There's a doin's a transpirin'

Roger Deakins is a little bit of a god. In 2007, he used his well-honed cinematography skills to craft the films 'No Country for Old Men', 'In The Valley of Elah', and 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford'. He recieved Oscar nods for the premier and the latter, and a BAFTA for 'No Country'. You'd expect he also shot 'There Will Be Blood' as it is, cinematographically a similar film. The sepia tone and sweeping prairie landscapes blended with dark and cold portraits.

I have just watched 'The Assassination of Jesse James...' and what an odd film it is. I feel this, on top of 'There Will Be Blood' and 'No Country' have brought us possibly the best year in cinema history since 1977. All three films are amazingly different, yet all so similar.

The Assassination is an awkard and slow film to watch. Despite the subject of the film being embedded in the title of the film itself, you constantly feel on edge, and that death is around every corner. The on screen displays of both heroism and cowardice are so phenomenally portrayed that you never feel safe around the characters. It is beautifully shot, due to Deakins amazing eye for landscapes and locations. There are moments of almost still photography, close-ups of the environment, that evoke such vastness and loneliness that are key to the film.

I was shocked to hear that Shia LeBouef was also considered for the role of Robert Ford, because this film stands on Casey Affleck's shoulders. He is a fantastic actor, and this year I've seen him give outstanding performances is both this, and Gone Baby Gone. His acting in The Assassination is nothing short of incredible, and one of the best displays of such astounding acting I've ever seen. His on screen portrayal of a young man who's idol falls from grace in his eyes is enough to bring tears to yours. There is also Paul Schneider, who I'd seen before in Lars and The Real Girl but never since or before. He plays Dick Liddle, another one of the James Gang, and every scene he is in is well acted, well rounded and gives you the feeling you're expecting.

Brad Pitt does deserve some credit too. His Jesse James is not the hero you'd expect, as you're often seeing him through Robert Ford's eyes, so his moves seem pathetic and not as impressive as hoped for. He seems more like an outlaw as seen in The Big Silence, with touches of The Searchers. His emotions are cast through every scene. When Jesse's angry, you feel scared yourself as to what he might do. Even in scenes between Jesse and Robert, when you know neither of them die, you feel like one of them is ready to snap up and shoot the other in the head.

I'll try and wrap it up. I really thought I wasn't going to like this movie, much like I did with No Country and There Will Be Blood, it's partner pieces in such incredible ways. A triple bill of those films would be like sex on a spoon. It is difficult to watch due to the tension, but it drags you through like Marty Mcfly from a horse, and the outcome is tremendous, complete with Casey Affleck drunkenly insulting Nick Cave, always a treat.

One thing I could say is that the film is too long. Although, I am not surprised to hear that this is the edited version, from a 4 hour cut that was originally intended for release. In one sense, I feel the end could be wrapped up sooner, but then in retrospect it wouldn't have enough of an impact. I can think back of moments that could be removed but then think how they aid and enhance later sequences in the film. And to cut any of the landscape shots would be like cutting comedy from Airplane.

This film is a phenomenal display of all things cinema. It's beautiful, well acted and emotional. Well done 2007, you did the film world proud.