Southern Belle 1:

I nearly missed seeing this film because of all the negativity I'd heard about it being boring. I couldn't disagree more. This movie has haunted me. It is methodical in its telling, and rightfully so. The events unfold with a tension, an anticipation that cannot be rushed. In order to feel the emotions of all the characters, time must be spent in defining them, as well as Jesse James. The movie has made me want to now read the book and learn more about Jesse James, a man who was likely misunderstood and a man who likely misunderstood himself. This was a fascinating portrayal of an icon in American history. Recommended for those who have the patience to allow a historical film to develop in it's own time and space. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck put in powerful performances.

dli 1861047:

Very impressed with Mr. Pitt's performance as Jesse in this film, which might have the longest title of any American made film! At any rate, Pitt has had a hit or miss career in my opinion but still suprises with a compelling performance once in a while. This film was one of those compelling moments for Pitt, and if Casey Affleck doesn't start getting some meaty roles after this, I am not sure what he has to do or prove--this was a home run for him. This film is most definately an independent film, not designed to be a blockbuster, but many people will still complain about pacing and characterization and I would say either get over it or wait until Pitt does the next Ocean's Fourteen or whatever. The film is breathtakingly beautiful using the amazing scenery to its full advantage but then drops down to small, almost claustrophic moments in very intimate exchanges between characters. A fine way visually to tell the story of Jesse James and Robert Ford, which at one level is sweeping and legendary, but also made up of small and close up moments of time. I found myself caught up and enchanted by this fine film with great heart and subtlety. An A+ for several fine performances and subtle direction. 11/22/08

8adef320a8:

While watching this, I couldn't help but get the impression that it was a film made for absolutely no other reason than to show off some of the most beautiful and wondrous visual imagery in recent memory. Yet no matter how gorgeous the film turned out to be, that ultimately is only one aspect of many which make this a glorious film. This is a leisurely paced story completely enveloped by emotion, requiring a patient viewer and one that's willing to read between the lines and "feel" the action. If you expect a typical western, don't bother because this isn't a western at all. Casey Affleck is outstanding, far exceding any expectations one might have of him. However, even though Jesse James was a larger than life figure in his time, I felt like Pitt is too much of a larger than life personality now to properly play the role. That may not make any sense, but to me I think the role would have been better filled by a complete unknown. Never the less, Pitt was incredible. The music could not have been better, costume and set design was spot on, and all the supporting players were equally as strong as the leads. I love this film to pieces and highly recommend it, but warn that it's strictly character stuff here with very little action.

Chuckie13:

I was unable to truly enjoy this movie because of the excruciating slow pace of the film. I found my min wondering at times due to the pacing of the movie. I was able to sit through the end though solely for the great acting provided by Pitt, Affleck, and Rockwell. The interaction between the charectors at times did create a good atmosphere/tension to the scene, but there is only so much talk I could take. I was not expecting a typical Western movie, I knew going in this was not that kind of movie, but I was expecting the movie to flow better. This is not a bad movie at all, but it just wasnt for me.

Frank W:

One of the most beautiful tragedies you'll ever see. Not a typical western by any means, but rather a moody, artistic character piece with great acting and poetic dialogue as its driving force. If you expect it to be like 3:10 to Yuma or Unforgiven, you'll be disappointed. Think "Terrence Malick does Western". Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck are brilliant.

jmiscavish:

I suppose this movie is the definition of "slow pacing." The movie also assumes you have some background knowledge of the characters and situations. It's also not your typical Western. Being from Missouri (even from the exact city where this movie's climax took place), I was really excited to see this director's take on all of these events. The bluray was excellent. The sound and video were all superlative. The movie, however, will not be for everyone. It's more about Robert Ford than Jesse James, and there are long droughts without dialogue. There's nothing particularly new I can say, except that this movie will probably divide most viewers. Some will enjoy the pretentiousness, and others will fall asleep halfway through it. I'm the former.

