May 11, 2020

30 Day Film Challenge. Day 3


The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford.

That's a mouthful of a title ain't it. An epic title for a dark brooding masterpiece. The best (modern) revisionist western so far. A film that takes the myth of the outlaw and shatters it into a million pieces. A story that literally shoots the cult of celebrity in the back of the head. Everything about this film is amazing. Brad Pitt de-romanticises James instantly. Casey Affleck's take on Robert Ford is so effective you'll want to kick your tv off the wall. Director Andrew Dominik and cinematographer Roger Deakins turn Missouri into a state of absolute foreboding. Then Nick Cave's mournful and contemplative soundtrack adds another layer of darkness to proceedings. And yet, despite all of that there's a lightness of touch and a surprisingly earthy humanity on display too. It's a glorious mix.

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