comment #1

Stephe96 says ...

Um...I didn't see a '+' on that A review. Still, this movie strikes me as a total snooze-fest.

comment #2

JD says ...

Is this a first? I don't think I've ever seen an A+ movie review in EW before. Oh wait, I just checked and it's an "A" review, not an A+. Sloppy reporting, Jeff:

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20057689,00.html

comment #3

Le Samorai says ...

Way to nitpick. Just go see the movie. It's outstanding.

comment #4

gruver1 says ...

Wells to JD and Stephe96: My error -- it's just an A. But I've seen the film twice and I've read the review and I know something about Schwarzbaum and how she conveys enthusiasm about films. Trust me -- this is an A-plus endorsement.

comment #5

Stephe96 says ...

I don't know. But "daringly interior" sounds like critic-speak for "boring." Don't get me wrong, I'm interested in this flick. But I'll probably wait for the DVD.

comment #6

jeffmcm says ...

Critic-speak for 'boring' is 'a film by Brett Ratner'.

comment #7

Stephe96 says ...

Well, "X-Men 3" might have been bad...but it wasn't necessarily boring. But have you seen a still from "Jesse James" that wasn't a shot of the actors gazing thoughtfully into the distance? I mean, there has to be SOME action in this movie, yes?

comment #8

Le Samorai says ...

This is a film that definitely ought to be seen on the big screen. The photography is gorgeous and the compositions really benefit from theater viewing.

comment #9

cinefan says ...

I think the only movie ever given an A+ by EW was Citizen Kane (reviewed during a rerelease).

comment #10

JD says ...

Strange conclusion, Stephe96. If ever a movie DIDN'T scream "wait for the DVD," it's this.

comment #11

lazarus says ...

I think "I'll wait for the DVD" is what people say when they want to dismiss something they know they probably shouldn't. So it's okay to be bored in your living room? Any fool can see that if this film is going to have any positive effect on you, it's going to be in the vast darkness of a movie theatre, with the images so large they're able to wash over you.

So don't wait for the DVD. Get off your ass and be active about it, or don't bother at all.

comment #12

Arran says ...

I'm strangely pleased that Pete Travers refers to Dominik as a "New Zealand writer-director". He was born here, but he's all Aussie I'm sure. Still, Australians have been trying to claim credit for our talent for years.

They can have Russell Crowe, though.

Also, I didn't know that Nick Cave and Warren Ellis did the music for this. Very cool.

comment #13

Craig Kennedy says ...

Yeah Stephe96, I'm not sure I follow your logic. If it had monkeys with jet-packs and lasers would you want to see it in a theater?

I'm not arguing that you should see it at all, I'm not that big of a film nazi, but it seems like a movie that begs to bee seen on a big screen.

comment #14

Josh Massey says ...

A lot of home theaters are much better than a typical multiplex these days.

comment #15

themutilator says ...

What about your Toronto friends...it's playing here, too.

comment #16

Craig Kennedy says ...

I still like the communal experience of seeing a movie in a theater and to be able to talk about it with others when it's still current. Call me old fashioned.

comment #17

jeffmcm says ...

"A lot of home theaters are much better than a typical multiplex these days."

Sure but I don't get invited to the Playboy Mansion as often as I'd like.

comment #18

Walter Sobchak says ...

Holy shit, cjkennedy! What movie has monkeys with jet-packs and lasers?! Is it still out? Where's it showing?!

comment #19

Walter Sobchak says ...

**OPEN LETTER TO PEOPLE LIVING IN "RED-STATES" OR PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT AREN'T ON THE EAST OR WEST COAST**

If "The Assasination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford" fails to perform well or at least up to expectations at the box office, prepare to be verbally ass-reamed (blamed) for said film's financial failure by Hollywood Elsewhere's Jeffrey Wells.

Consider this fair warning.

comment #20

jeffmcm says ...

I just noticed that Wells has thoughtfully provided links to the Wikipedia entries for 'varmint' and 'polecat' so that people can understand his outdated argot. What a valuable resource he is!

comment #21

Craig Kennedy says ...

Sadly Walter, the cineplexes are completely devoid of monkeys with jetpacks and lasers. Would a naked Viggo Mortensen suffice? Otherwise, I can't even come up with a youtube clip, though I'm still enjoying the one of Francoise Hardy you pulled from your nether regions the other day. That was awesome and continues to glow with awesomeness.

comment #22

thatmovieguy says ...

I can't wait for the DVD: I promise I'll put it on every time I have a spell of insomnia. It's a beautiful movie to look at and the performances are generally fine, but it makes THE HOURS look action-packed. Why are there so many stills of the actors gazing thoughtfully into the distance? Because that's just about all that's happening one-third of the time (sometimes they gaze thoughtfully at each other, for a little variety). I admire the craftsmanship and the attention to detail, but obviously Lisa saw a different movie than I did (not to mention the critic from a major paper who was sitting beside me and completely nodded off after an hour and didn't wake up until the last 10 minutes -- can't wait to read his grade-A review).

comment #23

Stephe96 says ...

JD,

Actually, to me this looks a movie I might enjoy more on my home-theater (good Surround Sound, decent size screen). No jackasses to spoil the mood by yapping through it, stuff like that. It might be the greatest movie ever made, for all I know. But I'd rather watch a "quiet" movie that is very dependent on mood at home, I guess. Just my 2 cents...

comment #24

Edward Havens says ...

"It's a beautiful movie to look at and the performances are generally fine, but it makes THE HOURS look action-packed."

Probably because... I don't know... it's NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ACTION-PACKED. You didn't like the film because you probably went in with certain expectations about what a Western is supposed to me, and those expectations were not met.

