Alberta in the Spotlight Again
Locally-shot Jesse James film shines at international film fests

The much anticipated feature film, “The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” opened at the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 2. It screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 8 and premiered  in New York City on Sept. 18.

Shot in Alberta, the film is being hailed as a masterpiece in the same league as the classics shot in the 1970s such as “The Outlaw Josey Wells,” “McCabe and Mrs. Miller,” “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid,” “Jeremiah Johnson,” and “Days of Heaven.”

First glimpse draws high praise

Reactions to the Venice screening are glowing. According to major Hollywood trade publication, Variety, the film is a “ravishing, magisterial, poetic epic that moves its characters toward their tragic destinies with all the implacability of a Greek drama…”

Location, location, location…

As we all know, where the story unfolds has a lot to do with its success—as witnessed in the huge popularity of Alberta-filmed Oscar winners “Brokeback Mountain” and “Unforgiven.”

The “Assassination of Jesse James…” was shot in a variety of locations around Alberta. According to Warner Bros. official website, “The filmmakers found the open spaces they needed in the prairies and McKinnon Flats in southern Alberta….where seemingly uninhabited expanses retain much of their original character…”

Location Manager, Rino Pace said what sold the producers on Alberta was the diversity of locations, all within a short distance of a major urban centre [Calgary]. And, as for other film makers, the big wide open skies.

“The landscape really became a character in the film,” said Pace. “At each location, no matter the weather or the pressures of the day’s shoot, cast, crew and locals alike would be awestruck by the beauty surrounding them.”

Pace added that director/screenwriter, Andrew Dominik was a big fan of Terrence Malick’s epic film, “Days of Heaven,” which greatly influenced the decision to shoot here.

Travel Alberta’s Klaus Roth, Portfolio Manager, Americas, is enthusiastic about the opportunities for tourism in the province resulting from interest in the Jesse James film. “The “Brokeback Mountain” movie firmly established its Alberta locations as tourism destinations; visitors want to put themselves in the scene, as it were. The Jesse James film reinforces the fact that film producers as well as visitors enjoy the landscapes and western experiences that Alberta has to offer.”

“The Goat Creek site in Kananaskis is but one aspect of the gorgeous scenery we have in Alberta,” added Roth. “What visitors will discover is there is a wide variety of things to see and do here—in any season of the year—from signature golf courses to nearby world-class skiing, and so much more.” Goat Creek is just south and west of the town of Canmore, approaching Banff National Park, one of the world’s most popular tourism destinations.

Heritage sites front and centre

Calgary’s Heritage Park was used for the town scenes. Producer David Valdes of “Pale Rider,” “Unforgiven,” and “Open Range” fame said Dominik loved it. “This assemblage of historic buildings was exactly what we were looking for and eliminated the need for us to construct an entire town.”

Warner Bros. said Fort Edmonton Park offered the bonus of a working railroad line and vintage train for the film’s dramatic Blue Cut Robbery sequence. In a gesture of goodwill, the production team left the park’s train “in more authentic period shape than when we arrived,” said Valdes. “We repainted it, installed sleepers and added a baggage car, all to historical accuracy.”

Producer and star Brad Pitt is a big fan of Alberta, having first experienced its treasures while shooting “Legends of the Fall.” During the filming of Jesse James, Pitt took partner, Angelina Jolie and family on a tour of our world famous dinosaur haunt, The Royal Tyrrell Museum.

Said Pitt, at Venice, about his new film: “[Jesse James…] is a very complex and complicated film that isn’t part of the current zeitgeist of film making…I think it’s a delicious film: it sits and breathes like a good wine, and it’s ultimately my favorite kind of film making.” 

The Venice Film Festival awarded Pitt Best Actor for his portrayal of Jesse James. And now that the film has premiered in the U.S.A., cinematographer Roger Deakins is being lauded by many for his exemplary work. Says MSNBC film critic, Alonso Duralde, "there's not a single shot in the film that's not gorgeous."

Of course not. It's Alberta, after all.