The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford - BORING
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Zombie_61
Master Member
Although I didn't find her annoying, I do think Renée Zellweger was miscast in Appaloosa. I really couldn't suggest another actress as a better choice (Cate Blanchett maybe?), but I really didn't find Zellweger's performance believable.
As for The Assassination of Jesse James, I'd have to agree with some of the opinions posted above--well written and acted, one of the most beautifully shot films I've ever seen (even the most unimportant scene in the film is beautifully lit and photographed), but the pacing is rather leaden and makes the film feel much longer than 2 hours and 40 minutes.
The Searchers....
There is nothing better
There is nothing better
Ahem..
The man who shot Liberty Valance.
The Sons of Katie Elder.
(ain't no such thing as a bad John Wayne western :lol)
Watched Seraphim Falls the other night, and while it was a great western movie, boy that ending was just odd. Loved Bronson's knife though.
Agreed with the miscast idea for Appaloosa too. I really don't like her in any movie, she always looks like she just sucked on a lemon. LOVED Jeremy Irons though. He always plays a magnificent *******. The only person who has played a better one is John Glover.
Chris
The man who shot Liberty Valance.
The Sons of Katie Elder.
(ain't no such thing as a bad John Wayne western :lol)
Watched Seraphim Falls the other night, and while it was a great western movie, boy that ending was just odd. Loved Bronson's knife though.
Agreed with the miscast idea for Appaloosa too. I really don't like her in any movie, she always looks like she just sucked on a lemon. LOVED Jeremy Irons though. He always plays a magnificent *******. The only person who has played a better one is John Glover.
Chris
Lutso
Sr Member
I saw a screening of True Grit. I don't think you will like it at all, Hydin.
True Grit was a very, very (one of the most specific I've seen) accurate representation of the period it is set in, and that is it's main priority. There are a fair amount of conflicts in the film but they are portrayed as more of a who-has-the-sharper-tongue kind of thing, as well as some desperate scuffling violence without really shooting at each other a lot - which is really what happened more often than not at that point in time. The movie has only one real climatic gun-involved conflict and I do not think you will be impressed by it as is rather short and realistic.
I can tell you that the trailer for the film is very misleading, which I thought was sort of a cheap shot for the producers.
Jesse James was sort of a similar approach, and although I liked it in the long run I will admit it was boring and the runaround directing style didn't help it progress much.
You seem to be yearning for the Spaghetti westerns of the 60's and 70's, and those don't really exist any more. Probably because they were just such a misrepresentation of what the West was really like, and directors aren't in favor of that general cheesiness any more (that's what I would like to think, at least, but I'm sure Hollywood has some ulterior motives).
Jesse James, True Grit, There Will Be Blood, etc. - these are always miscategorized as being "westerns" when in reality they are dramas etc. in a period setting. "Western" movies in the sense you were describing largely aren't around any more and are being phased out in favor of a more realistic approach to that time in history.
And a movie should never be labeled as a "western" merely because it takes place in the 1890's.
There are some movies like Open Range, Appaloosa, and Tombstone that make a pretty fair compromise by portraying elements like shootouts etc. in a more realistic way, but they are a minority. Those are usually my favorites, personally.
Anyway, as far as True Grit is concerned, I thought it was fantastic - a really beautifully scripted and directed film (a pleasant surprise at this point in history), and you will love it if you appreciate it for what it is, but will likely hate it if you are watching it only for the gun battles.
True Grit was a very, very (one of the most specific I've seen) accurate representation of the period it is set in, and that is it's main priority. There are a fair amount of conflicts in the film but they are portrayed as more of a who-has-the-sharper-tongue kind of thing, as well as some desperate scuffling violence without really shooting at each other a lot - which is really what happened more often than not at that point in time. The movie has only one real climatic gun-involved conflict and I do not think you will be impressed by it as is rather short and realistic.
I can tell you that the trailer for the film is very misleading, which I thought was sort of a cheap shot for the producers.
Jesse James was sort of a similar approach, and although I liked it in the long run I will admit it was boring and the runaround directing style didn't help it progress much.
You seem to be yearning for the Spaghetti westerns of the 60's and 70's, and those don't really exist any more. Probably because they were just such a misrepresentation of what the West was really like, and directors aren't in favor of that general cheesiness any more (that's what I would like to think, at least, but I'm sure Hollywood has some ulterior motives).
Jesse James, True Grit, There Will Be Blood, etc. - these are always miscategorized as being "westerns" when in reality they are dramas etc. in a period setting. "Western" movies in the sense you were describing largely aren't around any more and are being phased out in favor of a more realistic approach to that time in history.
And a movie should never be labeled as a "western" merely because it takes place in the 1890's.
There are some movies like Open Range, Appaloosa, and Tombstone that make a pretty fair compromise by portraying elements like shootouts etc. in a more realistic way, but they are a minority. Those are usually my favorites, personally.
Anyway, as far as True Grit is concerned, I thought it was fantastic - a really beautifully scripted and directed film (a pleasant surprise at this point in history), and you will love it if you appreciate it for what it is, but will likely hate it if you are watching it only for the gun battles.
Haven't ever seen Deadwood. I know that marks me as a yella bellied low down dog, but I just never got into it. The non stop cussing just doesn't sit well with me. Same reason I dislike the first Blade movie.
Hate to hear that about True Grit though, but I guess as long as I am forewarned, I should be ok. I am getting sick and tired of Hollywood deciding to market everything as an action movie just to end up having it be some artsy style film. No problem with drama, just advertise it AS drama and I am ok with it. No different than the guy who recut the shining trailer to make it a family comedy.
