Stars:
*** 1/2
Rating: R for strong and
graphic violence
Run
Time: 2
hours, 40 minutes
Long
stretches in the dark with Brad Pitt are typically a good thing and Andrew
Dominik’s moody reflection on the private life of
Pitt is
flat-out magnificent as the psychotic Jesse James, a Southern loyalist cum
guerilla in a Civil War without end. Pitt inherits the sheer lunacy of James;
eyes lit with the fire of ethical vacancy and speech breathy with the cadence
of madness.
The James
Gang is on a roll, pulling off a staggering number of lucrative stage, bank and
train robberies. There’s not a man alive who doesn’t want Jesse’s head as the essential
trophy and young Bob Ford (Casey Affleck) is head of the line. As baby brother
to James Gang member Charlie Ford (Sam Rockwell) the whiney sycophantic Bob has
a provisional “in”. He wheedles his way into Jesse’s inner circle and studies
the legendary madman like a blueprint.
The
narrative is measured and thoughtful with a ruminative voice-over filling in
the details of James’ background (suffers from granulated eyelids, lung disease)
and state of mind (merry, moody, fey and unpredictable). As the gang gradually
splinters loyalties are called into play and betrayals runs rampant.
Dominik’s
approach veers left of the run-of-the-mill shoot-em-ups and turns to a
refreshingly artful treatment of character study and personal relations based
on fear and greed. The screen crackles with energy when Pitt is on-frame, his
cup of iniquity filled to the brim and spilling over with vicious intent.
Paranoia springs eternal, from the weight of criminal celebrity and the eternal
knowledge of being wanted with a capital W.
Affleck is
a refreshing surprise, a creepy, obsequious star-gazer with a hidden agenda.
Rockwell is superb as is the entire supporting cast of cowboys and villains –
Paul Schneider, Jeremy Renner, Garret Dillahunt, etc.
Ace
cinematographer Roger Deakins films his 19th century American plains
expansive and haunting;
Capricious,
meditative and absorbing.