The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

10/10

Despite some pointless narration (and irrelevantly blurred editing during the scenes with this narration) and the complete mistreatment of one of the finest actresses of the decade, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is easily one of the finest modern films around and certainly one of the best of the year. It plays as a Shakespearean tragedy instead of an outlandish, action-filled western that one would expect when hearing the name Jesse James. Featuring some of the best performances of the decade, the film is a wonderful mix of subtle and emotional heartache with biting realistic tension and a beautifully flawed character that everyone can relate to in some way. Slowly the film builds a tension and knowing descension towards the inevitable downfall of Mr. James. It's a heartbreaking story of one man trying to be remembered and another knowing a betrayal is quickly coming upon him.

A contrast between the main characters Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) is presented throughout and really shows the truth that Ford is exactly the same as James, just at an earlier stage in his life. Jesse was the youngest of three boys and rose above all of them to be the most renowned outlaw in American history. He murdered and stole, but gained nothing but respect and admiration from those who heard the stories of his crimes. Of course with all of this fame, and the bounty of men he's had work with him and in his trust, Jesse knew that a betrayal was soon coming. He averted one before, but he can see the end in sight and this time, he is welcoming it instead of trying to fight it.

This portrayal of James is one of the many things that make this film so brilliant. He's a melancholy, brooding, bipolar and enraged mess. A man who knows the end is approaching, but has come to a point in his life where he doesn't see any reason to try and stop it. We see him for how he truly was, instead of the gun-slinging charismatic outlaw that James is constantly portrayed as time and time again. This deeply heartbreaking man is perfectly personified by Pitt's award-worthy performance. We see a side of the light, breezy Brad Pitt that I personally could never have imagined. He presents so much pain and anguish behind those steely blues, that my heart stopped everytime he started intently with his eyes ever so lightly filling with tears.

I have no hesitation in calling Robert Ford the most tragic character in cinematic history. He is the youngest of five brothers, and all day he gets picked on and disrespected so when he sees another man who's the youngest of a number of brothers, he begins to idolize him. When he finally gets the chance to meet his hero, and work alongside him, his tendency to give a bad first impression (albeit he is a bit eerie with his strong admiration of the James boys) leads to more humiliation from the man he considered to be everything he wanted to grow up into. Obviously this leads the young man into spite and bitter insecurity. He becomes a wreck, but in this state of depression he is able to finally realize his true feelings and express them to the world. Due to this, Bob begins to get more respect and fear from those around him, and the Sheriff decides to capitalize on this bitterness by enlisting Bob in a sort-of undercover mission to arrest James, though everyone knows there is no way to arrest the man. It can only end in the death of one of the men.

Of course the title, and any kind of history book, reveals who the dead man is and Ford assumes that this will lead to him becoming a legend in the same way that Jesse was. An icon on the morally right side, instead of as a criminal. However he is gravely wrong and he's met with more disrespect and tales of him being the biggest coward in American history to match Jesse's status as the biggest and most respected criminal. James was an icon and Ford was just the snake in the grass who stabbed him in the back. This undoubtedly brings more depression to Robert; he killed his hero for fame and was forever remembered as a coward who betrayed an icon. And then another man gets the idea that Robert had; he was going to murder someone infamous in order to be remembered and with this second murder ends the tragedy that is Robert Ford's life. The man who wanted nothing more than to be Jesse James, and became his killer.

Casey Affleck's performance is the stuff of cinematic legend. His dynamic brilliance, deeply emotional strength and powerful absorption into this fatally flawed character combine to create what is easily one of the best performances I've ever seen and quite simply the best performance of the year so far. I've been a fan of this underrated genius for a long time now, and this performance is his best by far and is sure to get him a lot of attention come awards season; I could even see an Oscar in his future. He completely steals the show from Pitt, who still turns in an excellent portrayal, and perfectly embodies a character who just breaks my heart. Casey creates such a nice demeanor and personality for this dangerously awkward young man that makes him one of the most complex and, as I said before, easily the most tragic character in the history of film in my eyes. A true revelation to modern acting and proof that when you get the right role in the right film, you can take it all the way to the top.

Pitt and Affleck aren't the only actors in the film though, and each complex character is matched with a stunning performance from the entire cast. Paul Schneider gives one of my favorite performances of the year as Dick Liddil, the ladies man with a heart of gold. I'm sure his work will go completely unnoticed, but it deserves some serious recognition and I'm sure he'll remain on my awards ballot at the year's end (he's my supporting actor winner, currently). Sam Rockwell knocks the role of Charley Ford, Robert's older brother who is the main antagonizer for all of the bullying and mocking he receives, out of the park. His charismatic charm in the majority of the film is the perfect contrast for his completely gut-wrenching breakdown in the final act. His final two scenes are some of the most painful to watch that I can remember in a very long time. He literally transforms himself into the James that him and Robert saw in his final few moments, and it's tragic.

Even Jeremy Renner and Garret Dillahunt give some notable work in two other members of the James crew, Wood Hite and Ed Miller respectively, who meet with very unfortunate fates, ironically at the hands of the two title characters (Robert shoots Wood to protect Dick, and Jesse's weariness over Ed's nervous demeanor leads him to putting a bullet through him). Even Mary-Louise Parker, who's given a nothing role as Jesse's wife, Zee James, gives it her all and pours out some painfully heartfelt emotion as she cares about nothing more than the well-being of her family but is blind to the fact that nothing can end well. Then there's the mistreatment of one of the finest actresses around that I mentioned in the first paragraph; in which a perfect actress is wildly underused. This mistreatment belongs to Zooey Deschanel who portrays Robert's close friend and possible romantic interest, Dorothy Evans, after he kills James. She's given a bit part that lasts no longer than fifteen minutes but she completely nails the beauty and mysterious enchantment of the character and delivers one of my favorite performances of the year (a phrase I say quite often when discussing this film, but mean it dearly everytime).

For all of the beauty and astonishment that comes from the story and performances in this epic masterpiece, it's hard to forget the ingenuity of the technical aspects. The original score is one of the most haunting I've ever heard; easily the most haunting, monotonous and reoccurring sound since Taxi Driver. Everytime those chords sound and the beat begins, a familiar sense of dread looms over my entire being as if Robert Ford is behind my back about to put the bullet in me. It's a truly painful experience that is unlike anything I've ever felt, and the ability for a score to put that feeling in me is jaw dropping. While the set design and the editing are just as fantastic, Roger Deakins' cinematography absolutely took my breath away. He combines such beautiful scenery with some of the most hypnotic and terrifyingly ominous landscape shots I've ever seen. Certainly an aspect of the film that will stay fresh on my mind for days, and I pray that he won't be forgotten come awards season.

Through all of the technical genius, it is clear what The Assassination of Jesse James is about and that's it's characters. With a vast array of men both deadly and beautiful, there is something to relate to in each of these different people, something to fear, something to hate and something to respect. Each men is so unique, but each one is just as relatable and painfully flawed. These people are realistic and with realism comes tragedy, which is the center of this beautiful film. The tragedy of one man so determined to be great, to be legendary that he would stab his own hero in the back for merely the fame. And through this gut-wrenching, heart-breaking Shakespearean tragedy comes some of the finest performances of the decade and one that will not be soon to leave my mind in the form of Casey Affleck. His true genius shines through and through every second of this picture and it's his nuanced turned into quixotic portrayal that rips my heart to shreds everytime I think of it.