Outlaw Jesse James is rumored to be the 'fastest gun in the West'. An eager recruit into James' notorious gang, Robert Ford eventually grows jealous of the famed outlaw and, when Robert and his brother sense an opportunity to kill James, their murderous action elevates their target to near mythical status.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 26 wins & 70 nominations total
Top Critics Reviews
fresh:
It's a view of the West beyond the myth that's worth enduring, if not relishing.
– Roger Moore,
Orlando Sentinel,
18 Oct 2007
fresh:
Awesome splendor and a striking essay on celebrity reward those who brave the 2 1/2-hour run time.
– Lisa Kennedy,
Denver Post,
20 Oct 2007
rotten:
Moseying along for 160 minutes, this revisionist western by writer-director Andrew Dominik makes a wan attempt to present the Jesse James legend as the dawn of celebrity culture in America.
– J. R. Jones,
Chicago Reader,
4 Jan 2008
fresh:
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is the story...of the moment in America when myth was murdered by mere celebrity and we were left, perhaps forever, with only the latter's meager consolations.
– Christopher Orr,
The New Republic,
18 Sep 2008
fresh:
Writer-director Andrew Dominik takes his time with the story, but his languorous pacing allows tension to build -- and permits the actors, Affleck in particular, to add nuance and depth to characters who'll seem familiar only at first glance.