Jason N:

It brings a historical narrator view inbetween long drawn out dramatic interactions between the characters surrounding robert ford and jesse james. It pushes the relationship between the two to borderline boredom. The action is even pushed back to emphasize the conversations. Pistols pop without the usual added 'kaboom' sound effects. Even with the historical info, this is an art piece about someone's book about these two characters. The writing feels too artificial, as if the writer pondered and rewrote what each would say to the point of overcomplexity and too many subtle inferences. The music was very interesting. You might want to watch the movie just to listen to it. Very original and adds to the frustrating and tension before the assassination. All in all, an OK watch.

Yinali:

I really liked the way this film explained every aspect of it's characters and story which involved the great performance of Brad Pitt. Not to mention the breakthrough performance of Casey Affleck. I have to say, at first I thought the movie was going to be entirely different and boring, but alas, I have been surprised and entertained by this very peculiar biographic fictional film.

Sagaepics:

I generally liked this film. Many people say it was too slow or too long. I can't exactly agree with those reviewers. The film on a whole doesn't feel like a normal period narrative. To me it felt more like a life action reactment Ken Burns documentary. We see little glimpses in the closing days of Jesse James' life strung together with narration. This style of filmmaking is what made the film seem "slow". Long cuts and very deliberate shot choices give the film a style that to the MTV generation would bore them in about 5 seconds. What kept me engaged in the film was the perfectly composed and colored shots. Everything about the look of the film was flawless. It felt almost like a more perfect time in our countries history. This film looks beautiful, the acting is spot on, but if you have the attention span of a newt then this film isn't for you.

79c3c281a2:

The movie is of the absolute highest quality; cinematograpy, sets, costumes, script, acting, etc., but the pacing's SO slow, with only the occasional loud gunshot to break the tediousness, it's a difficult watch. It WAS worth the effort however as the story is told in a way that keeps you invested in the outcome.

KH 1963644:

After reading other reviews I was really excited to watch this film. Sadly it did not even come close to my expectations. I was expecting a little more substance. I have to admit I was unable to even pay attention during the final half an hour because the plot was too thin and dry, I really didn't care anymore about what the movie was about. Brad Pitts performance did stand out but was nowhere near 'epic'. The only real plus was the beautiful imagery that intersected the strained and boring dialog and action.

fewstingscorpio:

It seemed very authentic for the times, the language, dirtiness and behavior. Although rough in parts I liked that. The movie as a whole gave me a weird sense. It was kind of gloomy and bizarre in much of the behavior. It was a very odd movie. Brad Pitt was unappealing character with no real redeeming qualities. I gave it a 3 star rating since it was just o.k. to watch and I was curious. If you want inspirational, or fast-paced or beautiful, this isn't it. If you want a different and a rougher look at the times with a slower pace, this is.

batman1784:

Very, very slow movie. I had to turn it off way too boring for me. I was excited to see this with the amount of actors this called for. But I only got about 20 min in. If you want a history lesson then watch this but don't watch it for the acing. Very dull.

MacDaddy312:

Brad Pitt is Jesse James. Casey Affleck is Robert Ford. When actors are able to so completely portray the fractured personalities of their characters, it is a testament to not only their skill, but also razor-sharp writing and focused direction; Andrew Dominik is responsible for both. The film opens with somewhat of an ensemble cast, but gradually closes in on the paranoia that plagued James' last days, and drove Ford's most ignoble achievement. Despite the title, Ford is portrayed in a very even-handed manner that is critical to the relationship we develop with him throughout the story. Fans of Westerns, Heist Movies, and any character-driven dramas should find a seat for this rugged, poignant gem.

moviesorfilm:

Watched this because of Casey Afflecks' Oscar nomination and was prepared not to like it. I was wrong, it's a great movie about a subject I knew little about. Very haunting story with great direction and great cast. I wasn't that impressed with Pitt's acting as much as Afflecks, it seemed like I've seen that character before... In my opinion, the only fault is the length of the film. I've read that the original running time was over 4 hours and the studio ordered it to be cut down. Well, as beautiful and moving as the story was, it still felt like 4 hours! There are some really slow moving scenes that seem to take forever. But, I believe one of the best of the year, almost up there with the other Best Picture nominees.

