Born in 1847, Jesse James was a mythic figure, an outlaw considered to be one of the country’s first celebrities, his tales spreading across the pages of newspapers. Flash forward to today, and you can safely say that Brad Pitt is a celebrity, his image plastered in every tabloid magazine in America.

Putting on the boots and the long black coat, Pitt plays the larger than life persona in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, a novel sized film that explores the intricacies of hyper obsessed fandom.

Marked by Andrew Dominik’s first-rate direction, Pitt delivers one of his strongest performances to date. But it’s Casey Affleck that commands the film – the softness of his delivery burns through celluloid.

Grade: A-

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is currently in theaters.