Brad Pitt’s Forgotten 2007 Western Should Be on Every Genre Fan’s Must-Watch List
The star-packed movie first bombed in the box office, but then redeemed its positions, becoming a cult classic among the audiences.
One of the most versatile and prolific cinema genres, the Western has had a long history in Hollywood and has ultimately become the industry’s titbit for many A-list stars to want to try.
Western movies and shows are quite often the most compelling ones when it comes to narrative, but they can also turn into massive box office hits thanks to their cast’s performances, more and more frequently delivered by some of the most successful actors that took on a pretty unexpected and exotic role.
Despite having risen to stardom mostly due to leading roles in dramas and action thrillers, Brad Pitt also starred in quite a few Westerns that, for some reason, didn’t stand the test of time.
Still, if fans of the genre might want to check them out after all, at least one of those is a definite must.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Is a Rare Western in Brad Pitt’s Filmography
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An actor usually seen in different kinds of movies, Brad Pitt was once a leading star in Andrew Dominik’s 2007 epic revisionist Western The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
Based on Ron Hansen’s 1983 novel of the same name, the movie is a dramatisation of the real-life events involving historical figures of Jesse James and Robert Ford; the story revolves around the former’s intentions to plan another big heist when he’s brutally killed by his own recruits, with those seeking to collect the award offered for James’ head.
However, their striving for money soon backfires when the consequences of their actions make an unexpected turn.
Apart from Pitt, the movie’s leading cast comprises other big names like Casey Affleck, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeremy Renner, Zooey Deschanel, and Sam Rockwell.
Overlooked Brad Pitt’s Western Is a Box Office Flop Turned Into a Western Cult Classic
Going way beyond the simply put narration of events from the bygone era, the film delves into more profound matters, exploring the still-existing social cult of celebrities whose public image often goes in contrast to what they really are.
The Assassination’s complex historical background and drawn parallels to the modern times were probably the reason why the audiences weren’t that appalled by the movie when it was first released in theatres; it later on bombed dramatically in the box office, grossing $15 million against the budget of $30 million.
The critical response was way warmer, however, and the movie eventually collected numerous accolades, including nods from the Academy, Golden Globe and SAG Awards.
Luckily, it didn’t take long for moviegoers to make it up to the box office’s forgotten flick, with multiple fans eventually initiating re-releases and turning the initially ignored Western into a new cult classic.