DR 778840:

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ? the most gorgeous film I saw in 2007, the pace is methodical and will be off-putting to many who need instant gratification, but for the patient few, this film is full of rewarding, nuanced performances, and as previously stated, beautifully composed frames.

LH 969269:

I sat through an hour and a half of it to find out I still have another hour and a half to go, this movie dragged on way too long

Killer Klown:

not great, but not bad Brad Pitt plays Jesse James. There's robberies, fights and shooting of course. He is eventually shot by a friend. I have no idea if this story is truth or fiction, but it just wasn't very entertaining. Plot line seemed a bit weak to me. Seemed more like a documentary than a fiction.

hsb 1718549:

This movie never grew me in and it was far too long. The cinematography and art direction was good but never enough in the story to keep me engaged. Only rent if you have the patience to sit through it or if you enjoy the subject matter.

JC 1318137:

I got a very documentary feel about this movie, as we experience the apparent mental demise of Jesse James as paranoia overtakes him. A bit slow at times doesn't help the 2+ hour movie go by any faster.

vxm 1601585:

It was certainly well-made and well-acted, but it was a little too long and boring for my tastes. Honestly, it was a struggle to begin watching it because of its length, and it was a struggle to complete it because it was a little boring. But, it was an interesting portrayal.

lomputian:

I always look at the running time of a movie before popping it into the DVD player. This one was two and a half hours, so I allowed plenty of time before bedtime. YIKES.....This one put me to sleep long before bedtime arrived. Casey Affleck was unintelligible at times be sure to turn up the volume. If a movie is action packed and suspenseful, two and a half hours is OK. But this one just dragged on and on. The ending was the best part. I found myself counting down the minutes to the end of this bore fest. The characters were good, although I had a hard time imagining Brad Pitt as Jesse James, although he lent some mystery to the part. This could have been cut by one hour, produced more as a documentary and presented on PBS and been much more interesting. The premise was there and could have been much more interesting. Rent this one if you have trouble sleeping.

WN 258128:

The acting was solid and it is a good plot, but the pace of the movie was way too slow for me.

Napiers News:

Casey Affleck is coming into his own as an actor. He is truly a great character actor and even leading man as was evident in Gone Baby Gone. This film felt like a documentary almost but with a very colorful canvas of scenery and locations. Growing up in Missouri, where the James Gang was from added to my enjoyment of the film. Those expecting an action film will be disappointed with this film. I enjoyed the approach that was taken with this story. It was interesting to see what life was like for Jesse James. Who in truth was a man constantly on the run and living two lives. This is a two part film. The majority of the film was leading up to the assassination of Jesse and a good portion was of the aftermath and life of the Ford brothers with primary focus on the "coward" Robert Ford. Great acting by all involved. I think you will find the film enjoyable as I did. Let me know your thoughts. For some cool information and some history behind the James Gang check out the following links. I would love to have you give me some feedback, so post a comment.

psp 1933410:

I enjoyed this movie more after watching the 'documentary' included on the DVD. The movie dives a little deep into each character and not being up on my Jesse James history, those subtleties were lost on me until after I finished the movie. It was well acted and held my attention, but I think that I would have given it a rating of four stars if I had known the story before watching the movie.

KE 566601:

Wonderful photography, yet ponderous movie. Brad Pitt absolutely disappeared into this role.

Julia.:

This movie has great potential.... However the film we are provided with contains scenes linked together with a strange narration that describes either what we've seen or what we're about to see. It seems like we're being provided with a shortened version of a much longer piece or a long version of a much simpler and perhaps much better film.

