tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250971757379688937.post5730964112098069456..comments2012-04-15T10:05:32.264-04:00Comments on Smoke a Lot of Big Monkey Butt*: Early Oscar™-bait RoundupPaul C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02699493473242261477noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250971757379688937.post-71032799306382795112007-11-06T01:44:00.000-05:002007-11-06T01:44:00.000-05:00I didn't think much about how Robert's killing of ...I didn't think much about how Robert's killing of Wood demonstrated that he was capable of pulling the trigger, but you're right. Still, I think they could have trimmed a few minutes of fat from that subplot.<BR/><BR/>I was amazed at how well the film (Brad Pitt's performance, especially) was able to generate much suspense, even though my quick research already told me who would live and die. Although James as depicted in this film wasn't especially likely to draw his pistols and fire at the drop of a hat, the Fords and everyone else couldn't be sure of that, and walked on egg shells, accordingly.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08310290563393412068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250971757379688937.post-71682875025636841942007-11-05T23:54:00.000-05:002007-11-05T23:54:00.000-05:00I think he enjoyed his fame as much as he could, w...I think he enjoyed his fame as much as he could, when he got the chance. Naturally, he couldn't trade on his fame most places he went, which is doubtlessly why he enjoyed the company of his men, who clearly looked up to him even though they feared him.<BR/><BR/>Frankly, it was this combination of hero worship and intimidation that kept the men together and in line, as evidenced by the mess they all become when he's not around. That's where I think the stuff with Wood and Dick comes in- there's a whole lot of suspicion and sneaking around going on behind Jesse's back, and given the clashing personalities of these two men, it was inevitable that something like this would be the beginning of the end. If it wasn't Dick sleeping with Wood's dad's bride, it would have been something else.<BR/><BR/>This subplot might not have the lyricism that distinguishes the rest of the movie, but when you've got a fairly uncommercial revisionist Western that's more than 2 1/2 hours long, something has to propel the plot forward once in a while. This had the added bonus of showing us Robert's dangerous side.<BR/><BR/>But I would agree with you about the epilogue- I could have watched another half hour of that, easy. I would imagine that the longer cuts of the film probably had more scenes taking place after Jesse died.Paul C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02699493473242261477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-250971757379688937.post-82268072587669526732007-11-05T22:30:00.000-05:002007-11-05T22:30:00.000-05:00I loved the casting here; a huge celebrity playing...I loved the casting here; a huge celebrity playing a huge celebrity, and doing it powerfully by acting like a mere mortal, albeit a large-than-life one. <BR/><BR/>That was pretty convoluted, but I think you get the point. <BR/><BR/>Do you think that the Jesse James of this film enjoyed his fame? To me, he seemed like he <I>wanted</I> to dislike it, but couldn't. Why else keep around Robert Ford, this dorky kid that doesn't seem overly capable of doing much of anything?<BR/><BR/>I wish they had traded the scene where Dick Liddel and Jesse's cousin visit the old man and his trophy wife for more epilogue. I would have liked to have seen more about Ford's decline, which was so fitting considering his foolish ambition.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08310290563393412068noreply@blogger.com