This epic western may never reach the highest of heights or the greatest of wonders, but it is still one absolutely necessary to see. There have been lots of films that depict the outlaw, but this is one of the best: a revisionist film that tries to push the boundaries of what the genre can do. The only thing it doesn't succeed in is making it long. I am picky with slow-burners and about forty minutes could have been shaved off of this and the result would have been better. Oh well, too late.
We never got anything about the young man that killed Jesse James, whose name was Robert "Bob" Ford. This is the chance to get more of a perspective of who the outlaw was from more than one point of view. And Casey Affleck nails it as Ford. It was a good call that Ben Affleck's younger brother could deliver a great performance too and a precursor to Casey's mammoth portrayal in "Manchester By The Sea" nine years later.
Bob Ford was a young man who grew up reading about Jesse James and the James gang. Irresponsibly portrayed in texts as a fun, Robin Hood-esque adventure-seeker, Ford is thrilled when he finally meets his idol in the flesh. Not even twenty-years of age, Ford is able to talk his way into joining the James gang. After spending some time with him, both personally and during missions, Ford's opinion on the outlaw changes. He soon sees Jesse as a no-good killer undeserving of the fame he receives. Ford even sells out to authorities.
Brad Pitt almost always shines in his roles and tackling Jesse James was no different. He is sympathetic while still maintaining the psychotic nature that the real James had.
But the real star of the film is Casey Affleck. More nuanced and layered than his enemy, it felt that he had the harder job and that more paid off for him at the end. I already said this was a good nudge into his extremely powerful 2016 drama, but I just want to reinforce how underrated Ben Affleck's younger brother actually is. Brad Pitt may be the star and get top billing, but this is Casey's show.
With some great filming and great music, perhaps nothing could save the film's slow pace that lags at times. There is about twenty minutes in the first hour that were dull, only saved by the return of Jesse James himself scuffling Ford's cousin. Prepared to forgive this section, the movie makes an even bigger mistake by having about twenty-five minutes after Ford kills James. The focal point is gone and the star changes even more at a faster pace. Instead of making the post-Jesse stuff twenty-five minutes, they should have cut it down to about five or ten minutes and had white text written on a black screen that explains what happened after. It would have been much more powerful that way.
If pacing issues were fixed, this movie indeed would have been at the very top.
3.5/4.
We never got anything about the young man that killed Jesse James, whose name was Robert "Bob" Ford. This is the chance to get more of a perspective of who the outlaw was from more than one point of view. And Casey Affleck nails it as Ford. It was a good call that Ben Affleck's younger brother could deliver a great performance too and a precursor to Casey's mammoth portrayal in "Manchester By The Sea" nine years later.
Bob Ford was a young man who grew up reading about Jesse James and the James gang. Irresponsibly portrayed in texts as a fun, Robin Hood-esque adventure-seeker, Ford is thrilled when he finally meets his idol in the flesh. Not even twenty-years of age, Ford is able to talk his way into joining the James gang. After spending some time with him, both personally and during missions, Ford's opinion on the outlaw changes. He soon sees Jesse as a no-good killer undeserving of the fame he receives. Ford even sells out to authorities.
Brad Pitt almost always shines in his roles and tackling Jesse James was no different. He is sympathetic while still maintaining the psychotic nature that the real James had.
But the real star of the film is Casey Affleck. More nuanced and layered than his enemy, it felt that he had the harder job and that more paid off for him at the end. I already said this was a good nudge into his extremely powerful 2016 drama, but I just want to reinforce how underrated Ben Affleck's younger brother actually is. Brad Pitt may be the star and get top billing, but this is Casey's show.
With some great filming and great music, perhaps nothing could save the film's slow pace that lags at times. There is about twenty minutes in the first hour that were dull, only saved by the return of Jesse James himself scuffling Ford's cousin. Prepared to forgive this section, the movie makes an even bigger mistake by having about twenty-five minutes after Ford kills James. The focal point is gone and the star changes even more at a faster pace. Instead of making the post-Jesse stuff twenty-five minutes, they should have cut it down to about five or ten minutes and had white text written on a black screen that explains what happened after. It would have been much more powerful that way.
If pacing issues were fixed, this movie indeed would have been at the very top.
3.5/4.