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The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

2007
Drama, Crime
2h 40m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 65.2% from 5711 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(5711)
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Rated 13 Feb 2008
95
98th
A western so "unconventional" that it should be considered as more of a period piece. Fantastic acting from all sides, but Casey Affleck steals the show. So exquisitely and delicately shot, I would've settled for two hours of locales and scenery with the gang just standing around jawing about nothing in particular. I was immersed. Masterful character development immediately captivates you and does not let up for nearly three hours. Director's cut, please!
Rated 27 Feb 2008
94
97th
I think this could easily be called "Tension: The Movie." I honestly can't consider this a "western" movie due it it's pace and tone being dramatically different from any other western I've ever seen. With that said it's an amazing biopic both of Jesse James and Robert Ford. It shows you Jesse James as a man, not a hero, and Robert Ford not as a coward but as a man. Brad Pitt is stellar and Casey Affleck will most certainly be getting tons of nods due to his performance.
Rated 26 Oct 2008
90
96th
An incredible film with an excellent cinematoghraphy and great acting by Pitt and Affleck. I shouldn't forget to mention the soundtrack by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis which transports the mood from the first to the last minute.
Rated 02 Oct 2007
98
97th
A perfect storm of excellent performances (Pitt and Affleck fire on all cylinders, plus the unused cylinders from other movies), breathtaking directing/cinematography/production design, and a haunting score. More of a character study than your typical western, it examines the tale of one man trying to keep his mythical status, and another man trying to wrest it from him.
Rated 27 Feb 2008
85
93rd
Fantastic and intense, if a little long.
Rated 13 Apr 2009
78
72nd
Lusciously presented character study, featuring an outstandingly awkward performance from Affleck and some engrossing scenes, but the overarching story leaves me cold. The cinematography and soundtrack are certainly a bewitching combination, sadly the plot doesn't fully capitalise on the mood they generate. Striking, but not fulfilling.
Rated 16 Apr 2009
5
93rd
Not since John Ford has Wild West mythology been captured so evocatively. And yet Dominik subverts majestic form with deconstructive content, dismantling and exposing American myth-making as tabloid sensationalism summed up in newspaper headlines and folk song soundbites. Even beneath this high concept, the film works more simply as a character study on the tragedies of loyalty and betrayal. Brad Pitt is great, but Casey Affleck steals the show with a tense performance in a pitiful role.
Rated 06 Feb 2008
93
90th
A subtle beauty resonates through Jesse James in a way that is almost impossible to describe. Known only for its gorgeous cinematography, Jesse James has been lauded as being too long and slow, but it's quite the opposite. The acting and direction is exquisite and the artistic design is visually arresting, making Jesse James one of the most impressive movies of the decade. There's so much to say about this masterpiece, but the one thing you need to know is that you have to see it.
Rated 27 Sep 2008
98
97th
I am not entirely sure why this film swept me away so utterly, but I loved every haunting moment of Jesse James' destruction. It is a profound meditation on celebrity, charisma and public persona in modern life.
Rated 10 Jan 2010
94
98th
The acting and the cinematography approaches perfection. My entire opinion of Robert Ford would change with how Affleck altered his posture or moved his eyes around a room. The only thing keeping me from rating this higher is the lack of emotional investment weighed up against the long running time. Pitt, while seemingly omniscient, never gives us a reason to sympathize closely with his character.
Rated 10 Jan 2011
80
70th
A demonstration of sheer acting talent from Casey Affleck. His portrayal of Robert Ford and his need for recognition is mesmerizing. I'm sure he lost the Academy Award in a coin toss.
Rated 14 Oct 2008
82
93rd
A fine cast, well directed in a very interesting continuation of the filmmaker's interest in crime, violence and celebrity.
Rated 13 Aug 2009
79
76th
An artistic character study complete with fine acting and a lack of cheap catering to the audience. Very good.
