THE ASSASSINATION OF THE OUTLAW JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD

Brad Pitt (as Jesse James) and Casey Affleck (as Robert Ford) both give dynamic performances in this telling of the last days in the life of famed outlaw Jesse James. This is a quiet thoughtful film with breathtaking cinematography by Oscar winner Roger Deakins. The movie is the story of two complex characters in American history. Jesse James, a family man with two kids who famously robbed and murdered. He struggles with who he is and the things he's done to the point of instability. Robert Ford, a man with a thirst to be significant...to be important. Consantly seeking the approval and respect of others...so much so that his actions are driven by this obsessive desire. The movie is good...yet despite clocking in at over 2 1/2 hours I felt there should have been more. The movie's last fifteen minutes were by far the most interesting, yet they're glossed over in a rushed manner. A few side plots along the way could have been eliminated in exchange for more towards the film's end. 3 1/2 of 5 hs