But it's now out on video, and it's very much worth seeing. The movie is a beautiful, poetic western about the legendary Jesse James and the "nobody" who hero worshipped Jesse and then killed him.

The moody, creative cinematography by Roger Deakins, has been nominated for an Academy Award. (It's his second nomination this year--his work on "No Country For Old Men" also earned a nomination.)

And Casey Afflect earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his performance as Robert Ford.

This movie is a thoughtful, touching, character driven story that masterfully recreates the late 19th century American midwest.

It has a well written narration delivered by Hugh Ross whose voice is perfect for this job: "His children knew his legs, the sting of his mustache against their cheeks. They didn't know how their father made his living or why they so often moved. They didn't even know their father's name."

In 1881, Jesse James, known as Thomas Howard in Kansas City, was 34 years old.

His gang was mostly gone, and there was only one more train robbery ahead of him for which he had to hire local men he didn't really know.

Brad Pitt is convincing as a weary outlaw who is wary and paranoid because of the huge amount of award money that the person who captures or kills him can earn.

He trusts nobody except his wife, especially not the men he's recruited to help him. And he's known to have tracked down and killed people who who have plotted against him.

Still, the needy, ambitious Robert Ford played by Casey Affleck intends to shoot Jesse. As a new recruit hired for the train robbery, Ford weasles his way into Jesse's good graces though he's never made to feel secure or comfortable. Once, in Jesse's own home, Ford approaches Jesse while he's in the bath.

"I've never seen you without your guns before," he tells the outlaw. Jesse merely lifts the towel next to him to reveal his pistol. "I can't figure it out," Jesse says. "You wanna be like me or you wanna be me?"

Robert Ford hasn't figured much of anything, but he's determined. When a lawman asks if he's willing to risk his life to kill Jesse James, Ford replies, "I've been a nobody all my life and ever since I can remember Jesse James has been as big as a tree. I'm prepared for this. I wanna accomplish it."

But after he does, he's not prepared for the curse that comes with that kind of fame and fortune.

"The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford" is majestic filmmaking, a rich, satisfying experience for any serious film buff.

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