Rated: R
Running Time: 160 Minutes
Year: 2007
Boobs: Zero
One Sentence: That is a really long title.
Went to a sneak of this last night with the rest of the Fantastic Fest badge holders, and anyone else that was lucky enough to get tickets. The movie started at 8:30, little did I know I would be in that seat for nearly 3 hours. I am not upset that the movie was that long, because it worked, I was just not prepared for it and when I work up this morning, my eyes burned a little bit more than usual. I guess it's a good start off to Fantastic Fest week.
This film is the retelling with biography precision the events leading up to and after the Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford. The story unwinds slowly as we come to understand the relationship of the men in the gang, Jesse, and Robert Ford. The attention to detail is skillful and amazing, with moments in time shown to us in what seem like a window into the past, where we can watch the events unfold as they did then. While the story is painfully slow, and the movie very long, the masterful direction, acting and storytelling keep those with the willingness to hear the story entertained, and enthralled. This movie is however an Oscar contender for sure and as such fills those shoes to the disappointment to the normal movie viewer. If you are not interested in a dialog filled western with little to no action then this movie is not for you.
The actors take to their parts with a style and skill that I have not seen too much this year if at all. Brad Pitt as Jesse James fills the boots of the outlaw almost too well. A power and style followed him across the screen and I felt no one else could have done the part. Casey Affleck as Robert Ford was a creepy evil little bug that slithered here and there and made you want to not be in the same room with his presence on screen, which I believe was intended.
Overall the movie was excellent, however those not in it for the long haul, interested in those movies that are actors class, or Oscar contenders might want to skip it. However I bet others of you this sounds like it is right up your alley.
