Mark Kermode Reviews The Assassination of Jesse James

How about a positive review for a change? This was Kermode's pick for Best Film of 2007.

[@enigma19833]

This film is a masterpiece, and it's biggest failing is that it had the misfortune to come out around the same time as both There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men. Had it been released in 2006 or 2008, it would've received far more well-deserved hype.

[@PauLtus_B]

There will be blood was concidered the more artistic one. No Country for Old men the more straight up thriller. This one is neither of those but it's probably the best one still. It's quite weird really, and mostly a big shame.

[@MarkAS56]

enigma19833 Yet better than both, meaning no slight to either.

[@nathang7244]

enigma19833 2006 would’ve been better as a certain dark knight was released in 2008

[@jimmy2k4o]

Same thing could be said for David Finchers Zodiac

[@orlacshands9057]

Watching it for the umpteenth time, it's one of the best films made in the last thirty years, it's criminally underrated.

[@MarkAS56]

Orlacs Hands Just finally bought it. Watched it again. Decided its my 3rd favorite western. After The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Rio Bravo. It may give the 2 spot a challenge in the long run.

[@johnsmisek02]

What came out 31 years ago that was so good?

[@furbabydaddy5604]

I’ve actually just recently watched this movie. Had forgot it even existed. Now I’ve seen it about ten times. It’s hypnotic with an unbelievable cast. I thought Jeremy Renner was an interesting touch as “Wood Hite.” Superb,underrated movie.

[@garysmith6650]

He didn't mention the soundtrack... The soundtrack should have won an oscar

[@blackshirt5530]

gary Smith haunting melodic music.... the only soundtrack I paid to own!!

[@RustinChole]

No doubt

[@dalelatimer01]

Absolutely

[@Hs022]

Over Johnny Greenwood? No way.

[@rossl5908]

The soundtrack is dream-like as it transports you to a mythic part of Americas history, and the score that plays right before Edward O'kelley shoots Bob is so powerful and emotional.

[@Owyourhurtingme]

Watching this movie is like a meditative type of therapy for me. It's one of those movies that will stop a channel surf like lumber on a railway track.

[@MarkAS56]

Stan Gable Nicely put. I just bought it on blu ray finally. Figured I'd put it on in evening just to see the pic quality, make sure it had no obvious disc defects.....yeah, watched the whole thing again. Sucked in.

[@issyjas3309]

It’s like Thin Red Line in that respect, I can watch it with the volume down if needs be

[@colinmontgomery5492]

"The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford" is, thus far, the only perfect film I have ever seen.

[@saturatedcranium]

Yes. Best film ever

[@shadowsmessage]

U never watched Days of Heaven / Chunking Express / 2001 : A Space Odessey ??

[@matthias6933]

perfect sounds like an exaggeration but when I think about it: I've never seen any other film in my life where I thought that it wraps up a subject so good that it makes any other film about the same subject matter redundant because there isn't anything much more to explore.

[@degsbabe]

Get the fking blinkers off ...Loads better out there !

[@danielmcdermott138]

Didn't realise how much I loved Kermode till I listened to this review. He would later call it the best film of 2007. I think this film is an utter masterpiece. A subtle, haunting, beautiful masterwork. Casey Affleck is peerless.

[@lw3646]

He is very good, he's got very little dialogue but there's so much emotion expressed just through his face and body language.

[@neilpemberton5523]

And Brad Pitt has never been better.

[@EskimoCreamKing]

"That picture sure looks dusty" the scene is one of the most exceptional scenes put to film ever

[@mohanicus]

one of the best films i have ever seen... that scene where james has that knife to fords throat and charlie bob fords brother played by the amazing sam rockwell... his acting at seeing his brother being terrorised and laughing along with jesse but feeling distraught and feeling bad for his brother at the same time is fantastic acting from all 3 actors.. pitt affleck and rockwell.

[@foxybingo1112]

A true masterpiece, one of the most underrated I've ever seen. Absolutely essential viewing

[@saturatedcranium]

I love you for loving this film

[@WAAAAAAAAAAAY]

It's brilliant I watched this when it came out and really liked it However I watched it again a couple weeks ago and it's unbelievably good. Everything about it is fantastic - Casey Affleck is particularly excellent in this I think that it's one of the the best westerns ever made certainly in my lifetime. I hope that it gets more and more recognition as the years go on. Andrew Dominik is one of the best directors around.....man that guy can tell a story. :)

[@JoseCortes-on6uy]

I also think it's a remarkable movie. Casey Affleck is one of the new breed of actors who unobtrusively compels your attention. In a way he reminds me of Jean-Louis Trintignant, also a quietly riveting actor who starred in "A Man and a Woman", "My Night at Maud's", "Without Apparent Motive", "The Conformist", and played the incorruptible examining magistrate in "Z".

