Robert Duval - Jesse James
Philip Kaufman (Director)
Who wouldn't want to watch a movie where one of America's most talented actors (Robert Duval) plays outlaw Jesse James? The answer would be anyone that had the displeasure of watching The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid.
This movie is told with a very Dukes of Hazard story structure. It open with a lousy narration, then cuts to establishing shot after establishing shot that leads to no where. I had feelings that this film was a westernploitation import flick from Australia. The movies director would later go on to direct very good movies. I guess he was just getting his feet wet with this one.
The story is just what the title says. It is the events leading up to, during and the aftermath of the largest bank robbery attempt of its time. This film sucked. I lost interest very quick and it did nothing to regain it. The production value was really low as well. It neither looked or sounded very good. The images were poorly lit and even more poorly staged. The action and pace of the film was off from the beginning.
The script had a few moments of promise, but the next scene was so totally out in left field that I didn't want to follow one of the most well known and idolized stories in American history. I will give the film credit for that. It took the story of Jesse James and made it dull, lifeless and nonsensical.
There was a baseball game in the middle of the film that went on forever. The film spent a lot of time on Cole's fascination with mechanics, but then when pressed to open a safe he couldn't. The music was weak and annoying at times. I am going to stop writing about this movie because I don't think I have a single positive thing to say about it. I give The Great Northfeild Minnesota Raid ★1/2 . Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.
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