Rated 09 Apr 2008
87
94th
Pretty much one of the most beautiful art direction, photography I've encoutered in a movie. And it's well balanced in comparison to the story, the character development and the overal pase of the film. The entire cast gives an incredible performance and the soundtrack fits perfectly. (For all of you who think this film should have ended after the assissination: The story is told by Robert Ford and in the eyes of RF, and in a certain way it's ABOUT Robert Ford. He deserves the extra 30min)
Rated 20 Dec 2009
60
30th
Boring and long movie. OK the movie looks good like the performances but such a slow western movie it's not my cup of tea, many dialogues and almost no action. I had to push the pause buttom of my DVD-recorder many times and I was glad the movie eventually was finished, I was a little disappointed. I'm really amazed this movie gets so high scores.
Rated 26 Jun 2008
83
77th
Beautifully done. Superbly creepy, sycophantic performance by Affleck. Visually striking. I actually did not have a problem with the pacing or length of the movie at all. I thought it was exactly as long as it should have been, given the scope of the story and the amount of characters. The only thing that I wasn't impressed with was Pitt. Yeah, he's got the "outlaw cool" look down, no doubt. But he's not nearly as charasmatic as the movie pretends he is, or as James NEEDS to be. Still great.
Rated 01 Apr 2008
7
84th
A beautiful and haunting twist on the Western. Aw, hell, what Western movies made in the last decade AREN'T twists on the Western? 3:10 to Yuma, I guess. Not much else. Whatever! Casey Affleck plays a loser brilliantly.
Rated 29 Dec 2007
95
96th
The minute it ended I just wanted to watch it all over again.
Rated 01 Feb 2008
81
87th
Suffers from being a bit longer than necessary, especially at the end, but otherwise a great movie. The acting here is subtle and superb. It's all about the look in Pitt's eyes, the tone of Affleck's voice, the uneasy glances and awkward laughter. The cinematography is wonderful too, and paired with the music and soft, matter-of-fact narration, gives a sense of melancholy to the movie. Great movie, but would be greater if it spent less time on anybody who wasn't James or Ford.
Rated 14 Aug 2012
91
97th
I loved this. The cinematography is great, the story is interesting (if a little long), Brad Pitt is awesome as the increasingly paranoid Jesse James and Casey Affleck was a hell of a lot better than I thought he would be. More drama than western, but is an unflinching look at the time period and the Jesse James gang. I only wish there was more of Nick Cave's score.
Rated 03 Dec 2009
90
97th
I thoroughly loved everything about this: the haunting music, the gorgeous landscapes, the wonderful performances from just about everybody. Sure it's a long movie with a slow pace, but I was completely engrossed throughout.
Rated 18 Sep 2012
96
97th
One of the best of the genre since 'Unforgiven.' It's a slow burner with tons of atmosphere and lush country-side photography. The night shots are particularly sensational. Brad Pitt is not typically an actor thought of as frightening or overly intimidating, but he is downright scary in this movie. And though Jesse commands the screen whenever the camera focuses on him, Casey Affleck's delicate, tortured performance stands right beside Pitt's.
Rated 27 Feb 2008
90
95th
Get ready for a long 'ride', this movie is exceptionally long and slow. If it wasn't for the performance of Casey Affleck, I couldn't finish watching this movie. The first hour is ok, the 2nd hr boring as hell, the best part (last 20 minutes) is the actual assassination and the aftermath (if you're still awake to see it).
Rated 11 Oct 2008
82
77th
Casey Affleck is unbelievable, but hated the voice-over narration. Cinematography is beautiful.
Rated 22 Sep 2007
9
90th
A visual poem that continues to unfurl in one's head long after the credits have rolled. Arguably Deakins' finest looking film.
Rated 14 Nov 2007
93
96th
A stylish and intimate epic. You never feel that 160 mins, in fact you want more.
Rated 16 Jan 2009
59
17th
Can we please pump a little life into this movie? Does it have to be slow and drab for the entire film? I found the story to really draaaaaaaag along at a snails pace. And even though it was slow moving I got lost with the actual story a couple different times. The last 30-40 minutes were all over the place. I am proud though that I made it through it.
Rated 10 Jul 2008
95
98th
This movie isn't to be rushed. Sometimes unevenly paced, but still very enjoyable and beautifully shot.
