Wow. What a fantastic movie “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” is. It’s a full on Art House Western. There’s not much action to speak of (in what you would expect from a typical Western). Instead you get a fascinating character study of Jesse James, Robert Ford and some of the later day James Gang members. Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck (man, is he good in this) and the rest of the cast are quite excellent in their roles. The movie is very somber in tone and very flush in visuals. It’s almost like a requiem for the two titular characters. Some might find it slow and boring … but I sure didn’t. Check it out!

Netflix really needs to add a new category to their system of rating movies. They have “Hated It,” “Didn’t Like It,” “Liked It,” Really Liked It” and “Loved It.” I think that a rating between “Didn’t Like It” and “Liked It” is called for. I have received plenty of films that I didn’t like enough to mark “I Like It” but didn’t dislike enough to mark “Didn’t Like It” (case in point would be “Fierce People”). It would great if they had a rating like “50/50” or maybe even something like “Apathetic.”

My obsession with the films of Chris Evans continues with “Fierce People.” Watching you can understand why the movie, which was filmed in 2005, wasn’t released until fall of 2007 (and very limited-ly at that). Supposedly we are to learn about the privileged and the perils of being an outsider in their world. But the movie never really gets to the point of great social commentary or biting satire. It’s all just kinda “Zzzzzzzzzz.” Mr. Evans does all he can do with with the dialogue and role he’s given. That goes for just about all the actors in this totally “ho-hum” movie.