The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a 2007 western drama film directed by Andrew Dominick ,with Brad Pitt depicting Jesse James and Casey Affleck portraying Robert Ford.
Outlaws Frank and Jesse James were celebrities in 1881-despised by the law ,but heroes to many people who had read about them in novels and dreamt of riding with the James gang. Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) is one such guy who have idiolised Jesse James. He wants to join the gang of James brothers with the help of his brother Charley Ford ( Sam Rockwell). Jesse is kind of amused by young Bob's hero-worship and he keeps the kid around him. Ford wants to be among close persons of Jesse and eventually he gets so close that Jesse ends up asking "Do you want to be like me? Or do you want to be me?". Robert Ford starts hating Jesse as he comes to know more about him.
The stark and amazing visuals make this film more beautiful. The work of the fine cinematographer Roger Deakins are cold,dark and bleak. It is shot in muted tones which evoke sepia-tinted photos of the old west. Dominick seems to be inspired from Terrence Mallick. He aims for epic grandeur with fields of waving wheat and moving clouds.
During that period, media was busy in creating strange celebrities like outlaw Jesse James and Pitt was perfect for that role considering his public persona. Jesse James is unpredictable. He is paranoid and dangerous but he is also a family man and faithful husband. But this film belongs to Casey Affleck . He gives a great performance as the sycophantic sidekick whose disloyal affection turns sour later. Casey Affleck's character is complex , repulsive and tragic at the same time.
The film is long and it's pace is intentionally slow . The slow pacing makes the film more interesting to watch. It creates the tension between the characters by giving the uncomfortable silences time to grow. This film is one modern masterpiece.
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