Rated 14 Mar 2009
63
96th
Like Citizen Kane, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and It's a Wonderful Life before it, this film will be underestimated and underappreciated in the immediate future and the short time since its release. However, time will show that this film, with all of its elements of acting, story, cinematography, score, etc will be recognized as one of the great gems to come out of the world of cinema over the last decade or so.
Rated 20 Apr 2009
5
91st
A great anti-western that takes its time with its story but doesn't err in doing so (although it does take a little while to get up on its feet). It's a very interesting study of the power of mythology and loyalty, with some absolutely fantastic photography and very strong lead performances from Pitt and Affleck.
Rated 26 Oct 2007
95
98th
Saw this twice on the big screen. I couldn't wait for the DVD to see it again. This is a modern classic, and criminally underseen (or rather under-screened). See it in theaters if you can.
Rated 07 Oct 2021
72
85th
Hoş bir muvi. Atmosfer başarılı. Gerçekçilik yerinde. Bunlardan da öte en başarılısı oyunculuktu, tarihi performanslar vardı. Yanlız bir çoğunun dediği gibi başyapıt kısmını ben kaçırdım sanırım. 1) filmin çok gereksiz uzun olduğunu düşünüyorum, bunun yanında kinayesiz cümle kurulamıyor muydu o dönem merak ettim. - 2) en önemlisi bu. Filmin bize ve evrensel sıkıntılara kattığı ne var? Alt metini nedir? Bu sorular tamamen cevapsız kalıyor.
Rated 26 Jul 2010
84
56th
A dark and well crafted dramatic western. With great performances from its two leads and a very powerful screenplay, this film is great
Rated 19 Mar 2008
88
90th
While this at first seems like a character study it's more a study of personalities and human relationships. The contrast between Ford and James is evident in every scene they share and the movie thrives on the shifting dynamics between the cast of characters. At times it wanders a bit much, but for the most part every scene serves a purpose in developing the personalities and leading up to the climax. Every performance is great and the music and cinematography combine for a strong atmosphere.
Rated 25 Jan 2014
80
89th
What a beautiful and contemplative film. The direction is really deliberate in a good way. Affleck, Rockwell, and Pitt all live up to the well-written characters they embody. Great picture all around with my only complaint being that it dragged a bit at times.
Rated 20 Oct 2007
90
77th
A moody, psychological immersion into the period, and the perpetual American thirst for "celebrity", and all the mechanations that go into it... A particularly effective narrative voiceover make this like listening to(watching) a bedtime story via nickle-book "expose" of the time... Stand-out performances from Pitt, Casey Affleck(nominations forthcoming), and the breakout actor of the year Paul Schneider(See LARS AND THE REAL GIRL.)
Rated 04 Jul 2008
100
77th
Where does one begin in trying to describe a flawless film? Mere words fail me. Beginning to end this film just engrosses one beyond imagination. Words which easily come to mind: brilliant, emotive, paramount- each adjective could be used for the script, score, directing, acting and cinematography. Pitt and Affleck illuminate James and Ford in degrees that leaves one both hating and feeling empathy for each. A haunting look at one of America's most celebrated outlaws and the man who killed him.
Rated 06 Apr 2016
60
19th
A beautifully shot, atmospheric, tense, and well-acted/directed western, unfortunately this was just a drag. It was an hour too long and was less of a pleasure and more of chore to sit through.
Rated 29 Sep 2009
78
57th
The amazing score, cinematography and attention to detail really elevate this above traditional Westerns. It's pretty long, but not in a way that would frustrate the average viewer. My only gripe is that some characters and themes were not explored as deeply as they could have been. Jesse James is portrayed as an unpleasant bully and thug from the outset, but we never understand the idolisation of him by Ford or the conflict it causes in the latter. Affleck's performance is very good though.
Rated 15 Apr 2012
92
98th
A gorgeous backdrop and a wonderful soundtrack open this slow, deliberate character study of a terrifying and sad man. Brad Pitt gives his best performance, serving up some best suspense in recent memory. Its Affleck, however, that parries Pitts ferociousness with an incredibly complex portrayal of Ford. One of the best of the 2000s.