VYA 932:

The film manages so richly to convey the allure, the excitement, the world-weariness of Pitt's Jesse James. While most westerns have shallow, nay, archetypal characters, AJJ (for brevity) has some of the most tortured and ambiguous characters I've seen in years, not predictable, and not shallow. The roles are performed with understatement, but not lack of emotion. The plot is slow, but I felt that it was necessary for the rich characterization. With a desaturated color palette (think Christina's World) , and contemplative cinematography, it is also a visual masterpiece. If for no other reason, watch the movie to see the train robbery that happens early on, with Brad Pitt standing on the tracks. Absolutely beautiful! It pairs well with other "Modern/Existential Westerns" like No Country for Old Men or There Will Be Blood.

drella:

It is possibly the most beautifully shot movie I have EVER seen (I could have watched the whole film without sound just to admire the use of shadows, it is a work of art). This is a haunting, atmospheric film that was sadly overlooked when it was out in the theater.It was not only the best film of this past year, but one of the best films I can think of in quite a few years. I was not expecting this film to affect me like it did. Casey Affleck took me by complete suprise and stole every scene from Brad Pitt in a second movie this year (Oceans 13). I do wish that the talented actresses who are in the film, Mary-Louise Parker and Zooey Deschanel, had gotten more of a role in the film. It is a very unconvential Western, and Westerns are not normally a genre I enjoy.

Firewater:

I almost feel bad rating THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES only two stars. Almost. Once in a while a movie like 3:10 TO YUMA comes along that makes me believe that a revival in westerns is around the corner. Then someone makes a movie like this one and shatters the dream. I may be alone in this, but I'm not looking for verissimilitude; I'm looking for entertainment. The overlong scenes, uncomfortable silences and lingering landscapes nearly leeched of color are the visual form of Ambien. I'm not knocking the performances. Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell and the rest give memorable performances that suffer for the reluctant hand of the editor and a Titanic-sized running time of 159 minutes. This one is overrated.

Bimplebean:

I wanted to give this film 2.5 stars as I didn't hate it but I didn't like it either. I'm right in the middle. This movie would have benefited tremendously from editing, with a story that could have been told in 1.5 hours, rather than the 2.5 it took to watch. Slow, almost glacial in it's pace, the movie tells a reasonably good story and does an excellent job of portraying day to day life in the pre-industrial era (no electricity, TV, radio, cars). Acting is on the money, although again everything is slow and understated. Sadly, the actual story is thin. It could have been more compelling had more of the space been edited out and some of the conflict heightened, but it seems the director wanted to let the air out of everything and dilute it. The net effect is to wash out any emotional response you may have to the actions or characters in the film.

Supercords:

A bit slow and documentary-like, but engaging at the same time. A fascinating look at a piece of American history nonetheless. Is it wrong if I spent half the movie wishing for another season of Deadwood? Rating: B-

Ray Merriam:

A terrible movie, boring and incredibly slow. I am somewhat ADD, but I can sit through long and slow-building movies but it was taking FOREVER to get to the point and when they did it was anti-climactic. They seemed to talk about everything and nothing; sure, they were trying to build the characters, but that can be done quicker and better without losing the essence of the story. I could probably read the book in less time than it took to watch this movie (yes, I speed-read).

kimcheese:

This film is most definitely not a Western. I don't know if you can really call it an Action & Adventure movie either. It's very slow and focuses more on the psyche and emotion of the characters rather than any action sequence. It was longer than necessary, but it was overall a good film.

Matt Algren:

In a role that could have been played as a caricature of a bad guy or a misunderstood good guy, Brad Pitt walked the line between, showing Jesse's changing moods and complex point of view. Pitt was clearly passionate about the part, and that passion shines through. The most impressive part, though, is that he was willing to step out of the limelight and give Casey Affleck room to stretch in his portrayal too. And Affleck's work in this film is just as impressive as I was told.

Scoggdog:

Overall I liked the movie; at times it seemed like it was trying to be the western version of film Single White Female. The acting a cinematics were good. I just think it could have moved a little faster and had less narration.