Dominik does what a filmmaker is supposed to do... tell their story visually. Sad that modern audiences think if it doesn't have a shitload of explosions and gun battles, it's not worth their time.

comment #25

malibugigolo says ...

Schwarzbaum is a mountebank.

comment #26

BurmaShave says ...

I'm so sick of hearing about how long this title is when we have to stomach PIRATES OF CARRIBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL or THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER every summer. MASTER & COMMANDER: THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD is one of my favorite movies, mind you. Maybe it's not too late for a title change? THE ASSASSIN OF JESSE JAMES: THE COWARD ROBERT FORD.

comment #27

malibugigolo says ...

just Bob Ford. Or Jimmy and Bob.

comment #28

BurmaShave says ...

I smell franchise!

comment #29

bmcintire says ...

Ouch! No love from Salon.com.
Best quotes:
"[TAOJJBTCRF] never lets us forget that it's a serious literary adaptation. A narrator, his voice floating toward us from the great beyond, describes the action as we're seeing it, on the off-chance we're suffering from temporary blindness: Jesse hugs his cute little kids, and we hear of "the sting of his mustache against their cheeks." When [Jesse's wife] wipes her hands on her apron, we're told that she "wiped her pink hands on an apron" -- because, you know, we probably ascertained that she has hands, but we might not have noticed that they were pink."
"TAOJJBTCRF represents a breakthrough in the moviegoing experience. It may be the first time we've been asked to watch a book on tape."
They did, however, like INTO THE WILD.

comment #30

Craig Kennedy says ...

Stephe, that makes perfect sense. Consider me shutting up now...except to add that "TAOJJBTCRF" has to go. That's awful. Just type out the name of the movie. Seriously. You'll feel better about yourself when it's all over.

comment #31

York "Budd" Durden says ...

To thatmovieguy: Maybe you'd enjoy watching a football game more.

comment #32

source188 says ...

Goddammit! I want to see this film in such an incredibly certain way but Warner Bros. is not releasing the film in Chicago! at least not this weekend. BTW, saw Eastern Promises today, loved it, intricately made, classy but brutal-as-hell. Also loved the final shot. And the twist is enough to solidify the film as a companion piece to AHOV and a certain other crime film from not-too-long ago.

comment #33

Ian Sinclair says ...

JESSE JAMES is now hovering around 55% and "Rotten" at Rotten Tomatoes, which is the price you pay for giving a nice cup of tea with a slice of lemon to people who thought they were going to see a Western.

comment #34

Nate West says ...

Wait for the DVD then. For all I care, you can wait for Jesus Christ to fucking hand you the DVD. It's really not our collective concern. I'm much more interested in Beowulf chants.

comment #35

carla kolchak says ...

What about your Toronto friends...it's playing here, too.
Posted by: themutilator

Well, it got glowing reviews from two out of three (Star & Sun loved it; Globe was not as enthralled) Toronto dailies today.

comment #36

MarkVH says ...

Would love to "bulldoze" my NYC friends into seeing it, but near as I can tell, the only theater that's got it is the Angelika - and the Angelika BLOWS. I won't be here this weekend and hence won't be able to see it, but I'd probably wait for it to expand to a couple of other area theaters anyway.

comment #37

martindale says ...

Are we sure that it's opening in only 15 theaters? It's in 9 theaters in the Austin area alone.

comment #38

BNick says ...

It's playing at Lincoln Square as well, MarkVH. I'm seeing it tonight.

The Angelika is sometimes the only place to go to see these kinds of movies, but the screens are ridiculously small. Still kicking myself for seeing The Fountain there.

comment #39

Sean says ...

BNick - thanks for the update, I had the exact same reaction as MarkVH last weekend. There were very few movies this year I was looking forward to, and I already saw a few of them. After this, it's just that new PTA picture. (I do want to see "I'm Not There" as a Dylan fan, but I don't like Todd Haynes enough to look forward to it.)

But I will not set foot in the Angelika again. I'd rather watch a movie in an elementary school classroom filled with screaming children broadcast on a VCR than ever go back to the Angelika.

comment #40

Geoff says ...

Saw it. It's mesmerizing. Don't wait for the DVD, the sound is spectacular.

comment #41

Jack Price says ...

Easily one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Give it all the support you can.

comment #42

CMAC says ...

This is my first time on this page ever..I do however read this site everyday..okay enough of the schmarmy. I tend to have a problem going to the so called big screens to watch films with others, the chatter alone makes me want to stab myself in the throat and the last time I was at a movie house suffice it to say a small war broke out. We have a pretty freakin' brilliant home theatre and I like my sparkling beverages close at hand. I AM tempted to go back though to see this film cause A)Some of it was shot in my home town (Edmonton) and my good bud actor John Wright had a scene with "Himself". Johnny said Brad was the sweetest guy no shit no ego and while waiting for some lights tweaking they just goofed around with the dialogue to keep themselves amused at like 2am. I have an appreciation for the big stars (having worked with a few myself) who stay on set and don't go running back to their trailers and have to be coerced into coming back especially in outdoor mind numbing temperatures. So uh,
"Go JESSE GO JESSE"
PS Jeff, I quite dig your take on stuff and this whole page.

comment #43

BNick says ...

Just reporting back even though this thread has gotten pushed down some.

Saw the 7:30 show at Lincoln Square last night. It was mostly full but there were single empty seats here and there.

That said, I don't think I've ever seen a movie like this. I don't know if any of us have. The comparisons to Malick aren't quite right. Brad Pitt's James is a terrifying character, and Casey Affleck has taken Robert Ford in an incredibly interesting direction. Definitely the best acting I've seen in a movie this year.

comment #44

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