Rated 02 Nov 2008
80
71st
A little bit on the long side but a very compelling story.
Rated 31 Jul 2009
82
87th
Enthralling, well performed, with a great score and top notch cinamatography. Probably a touch too long with a few pacing issues, but not severe enough to spoil anything.
Rated 26 Dec 2010
100
98th
I just love this film. The music is captivating and sad, the characters are foreboding yet very alive, it captures the way the world must have looked over a hundred years ago in fantastic detail. I just love this film, and the book is just as good.
Rated 28 Sep 2007
84
71st
Art house western with some great characters and great acting. Casey Affleck is so...creepy and awkward...he is sure to get some awards. I could have used a little more Mary Louise Parker and Zoey Dashanel.
Rated 05 Jan 2009
47
46th
Long, boring, I hated it with a passion. Affleck was just plain creepy in a homoerotic sense. I swear he was going to kiss Pitt on several occassions. Just because you throw together a bunch of well-known actors doesn't mean it'll be interesting. I was really let down with this movie, especially since the western genre happens to be one of my favorites. =(
Rated 03 Sep 2010
65
13th
Oh my fucking lord, I started watching this film about 6 months ago and im pretty sure its still going on.
Rated 29 Dec 2011
86
89th
The photography is stunning.
Rated 08 Feb 2010
79
78th
Intelligent and beautifully shot with great performances all round. Really captures the tension and fearfulness of the gang members' relationship with James.
Rated 30 Jun 2010
63
15th
Beautifully shot, well acted, and boring.
Rated 28 Oct 2009
30
15th
It's not a good idea to make a long and text-heavy movie, when the text is so mediocre and only occasionally interesting. The very slick, studio standard look of it is not my idea of good cinematography, and the Nick Cave string section soundtrack is predictably stale. Brad Pitt, a good actor, is badly directed and fails to be as menacing as implied by the other characters' reactions. Contrary to popular opinion, this movie sucks.
Rated 26 Feb 2008
90
94th
Best film of the year...
Rated 28 Apr 2008
75
63rd
Impressive intimate character study on Robert Ford. Despite a few narrative misteps, the rest of aspects make up for a great, engrossing movie.
Rated 15 Jul 2009
75
70th
A bit too slow in my opinion. I expected some lucky luke kind of action, so that was a bit dissapointing, but the incredebly good story made up for that. This narrative story is well-told, and the film is built that way that we can follow everything very well. And I really like those little details in it, and the story behind it and after his death. It's much more psychological than I expected and really, that's a good thing, it makes this film a good film.
Rated 04 Sep 2011
73
53rd
I struggled to like this film because it was longer than it should have been. It drug a lot for me. I even like it when movie take their time, but this was too much. That said it was well acted and well made. Has a very definitive tone that worked.
Rated 17 Feb 2009
100
99th
A work of art. Great tension and beauty throughout. This is by far the best performance I've seen from Brad Pitt. There's almost unbearable tension when he's on screen, and he doesn't even have to say a word. Masterful.
Rated 29 Jan 2008
85
92nd
Everything in this movies is excellent except the pacing. In fact it's so slow that it almost ruins the movie.
Rated 27 Oct 2009
97
99th
Haunting and beautiful. Scored as good as any movie I've seen. Even the supporting players are all fully fleshed out and exist in three dimensions. The voiceover is in no way cheesy. The pacing is slow, but deliberately and with purpose. I can't believe this fell so short of critical appeal--it's wonderful.
Rated 21 Oct 2010
35
90th
"Steeped in the lyrical fatalism of that last great decade for the western, the '70s, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford owes a debt to myriad spiritual ancestors." - Nick Schager
Rated 21 Nov 2007
84
71st
Just about every aspect of this film is amazing, the cinematography, acting, dialogue, unfortunately they forgot to hire an editor. Some superfluous scenes, and longer than necessary scenes keep this from being great.
