The Assassination o Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

By Linda Winsh-Bolard

One of the legends of the civil war and the postwar discontent, Jesse James, and his brother Frank, provide a structural roster for the 1983 book by Ron Hansen and the new film of director Andrew Dominik based on the book.

It is after Civil War, indeed it is 15 years after Civil War, and the first gang that committed 21 robberies with the brothers as their leaders is either dead or in prison. Despite the fantastic sums of money stolen, Jesse is yet again short of cash and recruits new people to help him rob a train in Blue Cut.
The robbery completed, the gang spits up and hides. But even in hiding they aren't safe, the Pinkerton's Agency that pursued James family for some time is looking and the growingly disaffected Jesse is suspicious of everyone.

It takes two years of film time before Jesse is killed by Robert in his own home, on April 3, 1882, while adjusting a picture on the wall. During those two years the conflicting fear and desire to become somebody grow into a decision to kill in Robert Ford. Jesse is steadily growing more unpredictable, aware of his deadly fame and the burden that it brings to his, and his family every day's life, as well as the impossibility to carry on as he did in the past, or have a normal trusting relationship with anyone outside his family.

The picture is less about Jesse (Brad Pitt) than it is about Robert Ford (Casey Afleck), but it both cases, although there is substantial amount of violence and some sex, it intended to be a psychological study of celebrity. Unfortunately, it does not quite make it. It is long, too long, not because of what is happening but because of a very slow tempo in saying it. Timing is everything is such editing, and timing is off.

It is broodingly, beautifully shot in an open endless country that still provided not hiding either from violence or betrayal, and the composition is often striking. Wooden houses and dark clothing, candle flames and brutal living conditions are all there, but the scenery, sets and human interaction are not interesting enough to make up for the extra time ticking by.
Furthermore, it does seem much more likely that Jesse James suffered from bipolar disorder rather then from understanding of fame heaped on him for his 17 murders.

Afleck's petulant yearning for recognition is so constant that it is odd how could Jesse James miss it. Brad Pitt is believable swinging between highs, lows and absolute control, but there is actually very little of him in the film. Sam Shepard is nearly absent and Sam Rockwell is left to convey, convincingly, fear and sycophancy to the deadly terror of an outlaw.

The acted story is supplemented by factual narration describing Jesse and his times. It is true that both James brothers served in the Southern army during the war, and it is said that Jesse regarded himself as fighting the war forever. He was wounded during the war and, like many others, when South lost, his family suffered. It is also true that when the victorious North set the Pinkerton's on him, they threw a grenade into his home killing his half brother and tearing his Mother's hand off. No wonder Jesse felt injured. But is does not seem that he killed people of certain political background. He married his first cousin, after 9 years of courtship, had two children, rented a small house for the family under an assumed name Thomas Howard and attended church. He did not work for living. He wanted to buy a farm when he was killed. What happened to the stolen money is uncertain, legend has it that he "took from the rich and gave to the poor", but there seems to be little evidence of that.

Robert and Charley Ford did not collect the reward money, $10,000, promised for capturing Jesse James. They were accused of murder and later pardoned by the governor of Missouri. Charley committed suicide two years later, Robert, who indeed became known, but as a coward who killed Jesse under his own roof, was killed in a bar ten years later.

Film was shot in Alberta, Canada and Hidden Hills California.

Script and Directing; Andrew Dominik, Camera: Roger Deakin, Cast. Brad Pitt, Casey Afleck, Sam Rockwell as Ford's brother, Sam Shepard as Jesse's older brother, and Mary-Louise Parker as Jesse's wife, Dick Liddil (Paul Schneider), Ed Miller (Garrett Dellahunt).