The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford | Rotten Tomatoes

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

R

Released Sep 21, 2007

2 hr. 40 min.

Western

History

Drama

List

77%

177 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Infamous and unpredictable, Jesse James (Brad Pitt), nicknamed the fastest gun in the west, plans his next big heist while he launches pre-emptive strikes against those looking to collect the reward the law has placed on his head. Jesse's newest recruits, Robert (Casey Affleck) and Charley Ford (Sam Rockwell), grow increasingly jealous of the outlaw. When they sense an opportunity to kill Jesse, they gun him down, but their actions backfire when Jesse's fame is elevated to near mythical status.

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Critics Consensus

On the strength of its two lead performances Assassination is an expertly crafted period piece, and an insightful look at one of the enduring figures of American lore.

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Ki E

One of my favorite movies

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/24

Full Review

Ava S

Offering a contemplative approach to a real tragedy, despite its slightly prolonged duration, the film's captivating technical precision and meticulous dual-character analyses make it worth viewing.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/24

Full Review

Nisha Y

Boring. Pitt is no Jesse James, bad casting. The repetitive toy piano music gets old and so does the blurry vignettes. Reading the wikipedia page about James was more interesting.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/25/23

Full Review

Paul M

Exceptional piece of filmmaking. Its milieu is atypical of the western genre, generating an atmosphere more akin to a thriller at times. Pitt gets the marquee, but it's Casey Affleck that truly shines brightest in the acting department. His portrayal of Robert Ford is quirky yet believable, leading the audience to struggle with whether or not they should see him as a hero or villain. The films music, along with the narrator's tenor induce dream like sequences throughout, giving the film an interesting texture 8.7/10.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/23

Full Review

Scott M

Excellent acting. Slow movie. The story is repetitive. Critics call it a masterpiece of filmmaking. No. Tombstone is a masterpiece of filmmaking. This was decent though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/12/23

Full Review

Bunk M

Brad Pitt's favorite of all time - A neatly paced journey through KC & the railways surrounding, Jesse James & his gang try to stay 1 step ahead of the law, and one another.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/23

Full Review

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Andrew Dominik

Director

Brad Pitt

Jesse James

Casey Affleck

Robert Ford

Sam Shepard

Frank James

Mary-Louise Parker

Zee James

Sam Rockwell

Charley Ford

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David Jenkins

Time Out

Pitt, toying with his death-wish like some private joke, is eminently watchable in a role with little developmental arc; while Affleck, as his unwitting nemesis, takes his own mysterious integrity right to the grave.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 6, 2018

Full Review

Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: B

Feb 14, 2012

Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

Full Review

Gayle Sequeira

Film Companion

The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford plays out like an elegy to a fallen idol whose worshipper has decided it's time to dismantle the pedestal.

Oct 6, 2022

Full Review

James Croot

Stuff.co.nz

Not only one of the finest westerns ever made, even a decade-and-a-half on The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a terrific example of the power of the art form itself.

Rated: 5/5

Sep 28, 2022

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Perhaps the least western Western ever made - and that's not a good sort of singularity.

Rated: 3/10

Nov 24, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Infamous and unpredictable, Jesse James (Brad Pitt), nicknamed the fastest gun in the west, plans his next big heist while he launches pre-emptive strikes against those looking to collect the reward the law has placed on his head. Jesse's newest recruits, Robert (Casey Affleck) and Charley Ford (Sam Rockwell), grow increasingly jealous of the outlaw. When they sense an opportunity to kill Jesse, they gun him down, but their actions backfire when Jesse's fame is elevated to near mythical status.

Director: Andrew Dominik
Executive Producer: Brad Grey, Tony Scott, Lisa Ellzey
Screenwriter: Andrew Dominik
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Production Co: Scott Free Productions, Warner Bros., Virtual Studios, Plan B Films, Jesse Films Inc.
Rating: R (Some Strong Violence|Brief Sexual References)
Genre: Western, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 21, 2007, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 1, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.9M
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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