Struggling through a fraught post-production and eventually given a cursory, half-hearted theatrical release by Warner Bros., Andrew Dominik‘s epic, lyrical and beautifully tragic “The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford” has only gained in critical and cult standing since it first arrived in 2007 (and named one of The Playlist’s best movies of that year). The film, featuring some career best work by Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, is an exploration of the false allure of myth, setting its story around the legendary outlaw Jesse James, whose Robert Ford soon discovers isn’t the same man that’s written about in newspapers and books. It’s the kind of movie that deserves, and needs, to be see on a big screen to fully take in Roger Deakins‘ breathtaking cinematography (which we recently discussed here), and for those of you in New York City, you’ll get your chance.
Museum of the Moving Image will present a rare big-screen showing of the the film in December, and that’s not all. The one-time screening will not just an opportunity to see ‘Jesse James’ in a theater, it will also feature post-film conversation moderated by Chief Curator David Schwartz with Dominik himself. “ ‘Jesse James’ is the thing that I’ve done in my life that I’m most proud of,” Dominik said in a press release. “I think it’s a movie that really benefits from being on the big screen, and I love the idea of it having some further life on the big screen.”
So, when is this all happening? “The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford” will screen on Saturday, December 7th at 6:00 p.m. in the Museum’s Sumner Redstone Theater. Tickets are $20 to the public, $12 for Museum members and free for Silver Screen members and above. Tickets will be available starting on October 20th. And to whet your appetite, check out the trailer below.