[@freebee8221]

All andrew dominik films are absolutely brilliant. Chopper, jesse james and killing them softly. I dont understand why he makes movies only once in a decade. He is a genius

[@8urvett]

I wish they release the 4 hr version that was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.

[@scottwilliam3470]

Maybe one day they'll release a directors cut

[@tris421]

Most underated movie!

[@scottwilliam3470]

One of the most underrated films

[@issyjas3309]

It’s an incredible movie, glorious to look at and listen to. Should have received more praise than it did. The train hold up scene is just wonderful

[@nayden5834]

The Film has some of the finest cinematography, Dialogue & Acting of all time. HANDS DOWN

[@jy285]

Best film ever made. An absolute masterpiece.

[@theodorerussell351]

Kermode almost nails it...we know what is going to happen...but the compounding dread puts it in the genre of classic tragedy...like Oedipus...although it is the pitiful figure to which the tragedy occurs...hence not like classical tragedy...a cathartic film nonetheless

[@Daemon3667]

With out question the most underrated Pitt movie. It now stands along my other all time favorite western Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid !

[@athornhilllife]

I think this is one of the most underrated films of the new century. This along with "There Will be Blood" should go down in the history books. This film showcases the best performance of Brad Pitt's career, with so much facial expression and nuances, along with the academy award winning performance by Casey. Which I thought was the only thing lacking from TWBB, with Paul Dano's good, but not great, performance to counter balance DDL. This film should be studied.

[@davidabarak]

I think one thing people don't understand about the title is that it's supposed to sound like the title of a book on (then) recent history. A lot of the writing then mirrored the art or oratory - overly flowery and at times pompous. As for the film, I thought it was incredible, and I attribute at least half of that to Casey Affleck. The dialog was great, as heard when his character talked about the forced similarities with Jesse James. My favorite western, by far.

[@andyr0ck]

Just saw this the other day. It is slow and long but I don't mind that in a film and it didn't quite feel as long as it was. Looks beautiful and I agree, Affleck does steal the show.

[@dougstyles5091]

Ive seen it 3 times the past 2 days. Not including seeing it upon its release. Greatly shot and acted.

[@PauLtus_B]

That's how you watch movies ;) Most people would raise eyebrows because of a comment like that, but when a movie is really great it's worth watching like that.

[@slimjimpui]

Dude! I fucking love this film. When I saw the title of your video, I immediately assumed it would be a rant but good to hear Mark's on board with this one. Thanks for uploading!

[@josephmathabela]

This is my fourth favourite film after: La Haine, Pulp Fiction and There Will Be Blood.

[@HD-ol1mc]

Interestingly, Mark Rylance has said that he studied Brad Pitt’s performance in this movie in preparation for playing Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall. Both great performances.

[@Needham90]

This was the best film of 2007. Simply amazing film.

[@scottwilliam3470]

Its a misunderstood masterpiece I think it will stand the test of time.

[@donna25871]

Eric Bana played Chopper - and it was a huge breakout role for him as he was known as a tv comedian before it. And it was an Australian film.

[@MrBlackhibee]

Yeh, I don't where the Anthony Hopkins stuff came from, and Bana was brilliant in it too.

[@thebagelsproductions]

Sarcasm is where it came from

[@MrAdamloring1985]

I agree, but only because the score is such a way. chimes in it, or it's a part played high on the piano that almost gives it a nursery rythme feel to the music. plus you get a lot of shots, which are done very well, of overcast skies or during the late day. So if you want to see the movie, make sure you've had your 8 hours of sleep and maybe a five hour energy. buts it a good movie

[@jimisi7424]

top 3 of last 15 years for me. its hypnotic

[@CharlieGeorge_]

Top 5 favourite film easy

[@RustinChole]

Is there a directors cut????? I wanna see it. Easily in my top five. Maybe my top three. The narrator is spectacular. Usually hate narrators.