Rated 03 Jan 2009
83
81st
Visually beautiful take on two men misunderstood by history. I didn't find the ending as long as some say (since the film is Ford's film, it needs to wrap up his story), although it does drag somewhat in earlier parts. The acting is amazing, and the characters are nuanced and believable because of it.
Rated 15 Jan 2008
80
86th
Casey Affleck is incredible in this.
Rated 10 Feb 2010
90
91st
I was expecting a lot from this; it did not disappoint. Pitt and Affleck give two outstanding performances, and the supporting cast keep the pace, with Jeremy Renner and Sam Rockwell both being completely on form. The characters develop so well throughout the film, and with such subtlety and finesse. It is long and occasionally slow, but thanks to its wonderful imagery and beautiful score it keeps the viewer thoroughly entertained and engaged.
Rated 26 Jun 2008
91
97th
Poetric extented story. Director lays nicely on excellent performances. Beautiful cinomatography and pacing. As well as story is telling about Jesse James it is anyway in POV of Robert Ford, the coward.
Rated 08 Dec 2009
9
91st
A wonderful atmosphere. The cinematography and music are good enough to push this movie forward, and the acting is believable enough to not keep it back.
Rated 18 Jun 2009
85
99th
poetry!
Rated 01 Dec 2009
96
94th
Cassey Affleck steals the show from Brad Pitt which isnt an easy accomplishment. Cassey was quietly brilliant.
Rated 11 Aug 2009
71
24th
I will be more awake the next time I watch this, but it did seem to be slightly overlong.
Rated 16 Jun 2015
79
55th
Hardly suspenseful, particularly when you have an incessant narration (not to mention a title) that tells the entire story instead of just letting it progress. Very atmospheric, but also dismal. Pitt's role, as well as his performance, while good, are very much outshined by Affleck's. I admire how it de-romanticized the Western genre, and when the story isn't hampered by the narration or excessive run time, it is very well done.
Rated 19 Oct 2009
80
89th
This was an amazingly well written movie. The music perfectly set the tone and the casting was very well done. I thought that Brad Pitt as Jesse James was going to be weird but I actually think he did a very good job. I would definatly recomend this movie if you like history and documentarys. It sort of had that feel while still being drama.
Rated 12 Mar 2010
99
94th
Just one phenomenal film for me. Beautifully photographed, directed, acted and of course one tremendous score. This film blew me away .This and Gone Baby Gone showed what a brilliant actor Casey Affleck is. I Highly Recomended.
Rated 23 Mar 2009
90
94th
Such a well told story. Don't go into this expecting a western or an action story of some sort because there is no action and it is more of a time piece than a western. There were several tense moments that had me on the edge of my seat. Awesome cast all the way around, with no weakness from the cast. The movie does tend to get a little slow in the middle, but it does pick up steam and has you guessing what is going to happen right around the corner, even though we all have a good idea what
Rated 13 Feb 2008
90
94th
Lyric story. Pitt was again very well. Watch is worthwhile. Fantastic script, photography sensational, very well chosen cast and characters very well interpreted for this actors.
Rated 13 Mar 2009
80
77th
Pretty watchable if you are in the right mood for this movie. Rather enjoyable.
Rated 12 Nov 2007
80
75th
It's all in the eyes, the faces, and every gesture of Pitt and Affleck - which makes it worth devoting 160 minutes of your life to a movie in which nothing much happens.
Rated 06 Jul 2009
68
39th
I enjoyed the acting in this movie, particularly by Casey Afleck. That being said, this movie was way too long and pretty boring to boot. The post assassination part of the movie is nothing short of god awful.
Rated 08 Aug 2010
65
87th
#08#, reviews, story.
Rated 27 Nov 2017
70
85th
They managed to get every kind of tension in there.
Rated 11 Jul 2009
100
99th
Absolutely beautiful film to watch complemented by an amazing soundtrack and great acting, especially the performances of Casey Affleck and Brad Pitt.
Rated 04 Aug 2008
60
38th
A very slow Western Brad Pitt is almost invisible
Rated 25 Nov 2008
1
1st
boringg
Rated 10 Feb 2017
98
98th
It is slow, but not ponderous, long, but not unnecessarily so, and beautiful to look at and listen to. Our heroes have feet of clay, but still might outsmart us in the end.
