10 Visual Movie Masterpieces You've Probably Never Seen

7. The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford

The title might give away the ending, although you'd have to be living under a cultural and historical rock to not be familiar with the tale of the infamous outlaw and his undignified fate. Andrew "Chopper" Dominik takes the directorial reigns for this interpretation of the events leading up to James's death, with Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck delivering sterling performances in the two main roles. That director Dominik initially took a cue from Terrence Malick is clear from the off - this is as much about contemplation as it is about action, adopting an unhurried approach to the narrative and allowing it to unfold naturally. Perhaps it is the slow pace which led to The Assassination of Jesse James... bombing at the box office - whatever the reason, it's a crying shame, since in addition to its intelligent screenplay the film boasts some of the best cinematography seen this century. Director of photography Roger Deakins uses sepia tones and lens gels to stunning effect, and why he didn't win an Oscar for his work is anyone's guess. That Deakins has yet to win an Academy Award throughout his entire career is nothing short of scandalous.