The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford - 2007 (R)

Starring:


Year of Release: 2007
Rated: R
Director: Andrew Dominik
Approx. Running Time: 160 minutes
Format(s): DVD
My Rating: 2 Stars (Out of 5)


Trailer:


From Back Cover:

BRAD PITT AND CASEY AFFLECK IN THE HARD-HITTING TALE OF CRIME, FRIENDSHIP AND BETRAYAL.

Everyone in 1880s America knows Jesse James. He's the nation's most notorious criminal, hunted by the law in 10 states. He's also the land's greatest hero, lauded as a Robin Hood by the public. Robert Ford? No one knows him. Not yet. But the ambitious 19-year-old aims to change that. He'll befriend Jesse, ride with his gang. And if that doesn't bring Ford fame, he'll find a deadlier way.

Friendship becomes rivalry and the quest for fame becomes obsession in this virile epic produced in part by RIDLEY SCOTT and featuring gripping portrayals by BRAD PITT (winner of the Venice Film Festival Best Actor Award) as Jesse and CASEY AFFLECK as the youth drawn closer to his goal...and farther from his own humanity.


My Comments:

After being so enamored with 3:10 To Yuma, I was excited to hear about this Western and wanted to love it, too. Well, I don't dislike the film - it certainly had some redeeming qualities - but I found it to be rather undeserving of the near universal praise it has received from fans and critics alike. Though the performances were all good, I hated Casey Affleck's whiney, obnoxious "Robert Ford" and can't decide if that's because he did so well as the cowardly teen or because the actor is himself whiney and obnoxious. Perhaps a combination of the two? Also, I was quite annoyed by the constant narration in the film. I like to watch movies and see what's happening, I don't appreciate being literally told the story.


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Rated R (MPAA)
2 Stars
2007 (Year Of Release)
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