A supposed biographical account of outlaw brothers Frank and Jesse James. Really though, as with many western "biography" movies, when you try to cram decades of real life into a few hours, you're most likely going to come up short.
Luckily, the writer/director has a webinar (for the low, low price of US$79.99) where you can learn "where and when you can take poetic license and write creatively within the confines of your true story". There's taking poetic license and then there's robbing the laureate.
The movie begins with the brothers taking the Union oath, so presumably you're all familiar with US history, right? For the other 96% of the world, and apparently the South, the slave owners lost the civil war and those who fought on the losing side had to take oaths stating that they weren't going to be traitors any more. Well, apart from with England. Only two time traitors, not three.
They then go off to be farmers until the big bad corporation attacks them and force them into becoming outlaws. So 5 minutes in, and here comes that poetic license.
The Rock Central Railroad want to buy their family land, the guy who is sent to negotiate starts things off by shooting Jesse in the stomach ('tis only a scratch, he makes a full recovery in a few hours) and throws dynamite in the house. After they track him down and take revenge, they are wanted for murder so have to turn to robbery in order to survive, with their former army buddies as gang members.
After many stages, trains and banks robbed and even more gang members killed or captured, they split up and settle down with wives and families. Two old gang members make a deal with the governor of Missouri and assassinate Jesse, shooting him in the back. Three months later, James turned himself in. The end.
Interspersed with the few actual facts is a whole lot of nonsense, which makes it unbearable if you know the history. Jumping years between scenes to seemingly unrelated events makes it unbearable if you don't.
Luckily, the writer/director has a webinar (for the low, low price of US$79.99) where you can learn "where and when you can take poetic license and write creatively within the confines of your true story". There's taking poetic license and then there's robbing the laureate.
The movie begins with the brothers taking the Union oath, so presumably you're all familiar with US history, right? For the other 96% of the world, and apparently the South, the slave owners lost the civil war and those who fought on the losing side had to take oaths stating that they weren't going to be traitors any more. Well, apart from with England. Only two time traitors, not three.
They then go off to be farmers until the big bad corporation attacks them and force them into becoming outlaws. So 5 minutes in, and here comes that poetic license.
The Rock Central Railroad want to buy their family land, the guy who is sent to negotiate starts things off by shooting Jesse in the stomach ('tis only a scratch, he makes a full recovery in a few hours) and throws dynamite in the house. After they track him down and take revenge, they are wanted for murder so have to turn to robbery in order to survive, with their former army buddies as gang members.
After many stages, trains and banks robbed and even more gang members killed or captured, they split up and settle down with wives and families. Two old gang members make a deal with the governor of Missouri and assassinate Jesse, shooting him in the back. Three months later, James turned himself in. The end.
Interspersed with the few actual facts is a whole lot of nonsense, which makes it unbearable if you know the history. Jumping years between scenes to seemingly unrelated events makes it unbearable if you don't.