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Apparently there are two different versions of Brad Pitt’s new movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Although Warner Bros has not said which version will be the final release in theaters, one version is from the writer and director Andrew Dominik and the other is from Brad Pitt himself, who not only starred in the movie but also produced it.
The reason for the two versions is that test audiences were lukewarm in their early reactions. Part of the problem was that the original piece was over three hours long, but audience reaction is the key. One review said that one problem with the film is that it’s not for everyone and it’s not an action-packed Western like Tombstone. However, even some critics have said that the performances by Brad Pitt as Jesse James and Casey Affleck as Robert Ford are among the best in their careers.
Warner Bros gave a statement last week saying the following about the version that will be released:
“[...] is true to the source material and in keeping with the creative vision of its filmmakers. We do not comment on the internal creative process of bringing a picture to the screen, but the goal of both the studio and the filmmakers is to deliver the best film possible…. We are all very pleased with the picture we are bringing to theaters this fall.”
I wonder if maybe the alternate version will be part of a special DVD release?
Gosh, Jesse James, even my comic books about the Jesse James are ten times better, the movie is way to romantic, the clothes they are wearing are way to clean, and how about a bunch of desperados waiting in the woods for a train robbery, they are clean shaven and way too dressed up. Movies like Gunsmoke, Bonanza are even better. Sorry, but even fast forwarding this moving for some action became boring.
Robert C. James
8 October 2007
I am a Great Grandson of Jesse Woodson James and have written the movie screenplay of THE SECOND LEGEND OF JESSE WOODSON JAMES (c) 1993. The REAL Jesse lived to be 107 years age. He was still alive when I was born in 1951.
The cover up by the James family was that Robert Ford killed Charlie Bigelow, and not Jesse James.
I believe Brad Pitt as Jesse James will not portray the character of the “hardened veteran” of the civil war and one of Quantrill’s guerrillas whom the REAL Jesse was. His close knit family life was full of strife and tension because he was a “Wanted Man, Dead or Alive!” After his freedom from his supposed death, he even sang at his own funeral.
He was a desperado and traveled as far as Argentina, South America. He had over seventy five aliases he used during the 72 following years of his life. No, I beleive that another actor than Brat Pitt would have depicted the character of Jesse W. James not to a rating of not R, but XXX.
Perhaps, not only there are two version right now, and IF I may suggest, there should be a third version, which would be my TRUE movie screenplay of THE SECOND LEGEND OF JESSE WOODSON JAMES (c) 1993, as a sequell wherein Brad Pitt would act as a 107 year old Jesse W James.
robertcjames7@aol.com