‘The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’ Download and Reviews

December 28, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Biography, Crime, Drama

“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” Movie Details

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford tagline: Beyond the myth lies America’s greatest betrayal.
The Assassination of Jesse James - DVD Cover

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford DVD Cover

Actors:
Brad Pitt Jesse James
Mary-Louise Parker Zee James
Brooklynn Proulx Mary James
Dustin Bollinger Tim James
Casey Affleck Robert Ford
Sam Rockwell Charley Ford
Jeremy Renner Wood Hite
Sam Shepard Frank James
Garret Dillahunt Ed Miller
Paul Schneider Dick Liddil
Joel McNichol Express Messenger
James Defelice Baggagemaster
J.C. Roberts Engineer
Darrell Orydzuk Ukranian Train Passenger
Jonathan Erich Drachenberg Young Train Passenger
Directors: Andrew Dominik
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10 out of 52,256 votes

“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” Movie Review

“The Assassination of Jesse James” Plot Summary

Robert Ford, who’s idolized Jesse James since childhood, tries hard to join the reforming gang of the Missouri outlaw, but gradually becomes resentful of the bandit leader.

An epic masterpiece. Thoughtful, philosophical and profoundly existential

With a title almost as long as the 160-movie it names, regular movie-goers might be forgiven for thinking that The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford is worth a miss. Too, even, that a title basically giving away the central hub of the film’s plot makes it hard for studio execs to sell the film as a sassy, gun-toting western with shlocky shoot-em-ups and angel eyes Brad Pitt darling it up in the lead role. This was all many were expecting after several re-edits, one being a but-numbing 3? hour cut, were made to a film that actually wrapped up filming in 2005. But what Chopper director Andrew Dominik has delivered, in only his second film, is an beautiful, epic, meditative poem of a western, that once again transforms the genre, once such a stable for conservative normality, by dissecting the myths that created it

Brad Pitt is uber-outlaw Jesse James, co-founder of the James-Younger gang, primarily specialising in train robberies. Casey Affleck is Robert Ford, a clumsy, awkward upstart, who is entranced by Jesse James to the point of obsession. He views him like a celebrity, studying his life, his robberies, his voice and even his mannerisms. He is so entranced that at one point whilst attempting to engage his idol in a conversation during one of James’ tin bath sessions, James very coldly utters to Ford ‘Do you want to be like me? Or do you wanna be me?’.Ford is constantly teased by his fellow thieves and gunmen, taunted for his love and idolisation of the gang ringleader. As the title suggests (or rather gives away), it leads to a tragic conclusion, a conclusion revealed so that the whole film may operate on a level far more complex than mere formulaic convention. Since we know the fate of the hero, it is not about where the journey ends, or indeed how it ends. But rather what the journey is, and how the characters deal with it. James seems to flirt with the idea of death, having been rendered a stalinesque paranoia-case after losing faith in all of his gang members. Towards the end of the film, he relies only on the help of the Ford brothers Charlie and Robert, not being able to trust any one else. He would be proved right, when Robert is the one to pull the trigger

The Assassination of Jesse James is a majestic western. It is beautifully shot in a way that doesn’t just please the eye, but utterly renders both the icy mood and bitterly cold temperature of the film it colours. The acting is first rate, with Brad Pitt playing the cold psychopath that is Jesse James with a subtle viciousness beneath his icy blue eyes. But Casey Affleck is the man who walks away with the film. Every scene he is in, he steals. His Robert Ford is brilliantly balanced between the enthusiastically enthralled and gawkish pathos. His obsession with James is understandable, given the legend of the outlaw that has spun a million myths in its wake, but it is reminiscent, at least to a modern audience, of a Mark Chapman the man who shot John Lennon. In fact one of the many themes running throughout Andrew Dominik’s film is that of the obsession with a myth. He is known as the ‘coward’ but is it to be a coward? Ford idolises James like many people do modern celebrities. When James reveals his spiteful and altogether psychotic edge to Ford, the myth is dispelled, and everything Ford had invested in him becomes crushed. All Ford could do to redeem himself, he felt, would be to kill James, and end the charade. But alas, all that did was strengthen the legend further

Perhaps in another world, it would be pleasant to know that The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford gets all the credit it deserves, but it appears to have split many people up the middle. Some people think it is pretentious, and write sniffy articles about the film’s languidness. Others think it is too long and obscure. I am at the point now when it really doesn’t matter when dealing with a film of this magnitude, because it was a profoundly affecting experience, one reminiscent of the beautiful epics Terrence Malick used to make. If you find a better film this year, I would very surprised.