[@JulieCummings]

Some of the scenes and takes that were deleted were funny. Sam Rockwell added some real gems but sadly they were cut = (

[@Dave_AI]

Have you actually seen these scenes, and if so, where? I'd love to see them myself.

[@JulieCummings]

I was there when they filmed them. Id love to see them too..

[@thetruth72667]

So COOL!!!!! Love 1st hand experience from people

[@Joeysmith2]

This film is simply amazing, completely under rated and under appreciated. The score by Nick Cave is also incredible.

[@lehighcountylwv5278]

The dialogue seemed old fashioned and southern or mid-western for the time. I found that to be enjoyable.

[@MaximTendu]

I agree with the general enthusiasm over this movie. Today i watched it for the second time after fourteen years and I still think it's a great work. Only one thing I would like to be different is reducing the rather redundant voice-over by some 70/80 percent. But that's just being petty of me.

[@seaque.]

I thought voice over was a nice addition because it showed the myth side. There is one scene where the vo says Jesse James used to blink a lot and we see him looking afar without blinking at all.

[@mogwai250]

the soundtrack is amazing.

[@FromTheAbsurd]

This is one of the greatest films of all time. If you do not like it, you should not be reviewing films, you should not be talking about movies.

[@thebagelsproductions]

This movie is on TV tonight and I am going to watch it for the 1st time

[@eteline_music]

I've thought for a long time that this is an underrated film, and far better than something that is praised to the skies by Kermode -among many others- like "There Will Be Blood".

[@KCRyder]

great movie - but too slow for the mainstream audience

[@scottwilliam3470]

Mainstream audiences especially today are fucking retarded.

[@dennis8309]

The ADD generation would text through the first 15 minutes of this movie, then turn it off and say it's slow. I feel it's a masterpiece, which is anything but slow. Every scene is important, and builds until the crescendo, and finishes with a nice conclusion.

[@Johnnysmithy24]

@@scottwilliam3470 I agree with that

[@silverforever15]

I love the movie very realistic

[@chrishiggins7166]

The film’s well directed, well acted, well written, well scored, stylish, intriguing & is A very well crafted biopic. (82%) (4/5 stars) (positive)

[@arbide3]

Best western since Unforgiven, maybe.

[@lw3646]

Open Range?

[@wonderbhoy1967]

I agree with Kermode. Stunning film.

[@bpfromowc]

Brilliant movie, if you have not seen it, watch it.

[@eliinnos]

Loved it. But how could he not mention the wonderful soundtrack by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis?!

[@Johnconno]

Did Terrence Malick ever get around to sueing?

[@Benji80England]

It's my favourite movie of all time. It's superb.

[@ruairi9615]

I love you Kermode and all but not liking The New World, Synecdoche New York is too much.

[@MrKeepitunderyourhat]

@IntoTheHeartOfMusic If there's one thing worse than people who think they're cool because they like it, it's people who think they're cool because they don't...

[@Johnnysmithy24]

I soooo agree with that

[@blaisetelfer8499]

Definitely disagree with Kermode here about The New World, but everything else was well-described

[@Davemaestro147]

Damn right. One of my favourites scores.

[@roloug95]

wait a minute what? chopper played by sir anthony hopkins. Dr kermode what on earth are you on about

[@cavemeat]

Best film of the last decade.

[@ElephantRage]

I quote your words from first to very last.

[@tylerdunnan5059]

Song for Jesse and song for Bob are excellent tracks.

[@Eradicus]

Kermode is spot on. Before he reviewed this I really didn't like him. This movie is spectacular

[@woofian]

Masterpiece!

[@sebastiansfeci1305]

better than No Country and TWBB

[@Owyourhurtingme]

Theyre all 3 spinning around the #1 spot, w maybe TWBB's orbit just a touch higher then the rest. Credit Mr Lewis.

[@Conns2239]

You can ponder the ranking of art for hours just to change your mind a year later. Or you could just buy all three on bluray and be in good ol two thousand seven heaven. Then once the honeymoon period has passed, you can loan them out to friends your desperately trying to civilize.

[@Owyourhurtingme]

I want to make friends w your comment, maybe hang out and grab a beer.

[@sebastiansfeci1305]

+Whitman hey I like all 3 I just wanted to give some love to this one because it (undeservedly, IMO) went under the radar while the other 2 got all the praise in the world

[@themanwholikesducks]

Best english speaking film for over 10 years!

