The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Difference between revisions

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''The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' is a 2007 American western film, and the second film directed by Andrew Dominick, best known for ''[[Chopper]]''. It is based on the 1983 book by Ron Hansen of the same name. Punk rocker Nick Cave provides the soundtrack and appears in a minor role. The film tells the story of the final days of Jesse James ([[Brad Pitt]]) as he descends into aimless ennui and murderous paranoia, as well as the rise and fall of Robert Ford (Casey Affleck), a sycophantic fanboy of James' desperate to make a name for himself.
''The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' is a 2007 American western film, and the second film directed by Andrew Dominick, best known for ''[[Chopper]]''. It is based on the 1983 book by Ron Hansen of the same name. Punk rocker Nick Cave provides the soundtrack and appears in a minor role. The film tells the story of the final days of Jesse James ([[Brad Pitt]]) as he descends into aimless ennui and murderous paranoia, as well as the rise and fall of Robert Ford (Casey Affleck), a sycophantic fanboy of James' desperate to make a name for himself.


The film is a [[Deconstruction]] of the James myth, as a man normally portrayed in Hollywood as a romantic ''[[Robin Hood]]''-esque [[Anti Hero]] is here [[Shown Their Work|(much more accurately)]] shown as a cold, dangerous, paranoid, [[Ax Crazy]] lunatic. Meanwhile, the normally villified Robert Ford starts off with an unsettling hero-worship towards James, but gradually becomes disillusioned with - and eventually terrified of - the infamous outlaw.
The film is a [[Deconstruction]] of the James myth, as a man normally portrayed in Hollywood as a romantic ''[[Robin Hood]]''-esque [[Anti-Hero]] is here [[Shown Their Work|(much more accurately)]] shown as a cold, dangerous, paranoid, [[Ax Crazy]] lunatic. Meanwhile, the normally villified Robert Ford starts off with an unsettling hero-worship towards James, but gradually becomes disillusioned with - and eventually terrified of - the infamous outlaw.


Despite being a massive critical hit, the movie bombed at the box office. The film is long, scenes are intentionally drawn out, and it goes out of its way to debunk established popular [[Hollywood History]], all of which ran against it. However, the music, cinematography, and especially the perfomances by the two leads (Affleck even got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting) are held in high regard, and it made the Top Ten Movies of the Year of several critical lists (sometimes even topping them).
Despite being a massive critical hit, the movie bombed at the box office. The film is long, scenes are intentionally drawn out, and it goes out of its way to debunk established popular [[Hollywood History]], all of which ran against it. However, the music, cinematography, and especially the perfomances by the two leads (Affleck even got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting) are held in high regard, and it made the Top Ten Movies of the Year of several critical lists (sometimes even topping them).
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=== Tropes present in this work ===
=== Tropes present in this work ===
* [[Ascended Fanboy]]: Bob.
* [[Ascended Fanboy]]: Bob.
* [[Anti Hero]]: Robert Ford kills the famous outlaw, but he's hardly heroic in doing so.
* [[Anti-Hero]]: Robert Ford kills the famous outlaw, but he's hardly heroic in doing so.
* [[Anti Villain]]: Jesse is a robber, thug and murderer, but he's also something of a tortured soul. He's also confused for a hero by the public.
* [[Anti-Villain]]: Jesse is a robber, thug and murderer, but he's also something of a tortured soul. He's also confused for a hero by the public.
* [[The Atoner]]: Jesse desperately wants to be this, but grimly acknowledges that it is impossible.
* [[The Atoner]]: Jesse desperately wants to be this, but grimly acknowledges that it is impossible.
* [[Badass Beard]]: Wood returns midway through the film looking like a member of ZZ Top.
* [[Badass Beard]]: Wood returns midway through the film looking like a member of ZZ Top.
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* [[Did Not Do the Research]]: An in-universe example. Jesse and his gang dismiss the stories Bob grew up with as lies that portray him as a virtuous hero
* [[Did Not Do the Research]]: An in-universe example. Jesse and his gang dismiss the stories Bob grew up with as lies that portray him as a virtuous hero
* [[Driven to Suicide]]: Charley. Jesse as well, depending on your interpretation.
* [[Driven to Suicide]]: Charley. Jesse as well, depending on your interpretation.
* [[Non Indicative Name]]: Dick Liddil is actually quite a lady's man, though truth be told we never learn how well he satsifies his conquests.
* [[Non-Indicative Name]]: Dick Liddil is actually quite a lady's man, though truth be told we never learn how well he satsifies his conquests.
* [[Even Evil Has Standards]]: Dick is appalled at Jesse violently assaulting a child
* [[Even Evil Has Standards]]: Dick is appalled at Jesse violently assaulting a child
* [[Evil Laugh]]: Jesse James lets out a truly impressive cackle after threatening Charley Ford with a knife and then taunting him about it.
* [[Evil Laugh]]: Jesse James lets out a truly impressive cackle after threatening Charley Ford with a knife and then taunting him about it.
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* [[Long Title]]
* [[Long Title]]
* [[Misaimed Fandom]]: [[In Universe]]. Jesse James receives this in his life, and it's amplified further after his death. In spite of being a thief and cold-blooded murderer, he's revered as a hero of the people.
* [[Misaimed Fandom]]: [[In Universe]]. Jesse James receives this in his life, and it's amplified further after his death. In spite of being a thief and cold-blooded murderer, he's revered as a hero of the people.
* [[My God What Have I Done]]: After brutally beating a twelve-year-old for information, Jesse breaks down and cries.
* [[My God, What Have I Done?]]: After brutally beating a twelve-year-old for information, Jesse breaks down and cries.
* [[The Narrator]]: Providing historical context, internal emotions, and sympathy for [[Jerkass Woobie|both Jesse and Robert]] since 1882.
* [[The Narrator]]: Providing historical context, internal emotions, and sympathy for [[Jerkass Woobie|both Jesse and Robert]] since 1882.
* [[Sad Clown]]: Charley
* [[Sad Clown]]: Charley
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* [[The Cast Showoff]]: She may have had her most of her role cut but Zooey Deschanel gets a song to compensate.
* [[The Cast Showoff]]: She may have had her most of her role cut but Zooey Deschanel gets a song to compensate.
* [[Train Job]]: The film begins with a train job in which Jesse beats a man viciously for not cooperating.
* [[Train Job]]: The film begins with a train job in which Jesse beats a man viciously for not cooperating.
* [[The Villain Sucks Song]]: Subverted by the in-universe example of "The Ballad of Jesse James," a real life song performed by Nick Cave in the film.
* [["The Villain Sucks" Song]]: Subverted by the in-universe example of "The Ballad of Jesse James," a real life song performed by Nick Cave in the film.
* [[Villain With Good Publicity]]: Jesse's clearly a psycho, but romanticized dime novels turn him into a Robin Hood figure, and his death cements his legacy.
* [[Villain With Good Publicity]]: Jesse's clearly a psycho, but romanticized dime novels turn him into a Robin Hood figure, and his death cements his legacy.
* [[The Wild West]]: A bit of a subversion. The film takes place in a world very much unlike the world in Robert Ford's dime novels. The James Gang has more or less fizzled out by the time the film begins.
* [[The Wild West]]: A bit of a subversion. The film takes place in a world very much unlike the world in Robert Ford's dime novels. The James Gang has more or less fizzled out by the time the film begins.
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