Cakebite sent in this look at THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD (that's a long ass title...thank god for this cut & paste function).
Please keep in mind that this is not a final version of the film, and a few changes may be made before its February (?) release.
I caught a screening of writer/director Andrew Dominik's new film "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford".
Dominik, who's last work was writing/directing Chopper, a bio pic of a crazed killer played by Eric Bana, returns with another bio pic of a crazed killer, this time of Jesse James, played by Brad Pitt.
Pitt plays the role that he's played in so many other films. He's tough, unpredictable, and holds a laugh that scares the audience. He's Tyler Durden right down to the long fur coat.
Who really owns the show is Casey Affleck as Robert Ford. Robert Ford is a young, uncomfortable teenager who has looked up to Jesse James as a pop icon and eventually joins his gang. The films is focussed on this characters experience with Jesse.
Sam Rockwell, who I unfairly see as "that guy from Ninja Turtles and Pete & Pete" plays Robert Ford's brother, Charlie, who is also responsible for Jesse's demise. The hot Weeds mom, Mary-Louise Parker, holds down a small role as the wife of Jesse James and it's tragic that there wasn't more for her to do here than cry.
I'm not out to ruin the surprise of the plot, but anyone who knows their history, or can read the title of the film, knows how it ends. This is an unusual approach that doesn't end with the "spoiler" title but is carried throughout the picture's narration.
Each event is told in a poem-like style before the events unfold. After the screening I heard a lot of complaints over the over-use of vo, but that narration was one of the features that I found the most appealing. It represents the human emotion, separating it from being a straight educational special.
As one may expect from the man who created Chopper, this film doesn't flinch when it comes to violence. There were many instances where people, myself included, literally jumped in the seats from gun shots. The music (at the moment) is minimal and the shots shout out loudly, often without warning.
An early act where the James gang robs a freight train may win out in people's minds as the most memorable scene.
Since this was an early test screening, as always, the music, picture and pacing aren't finalized. This cut clocked in at nearly 3 hours, taking its time establishing characters. When the studio asked my opinion on what parts felt too long, I was completely stumped. I wouldn't be surprised if this hits theaters at 2.5 hours.
When the film faded out the man in the back with a beard and cigarette in his mouth many thought to be Brad Pitt, snuck out of the theater and the audience very lightly clapped at the movie's end. There's no doubt American history buffs will have a lot to look at, but those wanting a quick action flick or popcorn plot twister will slowly fall asleep. This is a studios prestige piece.
*After catching a good number of recent test screenings, I would guess that this will have to award battle with the more audience pleasing, Perfume: the Story of a Murderer (come on, you know nominations are swayed toward anything with a period costume). And although not directly related, I've seen reviews you've posted for Knocked Up and have to agree that from the cut I've seen, it may turn out as one of the year's best comedies.
That's it for me.
- cakebite