ChaosCloud:

It's a long movie and it not a shoot 'em up western like some people would expect. However this film is beautiful, the music from Nick Cave & Warren Ellis really set the mood and it's one of the few OSTs that really stuck with me after viewing the film. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck give grade A performances , whenever Pitt came on screen the tension shot up, you really didn't know what was going to happen and you had to choose what you said and did around him carefully. However when he died you felt sorry for him, especially the way he died. Sam Rockwell was also good in this film he's a highly underrated actor and i thoroughly enjoyed his performance in "Moon". Again this is an excellent film that i highly recommend watching in HD.

BloodyShadows:

This is a beautiful, yet flawed film about the assasination of jesse james. Hmmm, a title that gives the ending away! So, yes, you know what is going to happen going in, so there is no suspense. Meandering plot lines and vague character connections will keep you a little confused at time. Nevertheless, this is a solid film through and through. The photography is breath-taking, the acting is excellent, and the direction is confident. Brad Pitt is great, but Casey Affleck is simply amazing. He is so creepy and awkward I couldn't believe it. He steals the show. I have to take issue with the James Carrville cameo. That took me out of the film. Luckily, things get back on track, although I did ask myself, "when is this thing gonna end?" But, I liked it. The music by Warren Ellis has a restrained grace not found in most of todays films. Also, check out Dominik's "Chopper."

tanner james:

Gorgeous. The movie was so beautiful. The interplay between the characters was the heart of this film. The sepia tone in nearly all the backgrounds, costumes, etc. really drew me into the movie. Casey Affleck's character was amazing, hence his nomination. The only thing I did not appreciate was the length and sometimes drawn-out dialogue.

ncs 1142250:

It's too long. The end is actually pretty good - they build some nice tension at the climax, but there's a lot of wasted time up front. All movies don't need to be 2 1/2 hours.

ykf 483620:

To call this film plodding would be a disservice to the word, "plodding." Much like the laboriously verbose title, this film knows it's important. And if you doubt its importance, it will prove it to you scene after glacially paced scene. The film ostensibly is about the murder of Jesse James. Although I'm not sure, I'd bet the film was based on a book because it employs the use of long voiceovers that sound very much like text from a thick non-fiction book. On the plus side, the film is shot magnificently. The use of light and dark is really incredible and shot after shot impressed me. And the acting is good... but how good can acting be with a story this dull? It's a hard thing to judge. But I did like Affleck and Pitt and there was a couple nice little supporting roles from Mary Louise Parker and Sam Rockwell... not to mention Sam Shephard and Zooey Deschanel. But alas... this film makes me think of words like alas... it's slow pacing and rather undramatic story made this one a loser for me. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone.

Lobster:

The Assassination of Jesse James is two hours and forty minutes of unrelenting tedium, all style and no substance, all artifice and no art. Filming in pretentious sepia does not art make, nor do the pregnant pauses of the dialogue. The pauses are so many I fully expected the film to give birth to quintuplets. The endless narration is proof that the film never should have left the pages of the book it derives from. The good performances of the cast cannot save the film from being the atmospheric disaster that it is. Skip this. Watch any John Ford Western instead.

lastliberal:

Thanks to the Venice Film Festival for being the only ones that recognized that the real star of this artistic masterpiece is Brad Pitt, not Casey Affleck. This is another western that doesn't fit the mold. It is an art film in every sense of the word. From the brilliant cinematography by Roger Deakins, a seven-time Oscar nominee (Fargo, No Country for Old Men, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Shawshank Redemption, The Man Who Wasn't There, Kundun, and this film), to the superb acting in an ensemble that provide a thrilling experience for 160 minutes. Yes, Affleck was very good, and probably gave the performance of his career, but Pitt was clearly the star as Jesse James, a man possessed. He could go from friend to unemotional killer in an instant. He possessed an uncanny ability to discern the thoughts of others. He knew his time was over and committed suicide the only way he could. The film was an interesting study of the celebrity cult that we experience today. Ford would have been right at home in People, or Entertainment Weekly, as someone who had style, but no substance. If you are looking for bang, bang, shoot-em-up, look elsewhere. This is a film to be watched and studied.

