The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

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  BarneyNuttall

  8 / 10

  Similar in tone to True Grit, the assassination of blah blah is a woeful take of betrayal. It plods along slowly but with purpose towards what seems to be the only conclusion; one which I'm sure you can guess.
  
  We follow Casey Affleck's meek Robert Ford who joins the infamous Jesse James' (Brad Pitt) posse. While the team's first heist is exciting, and beautifully lit too, the film mostly focuses on the relationships within this strange immoral family.
  
  The whole film has a sense of reflection, as if looking into a pond and seeing yourself. This stems from the dusty colour palette or perhaps Casey Affleck's weedy performance. Brad Pitt is equally good but perhaps strays too far into the same old Brad Pitt character at times. It is in the supporting performances where we find the true wonder, particularly in a scene between Rob Schneider and Jeremy Renner in a strange twist on the father and boyfriend dynamic.
  
  The film is long and tedious but for a reason. We know what is to come so it is vital we see each historical detail, each fleck of mud, every hair on every chin. For the ending truly cashes out in this tale of woe.

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