Director: Andrew Dominik
Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp2ppYB9fDo
Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and the James Gang, which includes Jesse's older brother Frank (Sam Shepard), Wood Hite (Jeremy Renner), Ed Miller (Garret Dillahunt), Dick Liddil (Paul Schneider), and Charley Ford (Sam Rockwell), prepare for their final train robbery.
Charley's younger brother, Robert (Casey Affleck) begs to join the gang for this final robbery. Robert Ford had collected dime store novels about Jesse James and his gang and hero-worshipped him. Robert's idolization causes reluctance in the rest of the gang in allowing him to join, but Jesse allowes it.
After the robbery, the group splits up to avoid authorities and to later regroup. During this time Robert gets to know Jesse, desiring acceptance from him and realizes that the man is not the paperback hero he once thought.
Casey Affleck is brilliant as Robert Ford (which is why he was nominated for an Academy Award for this role), and great acting from the rest of the cast. The cinematography is also simply breathtaking, with the costumes and art direction true to that time period.
With a title that already gives away the film's ending, the story is not so much "what happens in the end?", but "why did he shoot him?" and the irony of the title explained.
If you are looking for a fast-paced actioner, this is not it. At over two and half hours, this film is a study in character and the disintegration of the James Gang, the death of Jesse James, and the aftermath for Robert Ford, but you will still be on the edge of your seats.
