch the credits for a thrill if u must get this blundering mess..where do they get these ideas from?
Marg O.
says
Boring and way too long. Husband gave up after 30 minutes of incomprehensible dialogue.
Cheryl T.
says
David B.
says
Long.....very long, slow....very slow.
OK, so thats the good points and it goes downhill from there. Very "Deadwood" feel about it. The acting apart from Brad was ok, visually has a nice look BUT too long and slow. Oh and did I mention it was long.
Ray B.
says
superb, memorable, great soundtrack
Tracey R.
says
Absolutely the most boring film I have ever seen. The only good thing about this film was watching the grass sway in the breeze.
Aaron F.
says
I was disappointed with this one, found it quite slow and boring. The film tried to be a copy of the Deadwood TV Series and failed miserably.
Michael C.
says
Robyn B.
says
ABSOLUTE RUBBISH
Jeanette C.
says
This movie is crap! You will fall asleep. Brad Pitts facial expressions :) Brad Happy :( Brad Sad Brad Scared :0 what a joke overacting and it is soooooooooo long it was just pathetic!
Paul G.
says
Interesting movie, but like many other comments its just way too looooooooong.
If it was trimmed to 90min which you could have done without losing any of the plot or storyline then it would have been a much better experience.
June M.
says
We thought this was excellent and really looked like the old days in the west.
Peter W.
says
It should be noted this is not an action move that is for sure. It's slow and thoughtful yet captivating. For some reason I just wanted to keep watching even though there was little action. It played out more like a documentary told through voice over and the expressions of the characters. All the acting was top! I really enjoyed this movie for all the subtleties.
Keith M.
says
Leanne W.
says
Craig O.
says
Craig O.
says
a little slow
Tony
says
If you're expecting a standard western, this not one of them. Instead we are presented with a thoughtful and carefully wrought insight into the period and the nature of crime and its consequences. The re-creation of the period with expressive photography and careful costuming contributes much to the atmosphere of the film. The dialogue is often to difficult for our Australian ears to follow, but the subtitles are worth resorting to to gain the maximum effect from the well written script. This is what it must have been like.
Bev M.
says
Brian M.
says
I saw this at the cinema and agree that this is the top movie, if not in the last decade (?) but of last year. Why it was ignored at the Oscars is a baffling mystery. The cinematography is amazing. Brad Pitt an Casey Affleck (and every other performer) are at the top of their game. Music is memorable.
First "Chopper "and then this. I hope we don't have to wait too long before Andrew Dominick makes another brilliant film.
Not for those who like a lot of explosions!!
A classic.
ka-tet
says
Believe everything you've heard about the amazing cinematography, stylish, with a wonderful score only Nick Cave and co can pull off. More than just a story of crazed fandom, also a look at the human capacity for self destruction.
Charles S.
says
By a slim margin, the best film so far this decade. Languid, baroque and totally faithful to the novel of the same name. Every player in it steals their scenes. A very slow burner. Not a mindless 1 & 1/2 hour popcorn thriller. Rewards multiple viewings. ( I found the subtitles useful, as the dialogue is heavily accented and parochial.)
david
says
Visually effective long movie which holds attention like a hypnotic spell. Intricate character development , boundaries of loyalty and trust, good and evil are blurred with no real reconciliation for anyone. All the cast effective particularly Casey Affleck - arguably the most demanding role in the movie. This is also the first movie where Pitt so gets into the skin of the character James that I didn't think , as I usually do with his movies its just ,"Brad Pitt playing Brad Pitt." Atmospheric score by Nick Cave.
Okto F.
says
Worth Watching - In the beginning of the movie trying to establish Robert Ford's character is dragging too long.
Adriaan van Jaarsveldt
says
Clearly in the running for the movie with the longest name, but surely also being considered for the longest rambling preamble before it cuts to the chase. Whilst this is a strong story and its well-played here by some very competent actors, the lead up to the events surrounding James’s killing are so diffuse and rambling that it lost me along the way. The last hour or so is compelling, 4-star cinema, but it’s a long wait to get there. What this is, however, is another sign of the current resurrection of the Western, that we are seeing in promising films like this and 3.10 to Yuma.