After graduating from Swinburne Film School, Andrew Dominik made a name for himself with his first feature film Chopper – based on the life story of the notorious Australian criminal Chopper Read. His latest undertaking, as suggested by the rather cumbersome title, is about America’s most famous outlaw Jesse James. Not only does Dominik challenge the mythology of the larger-than-life figure that was sensationalised in newspapers and dime novels, but as writer/director he breaks many of the rules of the western genre in this slow-paced drama about two men.
In 1881 Jesse James (Brad Pitt) was 34 years old and planning his last robbery. Jesse James came to prominence at a time when print media image was just beginning. Not only did the newspapers often enhance the crimes carried out by the James brothers and their companions, but dime novels sometimes completely fabricated the adventures. It was on such reading material that nineteen year old Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) grew up. When his brother Charley (Sam Rockwell) brought him along for the night-time train robbery, the young man confessed his adoration to an amused Jesse James.
At a time when women were all but invisible, one can only speculate about the companionship of the men who spent so much time together, riding from place to place. After the robbery Jesse and Robert were to spend an increasing amount of time together, even though Jesse was married with two children. Although it is only conjecture, Dominik explores what might have transpired between the two men for Robert’s adoration to turn into anger. The film is a mellow reflection that concerns itself with the changing of the seasons as much as it does with the possibilities surrounding the murder of Jesse James.
Directed by Andrew Dominik (MA)