DaveMagus:

Director Andrew Dominik seems to be trying to cram all of his native Australia's space into one movie, After false starts on other projects -- and this movie languishing for nearly three years after principal photography was completed -- Dominik's adaptation of the 1983 Ron Hansen novel is too long, too disheveled, and too slow. Dominik can't seem to make up his mind about the movie he's trying to make, Is it a character study of Robert Ford (played by Casey Affleck), a celebration of Jesse James' (Brad Pitt) life after crime, or a showcase of faux-American Wild West in the manner of "Dances With Wolves"? We see glimpses of the film's intent to study the relationship between James and his eventual killer; the word "assassination" was used to market Ford's stage retelling of his murdering the criminal. Glimpses are all we get, however, and they have to be aggressively sought after through the muck of unfocused side stories and subplots. Our focus doesn't just waver a bit here and there as Dominik turns his camera first one way and then the other; we are shaken, beaten and forced to watch the other relationships while simultaneously trying to figure out what the main focus is. My sense is that not enough of this film was removed at the editor's console. removing much of the extraneous interaction and sharpening the focus much more on the relationship between killer and victim might have saved this film. Even that recommendation is given with the understanding that it may not be possible, though. I found both Pitt and Affleck playing the stereotypes instead of the characters, much of their acting clearly visible and thus not effective. Not recommended.

zel 1392445:

I've always enjoyed stories about Jesse James and this was a good telling... just... much too drawn out. It was very well acted, but I feel like a lot could have been edited out for the audiences' sanity.

Serafina:

I absolutely loved it. What some read as "slow", I read as "tense". The title of the movie gives away the ending. We go into it knowing how it ends, so the point of the movie isn't to reach this unknowable ending (like every other movie out there). We're expecting it from the very beginning. We're told the date he dies at the beginning, but we never know what date we're watching onscreen until the very end. It's a different way to structure a movie, and I kinda like it. The eye contact between characters said as much, if not more, than their dialogue. Again, some might read this as 8220;slow8221; because there are lots of silent moments, but for me it just heightened the tension. I'm not so sure about the narration. I'd have to see how they'd redo it if they took it out, but it kinda seemed unnecessary and therefore distracting. Every shot was unbelievably gorgeous - I could have prints of those framed in my house. Looking at this DP8217;s resume, I love this guy - Roger Deakins (Sid and Nancy, O Brother Where Art Thou, Jarhead, Beautiful Mind, House of Sand and Fog, Big Lebowski, Fargo, etc) The music was awesome - yay Nick Cave. That added to the tension too, of course. The cast was incredible. I dont normally like Casey Affleck, but in this case, that8217;s the point. He really comes off as this really irksome guy that just for some reason rubs you the wrong way (or 8220;gives you the willies8221;). I am kinda impressed, though, that he passes for 19 so well when he8217;s actually 32. Brad Pitt, of course. That look really works for him. Mary Louise Parker, Zooey Deschanel. Yes please.

Kevin & Rebecca:

At one point in this movie, I turned to my wife and said "I have no idea what's going on here." She responded, "Neither do I." We looked to see how much time was left in the movie - we were 1hr45min in, and there were still about 50min left. That's when we turned it off.

pace.:

I enjoyed this move, but it was usually one to keep arm's length from the audience. The characters are highly complex, but they never truly engage the audience. That being said, Casey Affleck gives arguably his best performance to date as Robert Fo...(read more)rd. The movie seemed a tad long to me and I'm disappointed with the lack of screentime Zooey Deschanel and Mary-Louise Parker got. For all of its faults, this is still a beautiful film in terms of visuals.