The Assassination!

I haven't been following the Oscar nominations very closely this year, even though I've been looking forward very much to watching them this sunday; so I was surprised to discover that one of the best films from last year, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford", was almost entirely overlooked.


This was without a doubt one of, if not the best film from last year. The performances from everyone involved were absolutely stellar; Brad Pitt has matured into an impeccable actor, totally capable of expressing any emotion or desire on-screen. He WAS Jesse James; the viewer is completely convinced that they are watching footage from a secret camera that was somehow present during all of James' exploits, detailing his dementia and unexplained desires.
Sam Rockwell, also, has becomea serious actor. I didn't think it was possible. I had always loved his work in comic films, but that's just it - I only thought of him as a comedic actor. This movie has completely changed my perception of what he's capable of.
But the real star of this show is Casey Affleck. His character, Robert Ford, is depicted in history as a cowardly opportunist; whether or not this is a fair label for him is something the film never clearly states. The decision is left open-ended for the viewer to make.

Regardless of what the history books say about Ford, Affleck portrayed his character astronomically. His big brother Ben should be ashamed of himself - Casey is such an incomparably superior actor to Ben that it's almost funny. The younger Affleck portrayed Robert Ford for everything that he was; an enthusiastic, immature, ambitious, jealous, mystique-obsessed teenage boy, that hero-worshiped the very ground that Jesse James walked upon.
The film was put together in a pseudo-documentary/drama style; very uniquely done. It was all the more intense because it laid the entire story at your feet in the beginning of the movie, so the whole time you're anxiously expecting the culmination of actions you already know will happen. This added an element of deep, manic tension that stays with you after the film has ended. The scene in which Ford assassinates Jesse James swoops down on you, unexpectedly, and the moment before the deed is committed, you know it's about to happen. It gave me a feeling similar to the unpleasant thrill you feel when you know you're about to throw up, or the feeling when you skip a step on stairs in the dark.
The fact that this film wasn't nominated for anything but Best Supporting actor (Casey Affleck, who deserves it more than anyone) is upsetting. It's unfortunate that more people haven't seen this masterpiece.