Classic story with Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck - a winner

This was a movie that had me glued to the TV. Did not move until it was over. Incredible!

This movie is visually stunning to begin with. From the first scenes of the movie you grasp what it was like back in those days, what the Jesse Gang had to go through and what made their lives difficult. The movie is about Jesse James and his assassination by Robert Ford, his partner. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck give breathtaking performences as Jesse James and Robert Ford. Brad Pitt plays his character with heart and complete devotion. Casey, as Robert Ford is perfect as Robert Ford is both shy and kind while also devious and idolizes his hero, Jesse James. Although the movie runs close to three hours, it is a great movie that should not be missed.

This film tells the tale of young Robert Ford, a boy who joins Jesse James's gang, of which his brother is a member, hoping to take some of the legendary outlaw's fame and popularity for himself. As portrayed by Pitt, James is a solemn, pensive man who's occasional outbursts of paranoia and brutality are all the more shocking because of his ordinarily calm temperament. In the end, this is a film about what it is to be famous or to seek fame. This is above all a character study. Some have previously complained that the film is too long and does not fi the typical conventions of the western. It is fair to note that it is unfair to expect ANY film to simply follow a formula, and to judge this film for not being exactly what one expects is not fair to the film. With that said, this film, though excellent, will not please everyone. It is slow-paced, with a lot of emphasis placed upont the visuals, which are stunning, and the assassination of the title is long in coming. However, this is a beautiful piece, and for those who are willing to go into it without any overwhelming expectations will surely be won over by the acting and cinematography.

I'm a film and video student in Grand Rapids and have taken various theory, study, and production classes so I can honestly say with confidence that this movie was amazing in every aspect (especially cinematography)! Anyone who thinks differently has no idea what a good movie is. It's not all about violence and explosions, if you want that go watch Transformers again.