The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
(2007)
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Blu-ray offers decent video and audio in this enjoyable Blu-ray release
'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' delves into the private life and public exploits of the United States' most notorious outlaw. As the charismatic and unpredictable Jesse James plans his next great robbery, he wages war on his enemies, who are trying to collect the reward money – and the glory – riding on his capture. But the greatest threat to his life may ultimately come from those he trusts the most.
I can't figure it out...you wanna be like me, or you wanna be me?
The steady rise of the Western back into the embracing arms of moviegoers both old and young is
a welcome phenomena in the recent history of Hollywood. The genre now produces a steady
stream of upper-echelon films that hearken back to the roots of both its (and cinema's) glory
days when John Wayne, Gary Cooper, and Gene Autry graced the screen. The new wave of
Western retains the old-time charm and rough-and-tumble attitude of the best of the classics,
but does so with a welcome influx of new filming techniques, special effects, and sound design.
In the midst of this revival is The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert
Ford, an epic picture to be sure, though not necessarily in the traditional sense of the term.
It is an epic of characterization, of solemnity, and of fine filmmaking. Certainly not a traditional
Western, the film rises above the genre, set during and looking as part of the genre, but at the
same time eschewing many of the contrivances, clichés, and traditional structure of the typical
Western
film. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is more than a genre
picture, the material simply nestled into a particular time period, which lends to the film a certain
look and feel that makes it, in a way, a Western, at least on the surface. The film is really a
character study, a look at
hero worship from the perspective of two individuals on either side of it, about a man's struggle to
find peace, and another's search for his place in the world, a world that he imagines one way and
finds to be a whole other.
It's all fun and games until an outlaw gets shot.
The world-famous outlaw Jesse James (Brad Pitt, Interview With the
Vampire) finds himself the object of hero worship by the wet-behind-the-ears,
eager-to-please, and borderline obsessive Robert "Bob" Ford (Casey Affleck, Gone Baby Gone).
Bob's only wish is to become part of the gang, a gang that is soon to part ways. Rejected by
Jesse's brother Frank (Sam Shepard, Black Hawk Down), Rob
turns his attentions to Jesse, the man he has idolized his entire life, still to this day collecting
Jesse James memorabilia and storing it in a box underneath his bed. Jesse at first seems tickled
by the boy's affections, but soon turns him away, sensing in him the same feelings of betrayal
that took the outlaw by surprise years earlier. Bob's admiration turns to curiosity, which in turn
becomes anger and fear, leading him to an inevitable date with destiny as one of America's most
infamous assassins.
First things first, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford represents
fine filmmaking in nearly every facet. This is first-class storytelling, a magical movie experience
that witnesses the amalgamation of everything done absolutely right. Nick Cave's
and Warren Ellis's (The Road) score consistently plays in perfect harmony with the
visuals, itself an instrument of the film that conveys the story as well as any other segment of
the experience. The cast is expertly directed by Andrew Dominik, and the individual
performances never fail to impress. Brad Pitt offers a dark, compelling performance as Jesse
James, though his opposite, Casey Affleck in an Oscar-nominated performance, easily steals the
show. Few films allow an actor to
show such a progression, and perhaps even fewer can pull it off quite like Affleck does here. His
almost childlike enthusiasm and clingy personality, particularly around his idol, is displayed in
every scene, the actor never once playing the character as too exaggerated or phony, combining
the gusto, uncertainty, fear, and indeed the entire spectrum of emotions the character
experiences throughout the film, flawlessly. Lastly, The Assassination of Jesse James by the
Coward Robert Ford benefits greatly from its Oscar-nominated and win-worthy
cinematography, courtesy of the legendary Roger Deakins (The Shawshank
Redemption). Every scene is like fine art. The bright and breezy daytime
shots and the cold, foreboding nighttime exteriors that lead up to a beautifully staged and filmed
train robbery sequence near the open of the film are evidence of the first-rate cinematography,
alone reason enough to watch.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is nearly as long a film as its
title, running over two-and-a-half hours, though that time allows for the film to
develop at the methodical pace that makes it the picture it is, and needs to be. The film is
complex in its details, but simple in its sustained, complete arc. It is packed with numerous
characters, stories, and settings, but the theme of the film is never left in doubt, nor is its
resolution. The film is fairly unique in that its title gives away the climax, a climax that is
expected but still shocking, the moment building for over two hours and just like that, the film
reaches its zenith, and begins a dénouement nearly as fascinating as the story leading up to
it. The final minutes of the film play out as almost a miniature rendition of the tale played out
previous, focusing on Bob's life after the assassination. It's a remarkable segment of
moviemaking, as its overriding themes parallel those of the first acts of the film. In a way, Bob's
hero worship comes full circle; Jesse's rhetorical question to young Bob during their first meeting,
"you wanna be like me, or you wanna be me?" proves prophetic, for Bob does indeed experience
both, in a way becoming the man he admired, in more ways than one.
