"He was growing into middle age,and was living then in a bungalow on Woodland Avenue.He installed himself in a rocking chair and smoked a cigar down in the evenings as his wife wiped her pink hands on an apron and reported happily on their two children.His children knew his legs,the sting of his mustache against their cheeks.They didn't know how their father made his living,or why they so often moved.They didn't even know their father's name.He was listed in the city directory as Thomas Howard."
@KittenOnWheels -- Brad Pitt was awesome! I am a history buff and minor history major. I am very particular about historic movies and I usually drill the crap out of them. One thing I hate is when a mainstream name plays a historic figure because they usually are to known to truly portray or be convincing. Completely wrong with Brad Pitt, he was an AMAZING Jesse James!
@KittenOnWheels -- I also thought Casey Affleck was awesome too! His performance was so on spot as to what I’ve imagined and so eerie and convincing, that he won me over in this film. I usually haven’t much liked much work he’s done but after this he’s one of my new favored actors. IMO, he nearly outshined Brad Pitt which says a ton!
A film classic. Terrence Malick thanks the director of this move in one of his movies. The influence shows. Only this film has a great plot and narrative. Amazing talents.
He doesn't blink, despite the narrator telling the audience he blinks more than normal. This kind of deception is apparent throughout the entire film, I think, and, really, the first two minutes perfectly set up the remaining 158, down to the use of past tense in the final sentence: "He was 34 years old." Reads like a eulogy. Beautiful scene, beautiful film. So attentive to detail and thought-provoking as any.
@23MIKE95 Yep. Really is. When I first saw it two years ago, I asked myself, "Did I LIKE that?" It was that kind of movie. Then I watched it a second time and loved it. Either you'll love it or be bored to tears, I think.
@tlibber It was the same for me too. I thought it well produced (as american movies always are), but was not impressed. Too slow. But I continued to think about it, so I gave it another shot. And come to like it very much. It's like a shakespearean play. The paranoid king starts to kill off his friends, until his most devoted, but ridiculed, follower (the king's Fool perhaps) ends his life. A great drama that can be told again and again in many guises.
@Zjevakin your Shakespearean analogy is brilliant. I also thought it way to slow first time I saw it, but like you, I just loved it on a second viewing. I find the same thing happened to me with Kubrick films. Almost always. First viewing: Meh or huh? Second viewing: hey, this is GOOD. Third and beyond: this is GREAT. Funny, isn't it? :)
@tlibber Totally agree with you guys. First time I watched it thought it was ok but way too slow. For weeks I couldnt stop thinking about it. Once I watched it again I fell in love with it. I think a lot of people assume its going to be a 3:10 To Yuma type film and so get disappointed,
@tlibber This has to be one of the most unusual movies i've seen in a long time. The way the director portrays the character is very mysterious. I enjoyed every bit of this movie, and wished i could travel back in time to witness the old America.
A good movie is the one you keep thinking about once you're done watching.
I'll never get tired of that narration, even if it is from an antiquated book with a slight flourish of exaggeration.
It does a great job framing this film and setting its tone as a portrait of the more human aspects of James which are at odds with the fictional and mythical.
great narration
peterzhang1989 1 day ago
"He was growing into middle age,and was living then in a bungalow on Woodland Avenue.He installed himself in a rocking chair and smoked a cigar down in the evenings as his wife wiped her pink hands on an apron and reported happily on their two children.His children knew his legs,the sting of his mustache against their cheeks.They didn't know how their father made his living,or why they so often moved.They didn't even know their father's name.He was listed in the city directory as Thomas Howard."
MegaRipVanWinkle 2 days ago
Comment removed
MegaRipVanWinkle 2 days ago
first time it made me feel so anxious, next time i thought it was beautiful. since then it just gets better
elstroshitnonstop 1 month ago
Probably my favourite film from the last 5 years
HittokiriBattousai17 1 month ago
the soundtrack from skyrim brought me here
JamesBa11 2 months ago
in my opinion, this was brad pitt's best performance and casey affleck does really well too. almost too well for the person he portrays in it.
KittenOnWheels 3 months ago
@KittenOnWheels -- Brad Pitt was awesome! I am a history buff and minor history major. I am very particular about historic movies and I usually drill the crap out of them. One thing I hate is when a mainstream name plays a historic figure because they usually are to known to truly portray or be convincing. Completely wrong with Brad Pitt, he was an AMAZING Jesse James!
Bhobbs1985 3 months ago
@KittenOnWheels -- I also thought Casey Affleck was awesome too! His performance was so on spot as to what I’ve imagined and so eerie and convincing, that he won me over in this film. I usually haven’t much liked much work he’s done but after this he’s one of my new favored actors. IMO, he nearly outshined Brad Pitt which says a ton!
