The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – A Hauntingly Beautiful Western

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Starring Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, and Sam Rockwell
Rated R for strong violence and brief sexual references
Appropriate for ages 17+
Release Date: February 12, 2008
Available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and HD-DVD

2007 was a great year for westerns, and Jesse James was the cream of the crop.  Based on the brilliant book by Ron Hansen, the pic follows the infamous Jesse James and his gang and how he came to his demise.  Yes, the story is all there in the title, but the journey is very much worth taking. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck turn in amazing, award-worthy performances as the titular characters.   The screenplay , like the book, comes across like poetry.  The biggest standout is the breathtaking look of the film shot by legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins.  I must recommend a wait on purchasing this one at this time.  Due to the fact that this is a bare-bones disc with movie only, a rental will suffice.  While I wasn’t able to inspect the Blu-Ray or HD-DVD versions, my research shows that they are laid out the same way.  I’m sure a special edition will be on it’s way.