[@danthemango]

I might be one of the few people who didn't enjoy this movie. It was beautifully shot, but the story goes in circles a few too many times, I'd easily cut another 45 minutes out of it.

[@PauLtus_B]

What would you cut out then?

[@ysabelcastro2816]

i wanna reach over from where I'm sitting and knock some sense into you :-) lol

[@SammyR1978]

I wanna reach over from where I'm sitting and give you a hug...

[@Johnnysmithy24]

The only thing I didn’t like that much was the scenes with Dick and the wife of Wood’s father. I thought her acting was kinda meh, and the scenes were just ok. However they are important for the overall story

[@lw3646]

Interesting movie.

[@BotNumber13]

I was beginning to respect this guy, but then when he said he loves Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind...

[@corean3polar]

And?

[@scottmcfadyen8921]

Top notch western

[@FriedEggsWithChips]

Who also likes punk and post-punk and Suggs.

[@ChrisR395]

@roloug95 He was making fun of the fact that his Australian accent sounded Welsh.

[@gun1987gunn]

the acting in it is fantastic and it's beautifuly shot, but my god it's a struggle to stay awake.

[@Johnnysmithy24]

That says more about you than it does about the movie tbh

[@rbdriftin]

Take a shot every time Mark breathes loudly

[@DelGriffithish]

@eliinnos Yeah, I know, I was waiting for him to mention the soundtrack too, it was one of the most important bits of the fim, absolutely brilliant. Also when he reviewed There Will Be Blood all he talks about is the fucking music when I thought he'd focus more on Daniel Day Lewis being great and Pta's direction? I am a big fan of Kermode though, although I rarely agree with him when it comes to movies I actually love

[@arbide3]

Great movie.

[@tonywords6713]

5:20 wtf? what are you talking about here.

[@TulseLuper]

He's paraphrasing a line from Andrew Dominik's first film Chopper. Great film, although very different from The Assassination of Jesse James.

[@eteline_music]

@eliinnos Yeah, anything that sounds like Ellis's band Dirty Three has to be gooood.

[@lordtufty]

Nice spoiler Mark! I now know that Jesse James ends up killing Robert Ford...

[@theunusualsuspectstv]

How did you enjoy The Good Shepard..?

[@andrewdelaney1448]

theunusualsuspectstv great

[@spinsandneedles]

Should it be compared to Goodfellas? They are both masterpieces about a bunch of dumb criminals, rife with group hero worship, over inflated thinking of themselves, and at least on the part of the leader, bitter suspicion and cruelty.

[@relinquis]

how is calling robert ford a coward ironic?

[@relinquis]

ah... i thought the point was that they were all cowards (robbing mostly unarmed folk), thus didn't see the irony with regard to singling Robert out. i'm not american so am not that familiar with the wild west mythology. a stand-off didn't even occur to me. thanks.

[@RazrHack]

It's ironic because in the end Jesse is the true coward and Bob the true hero, though the title implies it's the other way around. Jesse is the coward who goads Bob into killing him, orchestrates his own death in such a way that he ensures his own legacy while destroying Bob's. Bob, on the other hand, is the hero who ended the life of a homicidal maniac.

[@fuckem187]

RazrHack exactly.

[@ysabelcastro2816]

+RazrHack Well put

[@ed11689]

@@RazrHack Spot on, although I wouldn't necessarily call Bob a true hero. I think the title more deliberately provokes what it means to be a 'coward', and as the movie goes on we really come to empathise with Bob. But I still think he comes off as a pitiful/relatable character, which is slightly different from being portrayed to a genuine hero (which would make it truly ironic).

[@thebluescreenofdeath]

just because you know some big words doesn't mean you know what you're talking about.

[@Johnnysmithy24]

What’s that supposed to mean?

[@alphafoxtrotalpha]

I thought it was terrible.

[@dennis8309]

You speak so fast it makes me nauseous...

[@Phobero]

Not a bad movie - just tooooo looooooong

[@markprior2278]

Obviously I'm alone here in saying that this was one of the dullest films ive ever seen, i tried but failed to stay awake.

[@Johnnysmithy24]

That says a lot more about you than it does about the movie bro

[@thebuckmaster6497]

You need to have a hard look at yourself in the mirror, and then question your taste in films

[@williammclaughlin811]

This is bullocks talk. Just lip service without substance or soul