The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007).
Biography, Crime, Drama |
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is a American epic revisionist Western film written and directed by Andrew Dominik. Adapted from Ron Hansen’s 1983 novel of the same name, the film dramatizes the relationship between Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and Robert Ford (Casey Affleck), focusing on the events that lead up to the titular killing.
Photography started at August 29, 2005 and ended on December 2005. Filming took place near Calgary, Canmore, and Edmonton, Alberta, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. To achieve the visual style he wanted for the movie, Dominik took influences from many sources, including still photographers, images clipped from magazines, stills from Days of Heaven, and even Polaroids. The original edit of the movie was envisioned by Dominik to be “a dark, contemplative examination of fame and infamy,” reaching more than three hours in runtime. This was opposed by the studio and the movie was edited repeatedly.
In 1881, young starstruck Robert “Bob” Ford seeks out Jesse James when the James gang is planning a train robbery in Blue Cut, Missouri, making unsuccessful attempts to join the gang with the help of his older brother Charley, already a member. The train turns out to be carrying only a fraction of the money originally thought, and a dispirited Frank James leaves the gang and his brother. Jesse returns home to Kansas City, bringing the Fords, Dick Liddil and Jesse’s cousin, Wood Hite. Jesse sends Charley, Wood, and Dick away, but insists that Bob stay for his help in moving furniture to a new home in St. Joseph, Missouri. Bob becomes more admiring of Jesse before being sent away, where he stays at the farmhouse of his widowed sister, Martha Bolton, where he rejoins his brother Charley, Hite, and Liddil.
Director: Andrew Dominik
Writers: Andrew Dominik (screenplay), Ron Hansen (novel)
Stars: Brad Pitt, Mary-Louise Parker, Dustin Bollinger, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, Jeremy Renner, Sam Shepard
Cast:
| Brad Pitt | … | Jesse James |
| Mary-Louise Parker | … | Zee James |
| Brooklynn Proulx | … | Mary James |
| Dustin Bollinger | … | Tim James |
| Casey Affleck | … | Robert Ford |
| Sam Rockwell | … | Charley Ford |
| Jeremy Renner | … | Wood Hite |
| Sam Shepard | … | Frank James |
| Garret Dillahunt | … | Ed Miller |
| Paul Schneider | … | Dick Liddil |
| Joel McNichol | … | Express Messenger |
| James Defelice | … | Baggagemaster (as James DeFelice) |
| J.C. Roberts | … | Engineer |
| Darrell Orydzuk | … | Ukranian Train Passenger |
| Jonathan Erich Drachenberg | … | Young Train Passenger |
| Torben Hansen | … | Danish Train Passenger (as Torben S. Hansen) |
| Alison Elliott | … | Martha Bolton |
| Lauren Calvert | … | Ida |
| Kailin See | … | Sarah Hite |
| Tom Aldredge | … | Major George Hite |
| Jesse Frechette | … | Albert Ford |
| Pat Healy | … | Wilbur Ford |
| Michael Parks | … | Henry Craig |
| Ted Levine | … | Sheriff Timberlake |
| Joel Duncan | … | Deputy |
| James Carville | … | Governor Crittenden |
| Stephanie Wahlstrom | … | Store Customer |
| Adam Arlukiewicz | … | Newsboy |
| Ian Ferrier | … | Photographer (as Ian Ferrier) |
| Michael J Rogers | … | Onlooker at Jesse’s Death (as Michael Rogers) |
| Calvin Bliid | … | Jesse E. James aka Tim |
| Sarah Lind | … | Bob’s Girlfriend |
| Nick Cave | … | Bowery Saloon Singer |
| Matthew Walker | … | Bowery Saloonkeeper |
| Zooey Deschanel | … | Dorothy Evans |
| Michael Copeman | … | Edward O’Kelly |
| Laryssa Yanchak | … | Ella Mae Waterson |
| Hugh Ross | … | Narrator (voice) |
| Kalyn Bomback | … | Theatre goer (uncredited) |
| Doug Christian | … | Tavern Patron (uncredited) |
| Tanis Dolman | … | Townswoman (uncredited) |
| Carey Feehan | … | Train Passenger (uncredited) |
| Sara Fowlow | … | Girl of Sixteen (uncredited) |
| Catherine Gell | … | Widow (uncredited) |
| Anthony Harrison | … | Marshal Craig (uncredited) |
| Adam Johnston | … | Kid (uncredited) |
| Adam Johnston | … | Kid (uncredited) |
| Meghan K. Lees | … | First Class Train Passenger (uncredited) |
| Barb Mitchell | … | Upscale Guest (uncredited) |
| Sarah Murphy-Dyson | … | Girl Playing Zee (uncredited) |
| Myles Peterman | … | Train Boy (uncredited) |
| Myrna Vallance | … | The Governors Wife (uncredited) |
| Trevor Woroby | … | Marty (saloon patron) (uncredited) |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia