History Film / TheAssassinationOfJesseJamesByTheCowardRobertFord

* AdaptationDistillation: The film crams a lot of the book into its considerable runtime but does omit some sizable chunks from the narrative. A lot of Jesse's various activities away from the Fords are excised. Dick Liddil's exploits while feuding with Wood Hite are greatly reduced. The book also goes into detail about the various trials and business endeavors of the various characters after Jesse's death.

* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: The film considerably plays up the bad press and regret of the Fords after Jesse's death. Whereas in the film, Charlie's regret is implied to be a major source of his suicide, but the book makes it clear that he was already terminally ill and addicted to painkillers by that point. In the book, while Robert does come to regret killing Jesse, he isn't haunted by it. He had become a successful businessman whose death was as the result of an ongoing feud rather than retribution for Jesse's murder.

* NonindicativeName: Dick Liddil is actually quite a lady's man, though truth be told we never learn how well he satisfies his conquests.

Despite being a massive critical hit, the film [[BoxOfficeBomb bombed at the box office]], grossing almost exactly half its budget. It is long (2 hr 40 min[[note]]though even that runtime was the result of [[ExecutiveMeddling studio interference]] with Dominik's original vision for the film to exceed 3 hours[[/note]]), scenes are intentionally drawn out, and it goes out of its way to debunk established popular HollywoodHistory, all of which ran against it. However, the film's music, cinematography, and especially the performances by the two leads are held in high regard (the cinematography and Affleck's supporting performance received UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nominations for), and it made several critical lists of the top 10 films of the year (sometimes even topping them).

''The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' is a 2007 American {{Western}} film, and the second film directed by Creator/AndrewDominik, following ''Film/{{Chopper}}''. It is [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on]] the 1983 novel of the same name by Ron Hansen. The film, mostly set 1881–82, depicts the final days of the notorious outlaw UsefulNotes/JesseJames (Creator/BradPitt) as he descends into aimless ennui and murderous paranoia, as well as the rise and fall of Robert Ford (Creator/CaseyAffleck), a sycophantic fanboy of James's desperate to make a name for himself.

Despite being a massive critical hit, the movie bombed at the box office. The film is long, scenes are intentionally drawn out, and it goes out of its way to debunk established popular HollywoodHistory, all of which ran against it. However, the music, cinematography, and especially the performances by the two leads (Affleck even got an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for Best Supporting Actor) are held in high regard, and it made the Top Ten Movies of the Year of several critical lists (sometimes even topping them). The supporting cast includes Creator/SamShepard, Creator/JeremyRenner, Creator/SamRockwell, Creator/PaulSchneider, Creator/MaryLouiseParker, Creator/ZooeyDeschanel, Creator/GarretDillahunt, and Creator/TedLevine. Punk rocker Music/NickCave provides the soundtrack and appears in a minor role.

* LongTitle

* HoYay: Despite there being no record of James and Ford to have ever been more than partners in crime, nor anything but heterosexual, [[AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul the film as well as the book takes many liberties in how their relationship is explored.]] Robert's obsession and the admiration he shows Jesse throughout the first hour has a notable level of homoeroticism to it, ranging from him gushing about Jesse's looks via newspaper clippings he collects [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything while smoking cigars with him]] to gazing longingly at Jesse while he bathes. Some of their interactions later on, despite being tainted with hostility after Robert's infatuation starts turning into resentment, still manage to offer queer readings with varying levels of sexual tension. Examples of dialogue include Jesse looking at Robert and telling him he's going to "break a lot of hearts", and the entirety of the fireplace scene (what would have happened if Charley hadn't walked in after Jesse asked Robert if he knows what it's like when you "know your girlfriend wants to be kissed even though she never said so" is anyone's guess).

* HoYay: Despite there being no record of James and Ford to have ever been more than partners in crime, nor anything but heterosexual, [[AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul the film as well as the book takes many liberties in how their relationship is explored.]] Robert's obsession and the admiration he shows Jesse throughout the first hour has a notable level of homoeroticism to it, ranging from him gushing about Jesse's looks via newspaper clippings he collects [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything while smoking cigars with him]] to gazing longingly at Jesse while he bathes. Some of their interactions later on, despite being tainted with hostility after Robert's infatuation starts turning into resentment, still manage to offer queer readings with varying levels of sexual tension. Examples of dialogue include Jesse looking at Robert and telling him he's going to "break a lot of hearts", and the entirety of the fireplace scene (what would have happened if Charley hadn't walked in after Jesse asked Robert if he knows what it's like when you "know [your girlfriend] wants to be kissed even though she never said so" is anyone's guess).

* HoYay: Despite there being no record of James and Ford to have ever been more than partners in crime, nor anything but heterosexual, [[AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul the film as well as the book takes many liberties in how their relationship is explored.]] Robert's obsession and the admiration he shows Jesse throughout the first hour has a notable level of homoeroticism to it, ranging from him gushing about Jesse's looks via newspaper clippings he collects [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything while smoking cigars with him]] to gazing longingly at Jesse while he bathes. Some of their interactions later on, despite being tainted with hostility after Robert's infatuation starts turning into resentment, still manage to offer queer readings. Examples of dialogue include Jesse looking at Robert and telling him he's going to "break a lot of hearts", and the entirety of the fireplace scene (what would have happened if Charley hadn't walked in after Jesse asked Robert if he knows what it's like when you "know [your girlfriend] wants to be kissed even though she never said so" is anyone's guess).

* HoYay: Despite there being no record of James and Ford to have ever been more than partners in crime, nor anything but heterosexual, [[AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul the film as well as the book takes many liberties in how their relationship is explored.]] Robert's obsession and the admiration he shows Jesse throughout the first hour has a notable level of homoeroticism to it, ranging from him gushing about Jesse's looks via newspaper clippings he collects [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything while smoking cigars with him]] to gazing longingly at Jesse while he bathes. Some of their interactions later on, despite being tainted with hostility after Robert's infatuation starts turning into resentment, still manage to offer queer readings. Examples of dialogue include Jesse looking at Robert and telling him he's going to "break a lot of hearts", and the entirety of the fireplace scene (what would have happened if Charley hadn't walked in after Jesse asked Robert if he knows what it's like when you "know your girlfriend wants to be kissed even though she never said so" is anyone's guess).

* IJustWantToBeYou!: Aspects of Robert's obsession can be summed up in one line from Jesse, "I can't figure it out; do you wanna be like me, or do you wanna be me?"

''The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' is a 2007 American {{Western}} film, and the second film directed by Creator/AndrewDominik, the first being ''Film/{{Chopper}}''. It is [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on]] the 1983 novel of the same name by Ron Hansen. The film, mostly set 1881–82, depicts the final days of the notorious outlaw UsefulNotes/JesseJames (Creator/BradPitt) as he descends into aimless ennui and murderous paranoia, as well as the rise and fall of Robert Ford (Creator/CaseyAffleck), a sycophantic fanboy of James's desperate to make a name for himself.

''The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' is a 2007 American {{Western}} film, and the second film directed by Andrew Dominik, best known for ''Film/{{Chopper}}''. It is [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on]] the 1983 novel of the same name by Ron Hansen. The film, mostly set 1881–82, depicts the final days of the notorious outlaw UsefulNotes/JesseJames (Creator/BradPitt) as he descends into aimless ennui and murderous paranoia, as well as the rise and fall of Robert Ford (Creator/CaseyAffleck), a sycophantic fanboy of James's desperate to make a name for himself.

* NiceHat: A must in a Western, though there are surprisingly few stetsons. Jesse favors a bowler, while Frank wears a fedora. Bob's ragged top hat is less nice.

