Slow, moody Western examines one man's obsession
Here we have a classic American Western so slow on the draw that the entire drama Ȣ₈¬Ã¢â‚¬ˆť clocking in at 2 hours, 40 minutes Ȣ₈¬Ã¢â‚¬ˆť moves like one gigantic Sam Peckinpah slow-motion shot.
"The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford" (see? even the movie title rambles on) has been impeccably cast and photographed with such meditative reflection that it recalls the stylish horse operas from the 1970s, including "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" and "The Long Riders."
Hollywood doesn't produce many movies like "Assassination" anymore. Andrew Dominik's film, based on Robert Hansen's 1983 novel, shows why. Hugh Ross' droning voice-over narration practically reads the story to us while the drama itself soon achieves a point of diminishing artistic returns.
Unlike "Titanic," where we became so engrossed in the romance that we almost forgot the ship would sink, "Assassination" stretches and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s its raison d'etre to the point that I wanted to shout, "Just shoot him, Bob! Shoot him! Shoot Jesse before I retire. Please!"
The story begins in 1861 just before the infamous James Gang executes its last train robbery. A weasel-like teenager named Robert Ford (played by Casey Affleck with appropriate nervous gutlessness) sucks up to laconic Frank James (playwright Sam Shepard) by telling him he's more than the inept outlaw he appears to be.
"I have an appetite for greater things," Ford says in an irritating whine.
"The more you talk, the more you give me the willies!" Frank bluntly says with unwitting insight.
After Frank heads for the hills of retirement back East, younger brother Jesse (a pensive but volatile Brad Pitt) continues in the business, now saddled with Robert and his hayseed brother Charley (Sam Rockwell), and other dubious associates Wood Hite (Jeremy Renner) and Dick Liddil (Paul Schneider).
When Jesse moves into a small town under the name of Howard, he has the bad judgment to take the sniveling Bob Ford with him as a sort of pathetic mascot.
It's clear from the start that Bob worships Jesse, or at least the idea of Jesse, and his frayed self-esteem and desperate desire for notoriety practically scream danger, but Jesse ignores the signs.
The violence in "Assassination" comes in quick, realistic flourishes with lots of blood and loud gunshots, and the action takes a buckboard backseat to the growing tension between Jesse and his gang, fearful of his temper and propensity for violence.
Director Dominik, who gave us the chilling biopic "Chopper," imbues "Assassination" with a dramatic density that can't quite justify the excessive running time.
Roger Deakins' cinematography supplies stunning Western visuals, even though the film was shot mostly in Canada. Sometimes the edges of the screen blur in a pretentious, arty attempt. (Is this an homage to Robert Altman's Vaseline-smeared lens from "Quintet"?)
One chunk of narration points out that Jesse had a condition that caused him to blink excessively.
Yet, Pitt's Jesse seldom blinks, preferring a full-bore baleful stare that fits the slow and measured mood of this tragic relationship study.
http://jessejamesmovie.warnerbros.com/>
"The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford"
Two and 1/2 stars out of four
Opens today
Written and directed by Andrew Dominik; based on the novel by Ron Hansen. Produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Garner, Ridley Scott, Jules Daly and David Valdes. A Warner Bros. release. Rated R (violence, sexual references). Running time: 160 minutes.