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‘Star Trek: Insurrection’ Download and Reviews

December 15, 2009 by Paul Wall  
Filed under Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

“Star Trek: Insurrection” Movie Details

Star Trek: Insurrection tagline: The Battle For Paradise Has Begun
Star Trek 9: Insurrection - DVD Cover

Star Trek: Insurrection DVD Cover

Actors:
  • Stephanie Niznik
  • Patrick Stewart Captain Jean-Luc Picard
    Brent Spiner Lt. Commander Data
    LeVar Burton Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge
    Michael Dorn Lt. Commander Worf
    Gates McFadden Doctor Beverly Crusher
    Marina Sirtis Counselor Deanna Troi
    F. Murray Abraham Ad’har Ru’afo
    Donna Murphy Anij
    Anthony Zerbe Vice-Admiral Dougherty
    Gregg Henry Gallatin
    Daniel Hugh Kelly Sojef
    Michael Welch Artim
    Mark Deakins Tournel
    Perim
    Directors: Jonathan Frakes IMDB Rating: 6.4/10 out of 25,565 votes

    “Star Trek: Insurrection” Movie Review

    “Star Trek 9: Insurrection” Plot Summary

    When the crew of the Enterprise learn of a Federation plot against the inhabitants of a unique planet, Capt. Picard begins an open rebellion. add synopsis

    Excellent!!!

    This is one of the best Star Trek movies! It is exciting, funny and supported by Jerry Goldsmith’s fourth Star Trek score. In contrast to Star Trek-First Contact very many scenes of the film do not play on the Enterprise, but on the paradise-like planet of the Ba’ku. This film is not only exciting, it also criticizes society. In many countries, for example in Ireland, people of the same races fight each other. This movie illustrates that these fights are senseless and that all people belong to one race. Jerry Goldsmith’s score is also very extraordinary which makes the movie even more worth watching. Especially the Ba’ku theme is so good that you have after having seen this movie a good impression of it.

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    ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ Download and Reviews

    December 3, 2009 by Paul Wall  
    Filed under Adventure, Comedy, Crime

    “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Movie Details

    O Brother, Where Art Thou? tagline: Sometimes, you have to lose your way to get back home
    O Brother, Where Art Thou? - DVD Cover

    O Brother, Where Art Thou? DVD Cover

    Actors:
    George Clooney
    Holly Hunter
    John Turturro
    Stephen Root
    John Goodman
    Charles Durning
    Directors: Joel Coen
    IMDB Rating: 7.8/10 out of 89,609 votes

    “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Movie Review

    “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Plot Summary

    Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey”, set in the deep south during the 1930’s. In it, three escaped convicts search for hidden treasure while a relentless lawman pursues them.

    The Best Coen Brothers Film Yet

    Just seen this film at an NFT preview, and I was blown away by it. It is very funny, gorgeous to look at, has a stunning soundtrack and absolutely impeccable comedy performances. Sharing a similar meandering storyline with the Big Lebowski, it succeed where that film fails by still having a coherent storyline running through and a satisfying resolution. As I’ve come to expect from the Coens, the visuals are striking but they’ve never been this beautiful before, and at no time – unlike – in previous films, do they seem merely to be there as an exercise in cleverness. But what makes this film is the excellent comic performances from even the smaller roles (several of whom are Coen regulars) – Even though the characters, as in many coen films, are (slightly irregular) stereotypes the performances give even the shallow characters a depth and makes the scenes even more funny. Oh, and the soundtrack ain’t too bad either.

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    ‘Ladykillers’ Download and Reviews

    August 3, 2009 by Paul Wall  
    Filed under Comedy, Crime, Thriller

    “Ladykillers” Movie Details

    Ladykillers tagline: The greatest criminal minds of all time have finally met their match.
    Ladykillers - DVD Cover

    Ladykillers DVD Cover

    Actors:
    Tom Hanks Professor G.H. Dorr
    Irma P. Hall Marva Munson
    Marlon Wayans Gawain MacSam
    J.K. Simmons Garth Pancake
    Tzi Ma The General
    Ryan Hurst Lump Hudson
    Diane Delano Mountain Girl
    George Wallace Sheriff Wyner
    John McConnell Deputy Sheriff
    Jason Weaver Weemack Funthes
    Stephen Root Fernand Gudge
    Lyne Odums Rosalie Funthes
    Walter K. Jordan Elron
    George Anthony Bell Preacher
    Greg Grunberg TV Commercial Director
    Directors: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
    IMDB Rating: 6.2/10 out of 35,869 votes

    “Ladykillers” Movie Review

    “Ladykillers” Plot Summary

    An eccentric, if not charming Southern professor and his crew pose as a band in order to rob a casino, all under the nose of his unsuspecting landlord: a sharp old woman.

    An Amusing Tidbit from the Coen Bros.

    Not up there with ‘O Brother’ or ‘Fargo,’ but definitely better than ‘Intolerable Cruelty.’ Best thing about it is the dialogue — there are a lot of really funny lines (though some of it is hard to understand). The plot — a remake — is a basic black comedy crime caper story where a gang of oddballs gets together to steal a bunch of money from a casino and everything eventually goes wrong. Tom Hanks is solid — his character is quite a creation — and the old lady is funny too. Of course — this being a Coen Bros. creation — there are lots of minor characters who are really amusing. Marlon Wayans’ character is annoying, though — he’s just sort of a typical p***ed-off, smart-ass, black guy. The cinematography is lovely, of course. And by the way, there is an AMAZING gospel choir and great gospel music throughout.

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