The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES
BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD.

OPEN. TWO MEN ON HORSEBACK.

JESSES JAMES
Adjusts hat. Whistles tunelessly.

ROBERT FORD
Hums. Looks at watch.

CUT TO: WIND BLOWING ACROSS PRAIRIE, STORMCLOUDS IN DISTANCE.

CUT BACK TO MEN

JESSES JAMES
Sighs. Taps foot.

ROBERT FORD
Clears throat. Drums fingers.

REPEAT FOR 3 HOURS

It’s easy to take the piss out of this languorous Terence Mallick-style epic, which is why I did. But actually, I kind of loved it. The film indulges in a lot of Jesse James-as-Jesus metaphor, and Casey Affleck (as Robert Ford) does an excellent Judas. The burden of his guilt is palpable. A tragic and gorgeous film.