The 160-minute 1080p Blu-ray presentation of The Assassination of Jesse James by the
Coward
Robert Ford comes cramped on a single-layer BD-25 disc. The image often looks good at a
glance, and some parts of it are truly stunning, thanks in large part to the lush cinematography
that graces the entire film. Nevertheless, there are a few problems, some of them excusable. For
example, a deliberately weakened image accompanies the narration, the result almost looking like
the corners are smothered in cooking oil. Figures are outlined in a blue glow,
and
details are completely washed out. Most of the movie sports a normal
appearance, one that is often accompanied by a lush, golden hue; outdoor shots in particular
often feature stunning color reproduction. Even interior shots feature a noticeable golden hue.
Still, close-up shots reveal some smoothness that washes away part of the details on faces, but
there are times when the disc features a level of detail that borders on the marvelous, including
the
texture of a snake and a cluster of tall-bladed grass that stands out so clearly that they are liable
to be counted with the disc on pause. Some edge enhancement is to be found, though how
much of a
distraction it will be will likely vary from viewer to viewer. Black levels do manage to hold up
nicely. This is not a horrendous transfer by any stretch of the imagination, saved primarily by the
gorgeous cinematography and shooting locations. The Blu-ray is adequate, but could have been
so much more.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford rides onto Blu-ray with a
Dolby
Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the lack of a lossless option both disheartening yet not surprising
considering the
film is presented on a BD-25 disc from Warner Brothers. The basics, for example dialogue
reproduction, are solid, but the finer details of the soundtrack feel lost. Leaves rustle and wind
blows, the sound more a jumble rather than any clear and defined presence. There are plenty of
good atmospherics effects, such as the chirping of insects and the singing of birds, that play out
well enough through the front speakers, but with little presence in the rear channels. The track
does
open up when the score streams through the soundstage. It features a good, but not great,
presence, with a suitable level of bass and rear-channel accompaniment. As the film moves on,
the soundtrack becomes more subtle, primarily dialogue-driven and center-channel heavy but
nevertheless retaining a palpable presence across the soundstage. A scene in chapter 18 offers a
slight blowing wind that adds a nice atmosphere to the scene, in addition to a few good
directional effects that, while not dramatic, add some welcome attention to detail to the
presentation. The sound design is very good, and could have enjoyed a nice boost from a lossless
mix, but all things considered, the track is fine, just not what it could have been.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford features only one supplement.
The Assassination of Jesse James: Death of an Outlaw (480p, 31:48) is a strong but not
exceptional supplement that features a selection of historians and cast and crew
recounting
the life and exploits of Jesse James. No other features are included, not even a trailer.
Though a poor performer at the box office, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward
Robert Ford is nevertheless a triumph of filmmaking, a beautifully-crafted and
thought-provoking picture that develops slowly but surely, taking full advantage of each frame to
guarantee
an amalgamation of talents and qualities that make it a fascinating and unique motion picture
experience. This isn't a typical Western, the story merely playing around the genre rather than
being completely confined by it. The film offers Oscar-nominated acting and cinematography, and a
nomination-worthy score, story, and direction as well. The Assassination of Jesse James
by the Coward Robert Ford is a must-watch film, particularly by film aficionados, and despite
the shortcomings of this Blu-ray presentation, it is the best way to view it at home. This disc
features a somewhat flawed, but ultimately watchable and mostly enjoyable, high definition
presentation, a suitable soundtrack, and a disappointing bonus section. Still, the film, as always, is
the most important part of the package, and based on its merits alone, this disc is deserving of a
spot in every distinguished Blu-ray collection.
Blu-ray bundles with The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (1 bundle)
Warner Home Video has revealed that the DVD and Blu-ray release of 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' will now be released on February 5th instead of the initially announced date of February 26th. The move is likely to take advantage of ...
Warner Home Video has announced that they will bring 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' to Blu-ray on February 26th, day-and-date with the DVD release. No technical specs have been announced, but expect the usual Warner treatment of VC-1 ...
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