The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

A good Western, like say, The Proposition, will push through its genre restrictions and clichés to touch on realistic human predicaments and carve a genuinely captivating story in a unique setting. For all its claim to be a ‘psychological Western,’ The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford does neither of these things. Based upon Ron Hansen’s novel of the same name, it is intended as a look beyond the sensational newspaper articles and dime novels that have characterised James and Ford as a simplistic hero/coward duo in America’s collective memory. The casting of the two men is spot on – Brad Pitt being ideally predisposed to portray the troubled charisma of James (America’s Ned Kelly), and Casey Affleck (who starred alongside Pitt in Ocean’s) being perfectly suited for the grating forwardness of Ford. The cinematography is spectacular, with the opening train robbery scene unarguably exhibiting flawless technical and artistic mastery.

And yet for all that there is to like about this film, it is as if the screenwriters failed to realise that not everything that works on paper can be simply transposed onto the silver screen. Affleck’s perfect portrayal of the ingratiating Ford grows increasingly difficult to stomach – reading about an unlikable character may be enjoyable, but when he becomes the centre of your visual attention it is not so easy to bare. The poetic visuals also sit uneasily. Just as you grow increasingly tired of Ford, you will also grow sick of endless wheat fields and dawn-lit countryside. Add to that the tedious rivalries of the James’ gang members, as well as the decision to carry the narrative beyond James’ death with a “six months later” section that is far too long to be an epilogue and far too short to flow on from the rest of the film, and what you have is a fairly average offering. Even Nick Cave’s soundtrack (written together with Warren Ellis) is, while solid, predictably melancholic and rather unimaginative. At nearly three hours, this film is just too much hard work if you aren’t a die-hard Western fan.

Rating: 6.5