The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)

[Jorvic]

Originally Posted by styrofoamboats

Love this movie and would definitely welcome a Criterion. It sort of has a spiritual precursor in Ang Lee's "Ride with the Devil" I feel.

Interesting comparison. Both are great films but seem to belong in the category of vastly underrated.

[Protozoid]

I worked at a video store for a very long time, doing the ordering for many years. I distinctly remember doing the ordering one day on the website of our distributor, VPD, and seeing a listing like "ASSASSINATION/JESSEJAMES(2007)(4DISC/EXT/DVD)" or something like that. This was probably late 2008.

Obviously, I ordered it. It might have even had placeholder cover art (the title in large block letters filling a black background).

Naturally, the listing was unceremoniously deleted along with the pre-order (we ordered months out).

I was hoping it would come back (I remember seeing ads for a home video release of the 1984 Dune but it didn't end up being released for another year or two).

Usually they don't list things unless they are pretty certain about releasing them. It was rare for a studio to accept pre-orders, delete them, and then not re-schedule it for later. It may have happened once or twice (I want to say that they did this with Ken Russell's The Devils, which I think is also Warner?).

Anyway, when I sit down to watch my Blu-Ray of this movie, I sometimes think about that listing, and what could have been. I'd love to know if anyone else remembers this, or if there is any way to confirm this from Warner.

[Vigojean]

This movie was supposed to come out in 2006. Instead it went toe to toe with the Coen brothers and the great Paul Thomas Anderson in 2007. Tough luck

[DEN7ER]

Originally Posted by Vigojean

This movie was supposed to come out in 2006. Instead it went toe to toe with the Coen brothers and the great Paul Thomas Anderson in 2007. Tough luck

Not only that but also criminally under-marketed by Warner Bros. ESPECIALLY during campaigning time for award season. Should have easily been up for Director, Actor (Pitt), Score and in my opinion Best Picture (bye Juno, Michael Clayton and/or Atonement - ALL of which i like)

Holding out hope that one day either the studio or Criterion comes to their senses and gives this gem justice.

[Vigojean]

Originally Posted by DEN7ER

Not only that but also criminally under-marketed by Warner Bros. ESPECIALLY during campaigning time for award season. Should have easily been up for Director, Actor (Pitt), Score and in my opinion Best Picture (bye Juno, Michael Clayton and/or Atonement - ALL of which i like)

Holding out hope that one day either the studio or Criterion comes to their senses and gives this gem justice.

Now I think it’s the best film of the year, even though the director is a one-hit wonder and is in no way equal to the Coens or Anderson

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by DEN7ER

Not only that but also criminally under-marketed by Warner Bros. ESPECIALLY during campaigning time for award season. Should have easily been up for Director, Actor (Pitt), Score and in my opinion Best Picture (bye Juno, Michael Clayton and/or Atonement - ALL of which i like)

Holding out hope that one day either the studio or Criterion comes to their senses and gives this gem justice.

They actually did a campaign for Casey Affleck for Supporting Actor, which is weird, because he's the protagonist and the lead.



But then the categories often don't reflect the actual role in the film. They're just chosen based on which one they think is more winnable.

Pitt is in a middle ground between a co-lead and a supporting role. I'm not sure what category they campaigned for him in, I can't find any ads to see that they ran a campaign for him at all.

https://www.awardsdaily.com/FYC/gall...rd_Robert_Ford

[captveg]

Affleck was successfully nominated for the Supporting Actor Oscar, alongside Deakins for Cinematography. Neither won, of course (losing to Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) and Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood)).

As for Dominik's career since, we'll see how his Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde starring Ana de Armas turns out when it arrives next year.

[James Luckard]

Originally Posted by captveg

Affleck was successfully nominated for the Supporting Actor Oscar, alongside Deakins for Cinematography. Neither won, of course (losing to Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men) and Robert Elswit (There Will Be Blood)).

As for Dominik's career since, we'll see how his Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde starring Ana de Armas turns out when it arrives next year.

Ah, I'd forgotten he was actually nominated. I just remember the film seeming to be released into the Witness Protection Program. Nobody I knew here in LA seemed aware of it, I had to drag people to it in the brief period when it was in theaters.

[Tom Sharky]

This is a movie that I am hoping will see the light of day on 4k UHD sometime soon, though that might be wishful thinking on my part. It should have had a better fate at the box office but I think has picked up a decent fanbase since that time.

[alexpeden2000]

Would be a great 4K for Criterion to pick up. Particularly as there’s a 4K master already done..

[Mister_Kidd]

This movie rules, but I don't know any casual movie fans that even know about it. I wish for a 4K (or even a better BD) release, but I have a bad feeling about it.

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by Mister_Kidd

This movie rules, but I don't know any casual movie fans that even know about it. I wish for a 4K (or even a better BD) release, but I have a bad feeling about it.

The Assassination of our Dreams by the Coward Mister_Kidd

[Winslow Leach]

One of the finest Westerns ever made. The book is awesome too.

[mcrowell415]

I just bought the bluray so expect 4k announcement any time now.

[DEN7ER]

Originally Posted by alexpeden2000

Would be a great 4K for Criterion to pick up. Particularly as there’s a 4K master already done..

This is all i want. every month i see the catalogue of releases that the otherwise-amazing company thinks would do better than an underappreciated Brad Pitt-led Masterpiece of film-making that HAS another, widely heralded extended cut.

It's maddening. truly. I couldn't think of more perfect film for Criterion to do amazing things with. maybe we need a petition.

here's hoping anyway. maybe when Dominik goes on the press tour for his Blonde movie more Jesse James questions and intrigue come up

[Tom Sharky]

Originally Posted by DEN7ER

This is all i want. every month i see the catalogue of releases that the otherwise-amazing company thinks would do better than an underappreciated Brad Pitt-led Masterpiece of film-making that HAS another, widely heralded extended cut.

It's maddening. truly. I couldn't think of more perfect film for Criterion to do amazing things with. maybe we need a petition.

here's hoping anyway. maybe when Dominik goes on the press tour for his Blonde movie more Jesse James questions and intrigue come up

It's a really good movie and I think it's built a small following, though not the size following that it deserves. I don't know if it failed at the box office possibly because of a bad media campaign or possibly because of a lack of action. People associate Westerns with action and this movie didn't have much action; what it had was an intriguing story and intriguing characters. Hopefully we get a 4k at some point. The fact that Brad Pitt plays a prominent role in the movie certainly helps it's case for a 4k UHD.

[Lope de Aguirre]

Originally Posted by DEN7ER

This is all i want. every month i see the catalogue of releases that the otherwise-amazing company thinks would do better than an underappreciated Brad Pitt-led Masterpiece of film-making that HAS another, widely heralded extended cut.

It's maddening. truly. I couldn't think of more perfect film for Criterion to do amazing things with. maybe we need a petition.

here's hoping anyway. maybe when Dominik goes on the press tour for his Blonde movie more Jesse James questions and intrigue come up

This and Blu-ray or UHD editions of "Gummo" and "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors"

[TravisTylerBlack]

Unfortunate news. Criterion apparently turned director Andrew Dominik down when he approached them about releasing his preferred original cut of of the film.

https://www.indiewire.com/2022/04/as...KICzZPkXPJZiLs

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by TravisTylerBlack

Unfortunate news. Criterion apparently turned director Andrew Dominik down when he approached them about releasing his preferred original cut of of the film.

https://www.indiewire.com/2022/04/as...KICzZPkXPJZiLs

Basically the crappy blu ray we have is the best it is going to get.

Criterion sucks now anyway.

[MifuneFan]

Isn't that old news?