Bhobbs1985 3 months ago
I hope in a few years this film gets the respect it deserves, in my opinion it was also Brad Pitt's best preformance.
AngryDeepground 3 months ago 4
This film was very realistic, and showed how depressed and miserable those times must have been to live in.
Frostbyte380 4 months ago
what a beautiful looking film but was very boring ill take the 1939 version with tyrone power over this version anytime
elchoya100 5 months ago
A film classic. Terrence Malick thanks the director of this move in one of his movies. The influence shows. Only this film has a great plot and narrative. Amazing talents.
warmsandandsea 5 months ago
He doesn't blink, despite the narrator telling the audience he blinks more than normal. This kind of deception is apparent throughout the entire film, I think, and, really, the first two minutes perfectly set up the remaining 158, down to the use of past tense in the final sentence: "He was 34 years old." Reads like a eulogy. Beautiful scene, beautiful film. So attentive to detail and thought-provoking as any.
derekwalker87 6 months ago
Is this really the opening? Looks like an awesome film :)
23MIKE95 6 months ago 6
@23MIKE95 Yep. Really is. When I first saw it two years ago, I asked myself, "Did I LIKE that?" It was that kind of movie. Then I watched it a second time and loved it. Either you'll love it or be bored to tears, I think.
tlibber 6 months ago 13
@tlibber It was the same for me too. I thought it well produced (as american movies always are), but was not impressed. Too slow. But I continued to think about it, so I gave it another shot. And come to like it very much. It's like a shakespearean play. The paranoid king starts to kill off his friends, until his most devoted, but ridiculed, follower (the king's Fool perhaps) ends his life. A great drama that can be told again and again in many guises.
Zjevakin 3 months ago 5
@Zjevakin your Shakespearean analogy is brilliant. I also thought it way to slow first time I saw it, but like you, I just loved it on a second viewing. I find the same thing happened to me with Kubrick films. Almost always. First viewing: Meh or huh? Second viewing: hey, this is GOOD. Third and beyond: this is GREAT. Funny, isn't it? :)
tlibber 3 months ago 4
@tlibber Totally agree with you guys. First time I watched it thought it was ok but way too slow. For weeks I couldnt stop thinking about it. Once I watched it again I fell in love with it. I think a lot of people assume its going to be a 3:10 To Yuma type film and so get disappointed,
thom9434 1 month ago
@tlibber This has to be one of the most unusual movies i've seen in a long time. The way the director portrays the character is very mysterious. I enjoyed every bit of this movie, and wished i could travel back in time to witness the old America.
A good movie is the one you keep thinking about once you're done watching.
ReturnOfJackDawson 1 month ago
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@23MIKE95 Its the best film ever made.
dupasra111 3 months ago
I am surprised more people haven't seen the film, it is a masterpiece.
AQGOAT24 7 months ago 3
Whats the name of the song that plays in the very opening?
grgkrantz 7 months ago
@grgkrantz It's from the soundtrack of the film. It's called "Song for Jesse" by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis.
tlibber 7 months ago
Thank you so much for posting this part!
auron01111 9 months ago
AWESOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!
stanemm 10 months ago
This film is a masterpiece.
vetle42 11 months ago 5
I'll never get tired of that narration, even if it is from an antiquated book with a slight flourish of exaggeration.
It does a great job framing this film and setting its tone as a portrait of the more human aspects of James which are at odds with the fictional and mythical.
elowsky 1 year ago
A great film. Nobody went to see it, which is pretty typical. Brad Pitt should be very proud of this film. It's a real achievement.
LarsGunblade 1 year ago 6
@LarsGunblade
Brad Pitt said this is his personal favorite movie he has acted in.
OleSouthernGentleman 1 year ago 6
@OleSouthernGentleman Nice to hear.I consider it the best movie he played.This was a VERY good movie indeed.
555Nato 1 month ago
This film makes me want to buy a farm in Missouri.
boiledelephant 1 year ago 30
@boiledelephant
Yeah, a farm would be nice...
warcraft4elite 8 months ago
@boiledelephant How about Alberta, as that is where most of it was filmed. ;)
littleFinland 5 months ago
@littleFinland
Touché, well-educated person :p
boiledelephant 5 months ago
@littleFinland that's true
Rlee1862 5 months ago
@boiledelephant That is the best comment ever boiledelephant! I laughed at loud, also knows as "lol." ha
Rlee1862 5 months ago
an art film fantastic achivment!!!!
epicvlas 1 year ago 17
A CINEMATIC ART MASTERPICE WESTERN LIKE ONCE UPONE A TIME IN THE WEST!!!!!!!
epicvlas 1 year ago 4