Rated 10 Jan 2009
80
91st
It didn't feel overly long to me. The movie itself isn't as good as the Ellis/Cave score, but that just means it wasn't perfect.
Rated 01 Jan 2009
70
54th
Not bad but nothing amazing. Personally I'd rather it had dwelled more on the aftermath than the....uh, beforemath. The interesting stuff for me would have been what happened with Robert and his brother. That said the build up was largely necessary, but should have comprised maybe half and not 2/3rds of the movie.
Rated 27 Sep 2010
99
89th
One of the greatest american films of the last decade,and one of the best westerns ever made.A poetic view on the end of the wild west and its myths,in this slow,mesmerizing and stunningly photographed masterpiece.A hope for recent american cinema.
Rated 02 Apr 2012
95
97th
The entire cast of this film deliver great performances, but Affleck in particular is flawless. Deakins' photography, combined with the selective narration and chapter-esque editing give the film a palpable mood, best evidenced in the train robbery and the scene at Dillahunt's home. There is a mockery and tension present in the scenes between Ford and James that are extraordinarily gripping, as a tortured James takes enjoyment in casually destroying Ford's misperceptions.
Rated 20 Oct 2008
81
77th
This film otherwise excellent film was marred by three things. The horribly hammy voiceover and the way half the characters, even with their thick southern accents, were mumbling half their dialogue so I couldn't tell what was going on. Add to that it's about half an hour longer than was comfortable. Having said that, well worth a watch.
Rated 13 Aug 2008
86
71st
Awesome!
Rated 17 Mar 2008
83
82nd
killer.
Rated 19 Aug 2010
90
66th
Many people found this to be overly long and overly boring but I was really entertained. The ensemble cast is outstanding, especially Affleck. Pitt makes a great Jesse James and steals every scene he is in. One of the best modern westerns I've seen. Highly recommeneded!
Rated 25 Sep 2010
70
79th
It's an excellent movie, but I can see how it would drag too much for some. It is definitely an investment.
Rated 16 Apr 2011
90
85th
The film weaves a wonderfully atmospheric tension-filled story through narration and the eyes of Jesse James and Robert Ford. The acting in this movie is unreal, everyone plays their parts to a T and Pitt, Rockwell and especially Casey Affleck are the ones that steal it. Another movie I'm sad I put off watching for so long because it truly is fantastic.
Rated 16 Jul 2013
80
76th
Drags.
Rated 15 Apr 2014
85
94th
Proof positive that Roger Deakins crafts nothing short of magnificent moving images. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis' score is wonderful as well, and the epilogue is unforgettable for me.
Rated 18 May 2008
70
80th
good movie, just way too long
Rated 02 Feb 2008
85
88th
Brad Pitt deserves more recognition for his performance as Jesse James, showing him to be an unpredictable, bi-polar mess of a man who almost traps himself into his own death. Casey Affleck and Sam Rockwell are also good as the brothers Robert and Charley Ford, Affleck, nominated for an Oscar for this film, really comes alive after the events depicted in the film's title.
Rated 17 Oct 2009
43
8th
Too long.
Rated 18 Feb 2008
71
24th
The first half of the movie is really drawn out, much of it seemed pointless. The second half was much better however, it actually developed the characters and explained the situation far better. The ending was handled rather oddly, it just kept going when the movie obviously should have already ended.
Rated 04 May 2008
90
51st
Casey Affleck - A Star is Born! Brad who??
Rated 03 May 2022
85
92nd
My Andrew Dominik love is a triple. What a director!
Rated 17 Jul 2011
100
99th
Andrew Dominik brings Ron Hansen's moving and insightful novel to life in this Malickian examination of the death of Jesse James and the life of Robert Ford, resulting in the most important film of this generation. The film's grueling length upon first viewing washes away after a second as mesmerizing visuals and soothing narration create an almost dreamlike atmosphere, winding down to a nightmarish and tragic conclusion.

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