FILM CRITIC HULK: Takes on Assassination of Jesse James

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BEYOND THE TONE AND EFFECT, PERHAPS THE MOST ART-LIKE THING ABOUT THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES IS THE WAY IT APPROACHES STORYTELLING. IT'S LESS ABOUT TRADITIONAL SEQUENCING AND MORE ABOUT THE COMPLETELY A-DRAMATIC BRINGS US INTO RELEVANT INFORMATION. THE WAY IT SLOWLY REVEALS BACKSTORIES AND MOTIVATIONS. THE WAY OUR CHARACTERS REACT TO THEM AND THEN DISPLACE THESE MOTIVATIONS. THE WAY CHARACTERS POUR THEIR HEARTS AND FEELINGS OUT TO SULLEN MEN WHO COULDN'T CARE LESS. OR THE WAY THEY STRIKE POSTURES OF IMITATION OUT OF FEAR. AS A STORY IT OFTEN RAMBLES IN TERMS OF LOGIC, BUT THIS IS A STORY ABOUT BEHAVIOR. IT'S A STORY ABOUT EMOTIONAL TRANSFERENCE. FOR OUR ROBERT FORD CARRIES WITH HIM A GREAT BURDEN OF EMOTION AND DESIRE. OUR JESSE JAMES CARRIES WITH HIM A GREAT DEAL OF UGLINESS AND ENNUI. AND THOSE TWO FORCES CLASH TOGETHER. IT IS MUCH UNLIKE A PLOT, BUT WE CAN ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW THEIR DESIRES FROM MOMENT TO MOMENT. AND AS SUCH, IT DOES NOT RAMBLE LIKE SO MANY "GREATEST HITS" BIOPICS WE READILY ACCEPT, BUT CAN'T SEEM TO REALLY ENGAGE... INSTEAD, IT RAMBLES LIKE LIFE DOES.

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THE OTHER WEEK HULK CASUALLY MENTIONED HOW MUCH HULK LOVES THIS FILM AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO HULK'S ATTENTION THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A "JESSE JAMES REVIVAL" EFFORT, WHICH INVOLVED A BIG SCREENING IN NEW YORK AND DIRECTOR Q+A. BUT AS WE SPEAK THERE IS A BIGGER AND COOLER THING GOING ON IN TERMS OF A NEGOTIATION TO HOPEFULLY ALLOW ANDREW DOMINICK TO RELEASE A DIRECTOR'S CUT OF THE FILM ON BLU. HULK WILL ADMIT THAT A DIRECTOR'S CUT IS A TRICKY PROSPECT (ESPECIALLY HAVEN ALREADY FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE THEATRICAL CUT), BUT GIVEN THE PRODUCTION HISTORY AND A SENSE OF CURIOSITY, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY EXCITING THING; ONE OF THOSE REAL-DEAL CHANCES TO PRESERVE AND HONOR THE LEGACY OF A FILM'S INTENTION. AND THUS IT'S ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE HULK WILL ASK THAT WE GET CONSTRUCTIVE AND THROW SOME ELBOW GREASE INTO THE SUPPORT.

HOW EXACTLY? MAYBE JUST WRITE ABOUT IT. SHARE IT WITH FRIENDS. MENTION IT EVERYWHERE. SPEAK LOUDLY. YOU SHOULD EVEN EMAIL HULK (FILMCRITHULK@GMAIL.COM) AND EXPLAIN YOUR LOVE FOR THE MOVIE AND HULK WILL COMPILE AND PASS IT ON TO A FEW INFLUENTIAL FOLKS WHO MAKE DECISIONS. BECAUSE BELIEVE IT OR NOT, STUDIOS LISTEN TO YOU. THEY REALLY DO LOVE MOVIES, IT'S JUST THAT THEY ARE BEHOLDEN TO THE WILL OF ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS. BUT AS A PATRON, THAT ALSO MEANS YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO CREATE THE DEMAND TO WHICH THEY WILL HAPPILY OBLIGE. AND LUCKILY, WE LIVE IN AN ERA WHERE WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE AND ORGANIZE AT INCOMPREHENSIBLE LEVELS. IF THE INTERNET HAD EXISTED SEVENTY YEARS AGO, WE MIGHT STILL HAVE THAT MYTHICAL ORIGINAL CUT OF THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS. AND IF IT IS CLEAR THAT THESE KINDS OF OPPORTUNITIES HAPPEN ALL TOO RARELY THEN WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS GIFT.

SOME FILMS ARE WORTH IT.

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