It never ceases to fail how intriguing a story can be when it comes to a famous western outlaw.  Jesse James’ final moments were mired in controversy when he was shot and killed from behind by a member of a his own crew, much like Billy The Kid’s execution at the hands of his former friend-turned-sheriff Pat Garrett (showcased in the Young Guns movies).  The Assassination Of Jess James By The Coward Robert Ford (a title in need of shortening), starring Brad Pitt as James, and the Oscar-nominated Casey Affleck as Ford, is a very slow and methodical account of those events. 

The film begins by showing Ford’s initial entry into James’ crew, at a time where Jesse’s brother Frank has become disillusioned with the thievery lifestyle and wants to break away from the gang.  This move puts Jesse into an abyss of paranoia and mistrust, and coupled with his mean penchant for physical violence begins to make his crew uneasy, thus leading them to embark on their own independent ventures.  When Jesse ultimately begins to have his suspicions verified, the film finally hits an interesting stride.  The most interesting angle is Ford’s evolution as a character.  He begins as a hero-worshipping lapdog to James, and as he learns more about the man he’s idolized for so long, he twists his obsession by plotting to bring an end to Jesse’s legacy (in order to make himself just as legendary as the outlaw) .  When all is said and done, the dream backfires on Ford after pulling the trigger, leading to his own inevitable violent death.  The dramatic strength of the film thrives when both Pitt and Affleck play off one another, in two very admirable performances.

There is however a few noticeable flaws that hinder the film from being an epic masterpiece.  First, there are non-integral sub-plots that feature henchmen with their own issues and conflicts separate to the James/Ford story (which eats up a lot of unnecessary time on the film).  And second, the film’s sequences are moved along by one of the worst narrations I have ever heard.  Not only does it sound like someone is reading it from a book, but the voice-over choice (a low-level actor named Hugh Ross) is not the right one for this kind of film.  His dry vocals bore you to death, and bog the movie down.

But, filmed beautifully in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, the movie looks gorgeous and definitely comes off as such on this standard DVD edition.  It is also backed up by a fairly decent sound mix that only comes to life in moments of high-tension (like the train robbery at the beginning).  This not an action-western, it’s more of a melodramatic one, so don’t expect your sound system to be jumping constantly.  And don’t get your hopes up for any bonus features as this copy is disappointingly bare-bones.  Not even one commentary to listen to.  You can rest assured a “Collector’s Edition” of this film is inevitable, that will have everything this one didn’t.

All in all, the movie is a mild experience that leaves a viewer lukewarm on its effect.  For sure it is a great history lesson about the demise of a popular western outlaw, but as an engaging piece of cinema?  Not quite there.  Surely, this edition’s worth would only be that of a rental, considering the film is the only value on it, and that value is not worthy enough to own it and add it to your collection.

Review By Ryan Young