The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
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A young man's obsession with a legendary outlaw leads to a tense and fatal confrontation in the American West.
The story
In 1881, a starstruck young man named Robert "Bob" Ford seeks out the outlaw Jesse James. While the James Gang prepares for a train robbery in Missouri, Bob makes several attempts to join them with the help of his brother Charley. After a failed robbery, the gang's dynamics shift, and Bob is invited to stay with Jesse in St. Joseph, Missouri. As the two men spend time together, Bob becomes increasingly enamored by the outlaw's legend, while the tension of their shared life on the run begins to simmer. The film explores the complex, psychological bond between the idol and the admirer as they navigate the dangers of their outlaw lifestyle.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1881, Robert "Bob" Ford seeks out Jesse James to join his gang. After a failed train robbery, Bob is invited to stay with Jesse in St. Joseph, Missouri. During their time together, Bob becomes obsessed with Jesse's legend, while Jesse grows suspicious of the Ford brothers. Following the arrest of a conspirator, Bob is offered a pardon and a bounty to capture or kill Jesse. Despite the tension, the two men remain together, and Jesse even gives Bob a new gun. On April 3, 1882, as they prepare for a bank robbery, Jesse learns of a betrayal in the news. In a moment of sudden action, Bob shoots Jesse in the back of the head. The brothers later attempt to profit from the act by performing in a theater show, but they are branded as cowards. The film concludes with the tragic fates of the men involved: Charley commits suicide in 1884, and Bob is eventually murdered in 1892.
- First release year
- 2007
- Runtime (minutes)
- 160
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Andrew Dominik
- Writers
- Andrew Dominik · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Brad Pitt · Jesse James; Casey Affleck · Robert Ford; Sam Shepard; Mary-Louise Parker; Paul Schneider; Jeremy Renner; Zooey Deschanel; Sam Rockwell
- Genres
- epic; revisionist Western; biographical drama
- Themes
- fame and infamy; obsession; myth of heroism
- Tone and mood
- dark; contemplative; bleak; dreamlike
- Setting
- The American frontier in 1881 and 1882.
- Premise and plot tags
- Western; Biographical; Crime
- Source material / true-story basis
- Ron Hansen's 1983 novel of the same name
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics, particularly for the performances and cinematography, though it was criticized for its long runtime and was a box-office bomb.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 68 · scale: 100 · review count: 32
- Awards and nominations
- Volpi Cup · Best Actor · win; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · nomination; Academy Award · Best Cinematography · nomination; Golden Globe · Best Supporting Actor · nomination; Screen Actors Guild Award · Best Supporting Actor · nomination; Critics' Choice Award · Best Supporting Actor · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was originally intended to be over three hours long.; The production included a reconstructed town of Creede, Colorado, at a cost of $1 million.; The film's title was protected by a contract clause for Brad Pitt.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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