Hey, everyone. ”Moriarty” here. I plan to write about this film this week, but I’ve got two others to post first. Still, I’m looking forward to finally getting into my thoughts on this one, and I know that not everyone’s loving this, but I’m excited to have the conversation with people who do and people who don’t alike. For now, check out this spy's passionate report on the film:
Dear AICN Crew, I was lucky enough to see THE ASSASINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD last night and I wanted to write in to express a few thoughts. I want to emphasize that this is less of a film review and more of an announcement because this film is a watershed moment for two people: Andrew Domink and Casey Affleck. This is simply one geek talking to a room full of geeks about some shit that they need to understand. Over the coming months as we wade into awards season, you will hear a lot about the performances that Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck give in this film, and more about them later, but the man that I want to bring to your attention is Andrew Dominik. Many of you are probably familiar with or have at least heard of his first feature CHOPPER which introduced Eric Bana to the Hulk makers and Munich makers of the world. But here we have Andrew’s American debut, and for a second feature, the sure hand with which he directs this film is scary good. Each and every performance in this film, no matter how small, is significant and powerful. I was flattened by the strength of the smaller roles –Sam Shepard, Paul Schneider, Mary-Louise Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Garret Dillahunt – Flattened. And that credit has to go to Andrew for both his ability to cast the picture and then to go out and get the very specific moments that he needed. For example, I am convinced that Zooey was hired for one look. ONE LOOK that she gives Casey Affleck after they have their pictures taken. Dominik and Deschanel went out there and nailed her entire performance which is very short but extrememly important in Robert Ford’s character progression throughout the film. Then there are the three main roles, Dominik’s masterwork – Pitt, Affleck, and Sam Rockwell. No one mentions Rockwell when they’re talking about this film and I don’t know why. He plays Charley Ford and every strength that you’ve ever admired him for in other films is on display here. He’s the funny brother and the more trustworthy brother and the more mature of the Ford brothers and because of this, he’s asked to carry the powder keg of Jesse James around with him always afraid that it’s about to blow up in his face. The way that he laughs at Jesse’s jokes while being deathly afraid of the man is complex. It’s almost as complex as Affleck’s performance and there are times when I think that Charley is the more cowardly of the two brothers just because Affleck’s character is so naively sure of himself. For a fan of the Brad Pitt we came to love in movies like SE7EN, 12 MONKEYS, and FIGHT CLUB, he has returned. This time, however, he’s older and more mature. There’s pain behind Pitt’s eyes now and I can see why he won the actor’s award in Venice . He is the revered man that Jesse James was and carries the same burdens. And we can imagine that he allows a little of that poison to seep into his veins as he’s playing this part. He’s crazy and ready to go off at anytime. The only thing that seems to hold Jesse together is his family, the only group of people that he knows won’t betray him. There is a moment in which Pitt and Rockwell stand at the edge of a frozen pond, all alone in the whole world, and Pitt just says, “Have you ever thought about suicide?” And we know that the thought doesn’t just cross his mind, it plagues him with every breath he takes. What this does for Andrew Dominik, it will also do for Casey Affleck. This film will have the same ripple effect for him that Dominik’s first film had for Bana. You will not believe the intricacy that he brings to this role and the trust that Dominik must have put in him to become so sickly twisted. He is a geek. Robert Ford is a Jesse James geek and he cannot handle the fact that he is sitting with his idol. He’s like the sickening version of the SNL Chris Farley character saying, “Remember that time when you robbed that train? That was cool.” In close-up after close-up, Affleck goes from one end of his character’s spectrum to the other, and we see it all slide across his sick yellow smile in such a sweet character turn as we don’t often see. Besides Andrew’s work, congratulations must be given to Plan B and Scott Free for putting together an amazing crew that includes Roger Deakins work, Dylan Tichenor and Curtiss Clayton’s work, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. This is like a dream team of people you would want to work on a western drama. Don’t know who these people are? IMDB them and you will shit your pants. THE ASSASINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD is the best film that I’ve seen this year and I look forward to Andrew Dominik’s next. THE RIDER