''The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' is a 2007 American {{Western}} film, and the second film directed by Andrew Dominik, best known for ''Film/{{Chopper}}''. It is [[TheFilmOfTheBook based on]] the 1983 novel of the same name by Ron Hansen. Punk rocker Music/NickCave provides the soundtrack and appears in a minor role. The film, mostly set 1881–82, depicts the final days of the notorious outlaw UsefulNotes/JesseJames (Creator/BradPitt) as he descends into aimless ennui and murderous paranoia, as well as the rise and fall of Robert Ford (Creator/CaseyAffleck), a sycophantic fanboy of James's desperate to make a name for himself.

Despite being a massive critical hit, the movie bombed at the box office. The film is long, scenes are intentionally drawn out, and it goes out of its way to debunk established popular HollywoodHistory, all of which ran against it. However, the music, cinematography, and especially the performances by the two leads (Affleck even got an UsefulNotes/AcademyAward nomination for Best Supporting Actor) are held in high regard, and it made the Top Ten Movies of the Year of several critical lists (sometimes even topping them).

* DemotedToExtra: Zooey Deschanel's character gives the impression that there was a lot more scenes with her that didn't make the final cut. The section of the film with her in it was originally supposed to be an hour longer.

[[quoteright:270:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/The_Assassination_of_Jesse_James_by_the_Coward_Robert_Ford_5801.jpg]]

''The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' is a 2007 American western film, and the second film directed by Andrew Dominik, best known for ''Film/{{Chopper}}''. It is based on the 1983 book by Ron Hansen of the same name. Punk rocker Music/NickCave provides the soundtrack and appears in a minor role. The film, mostly set 1881-1882, tells the story of the final days of UsefulNotes/JesseJames (Creator/BradPitt) as he descends into aimless ennui and murderous paranoia, as well as the rise and fall of Robert Ford (Creator/CaseyAffleck), a sycophantic fanboy of James's desperate to make a name for himself.

The film is a {{Deconstruction}} of the James myth, as a man normally portrayed in Hollywood as a romantic ''Myth/RobinHood''-esque AntiHero is here [[ShownTheirWork (much more accurately)]] shown as a cold, dangerous, paranoid, AxCrazy lunatic. Meanwhile, the normally vilified Robert Ford starts off with an unsettling hero-worship towards James, but gradually becomes disillusioned with -- and eventually terrified of -- the infamous outlaw.

Despite being a massive critical hit, the movie bombed at the box office. The film is long, scenes are intentionally drawn out, and it goes out of its way to debunk established popular HollywoodHistory, all of which ran against it. However, the music, cinematography, and especially the performances by the two leads (Affleck even got an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting) are held in high regard, and it made the Top Ten Movies of the Year of several critical lists (sometimes even topping them).

* DownerEnding: Robert kills Jesse, and suffers the scorn and hatred of the masses for the rest of his life, before being murdered himself. To add insult to injury, the killer was pardoned.

* BadassBeard: Wood returns midway through the film looking like a member of ZZ Top.

* FamousLastWords: "Don't that picture look dusty."

* DownerEnding: Robert kills Jesse, and suffers the scorn and hatred of the masses for the rest of his life, before being murdered himself. To add insult to injury, the killer was pardoned a year later.

''The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'' is a 2007 American western film, and the second film directed by Andrew Dominik, best known for ''Film/{{Chopper}}''. It is based on the 1983 book by Ron Hansen of the same name. Punk rocker Music/NickCave provides the soundtrack and appears in a minor role. The film tells the story of the final days of UsefulNotes/JesseJames (Creator/BradPitt) as he descends into aimless ennui and murderous paranoia, as well as the rise and fall of Robert Ford (Creator/CaseyAffleck), a sycophantic fanboy of James's desperate to make a name for himself.

* TwilightOfTheOldWest: The film takes place in a world very much unlike the world in Robert Ford's dime novels. The James Gang has more or less fizzled out by the time the film begins; in RealLife the James Gang never recovered from the disastrous Northfield, Minnesota raid of 1876, after which everyone except for Frank and Jesse were dead or in prison. The film shows Jesse, now without any of his experienced comrades, trying to cobble together a new gang with local lowlifes, and mostly failing. It's the EndOfAnAge.