There wasn't MUCH gunplay in the John Wayne version, I think 2 guys get shot? but it was at least an entertaining watch. Please tell me they kept General Sterling Price in there...
Chris
Hate to hear that about True Grit though, but I guess as long as I am forewarned, I should be ok. I am getting sick and tired of Hollywood deciding to market everything as an action movie just to end up having it be some artsy style film. No problem with drama, just advertise it AS drama and I am ok with it. No different than the guy who recut the shining trailer to make it a family comedy.
There wasn't MUCH gunplay in the John Wayne version, I think 2 guys get shot? but it was at least an entertaining watch. Please tell me they kept General Sterling Price in there...
Chris
Lutso
Sr Member
Yeah, that's the real pisser for me too. Movie producers will always try to make the movie look like an action flick if possible, because action movies put butts in the seats and drama movies not so much. It's a real cheap shot. But that is the reality of it unfortunately. I think it should be illegal.
It's amazing how much a little bit of context can do. In the trailer for True Grit we see an awesome shot of Cogburn shooting his gun down a mine shaft - seems real action-packed, right? Well in the movie it's revealed that the gunshot is merely him shooting in drunken anger down an empty mineshaft to see how deep it is. Meh. :unsure
You're right, it's JUST like that re-done Shining trailer - but for real! It's maddening.
I hate feeling like I've been manipulated by a misleading trailer.
All my quips about the trailer put aside however, I do want to point out again that I liked the movie a lot. Great cinematography, great historical accuracy, beautiful music, powerful acting and above all fantastic dialogue. One of the better films made within the past few years for me.
Mr_Creepy
Sr Member
Hydin, if you haven't seen it already, check out The Long Riders (The Long Riders - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) A great combination of artsy and violence :lol
:lol
wuher da brewer
Sr Member
I truly loved the Spaghetti Western ode of Korean greatness - The Good, The Bad and The Weird. Give that one a try.
sparrowed
Well-Known Member
I just found this thread...I guess I've been under a rock.
I LOVE this movie. Alot of my friends hated it... But I really enjoyed it, and I still watch it on DVD and everytime it's on cable.
Casey Affleck was great. I enjoyed Pitt (hated the dark hair). Jeremy Renner and Sam Rockwell...excellent.
I liked this movie way better than 3:10 to Yuma.
I LOVE this movie. Alot of my friends hated it... But I really enjoyed it, and I still watch it on DVD and everytime it's on cable.
Casey Affleck was great. I enjoyed Pitt (hated the dark hair). Jeremy Renner and Sam Rockwell...excellent.
I liked this movie way better than 3:10 to Yuma.
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Bobtherocker
Well-Known Member
Sorry to go a little off topic but I've just seen True Grit and I have to say that i really couldnt understand a single word that Jeff was mumbling throughout the entire movie. I have never had a problem understanding my own language even with thickest accents. Trainspotting was a breeze compared to this.
Still, apart from that I enjoyed it.
Still, apart from that I enjoyed it.
NoTsOsErIoUs
Well-Known Member
I watched this for the first time just last night. I thought it was great. I can see peoples problem with it's pacing. It kind of brought to mind a Terrance Malick flick.
I thought the acting was great and really enjoyed the way the characters were written. The amibiguity of the main characters was the main strongpoint as far as I could see. Definitely felt like I was getting the truth or as close to it with this outlook on a legend of the wild west. At the end of it you felt bad for both of them, and from what I absorbed growing up I didn't think that would be possible where Bob Ford was concerned.
I thought the acting was great and really enjoyed the way the characters were written. The amibiguity of the main characters was the main strongpoint as far as I could see. Definitely felt like I was getting the truth or as close to it with this outlook on a legend of the wild west. At the end of it you felt bad for both of them, and from what I absorbed growing up I didn't think that would be possible where Bob Ford was concerned.
Never saw it, don't intend to. But I know Pitt took a big pay cut to do it. So he must have liked it. It was hyped quite a bit yet disappeared fast.
Maybe the title gave away too much. 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford' pretty much tells the whole thing.
Maybe the title gave away too much. 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford' pretty much tells the whole thing.
d_jedi1
Sr Member
Melissa and I tried watching "The Assassination of Jesse James..." when it was first released on DVD but it was absolutely painful. I think we might have finished it but I KNOW I fell asleep.
I usually like westerns but as mentioned.. this was more of a period piece than a western.
I liked "True Grit" and "3:10 to Yuma" but Melissa was bored by "True Grit".
Another film to consider is "The Proposition". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421238/
From what I understand, this film served as much of the basis for the game "Red Dead Redemption".
edit: I should probably mention that "The Proposition" takes place in Australia, not the American west...
I usually like westerns but as mentioned.. this was more of a period piece than a western.
I liked "True Grit" and "3:10 to Yuma" but Melissa was bored by "True Grit".
Another film to consider is "The Proposition". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421238/
From what I understand, this film served as much of the basis for the game "Red Dead Redemption".
edit: I should probably mention that "The Proposition" takes place in Australia, not the American west...
I'll have to go back and watch the Proposition again. I remember seeing it but if I recall correctly it seemed gritty and just dirty with no good guys and everything just seemed seedy... but maybe I am confusing that with something else. Will report back after watching it again.
BTW, I loved Red Dead Redemption! Not the best game play but I loved the style and story.
BTW, I loved Red Dead Redemption! Not the best game play but I loved the style and story.
mez7
Sr Member
my bro in law was staying in the same hotel as most of the cast of this movie and actually beceame friends with alot of them.....he even invited some of the cast over to my parents for thanksgiving....
it is a slower movie so you really have to be in that mindframe when watching it..
it is a slower movie so you really have to be in that mindframe when watching it..
