So that's where the Affleck acting genes went.

Casey Affleck, younger brother to all-the-range-of-an-oak-tree Ben, is freakishly good in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford -- enough so that he's already being buzzed about as an early Oscar contender. Normally, this could be dismissed as mere hype, but Affleck's performance is the real repellent deal, vacillating between envy, venom, fear, stupidity and calculating self-preservation as the Judas of the James gang.

"It's such a difficult and complex role," his co-star (and producer) Brad Pitt says.

"A lot of us who have known Casey for many years have been big fans of his and have known he's capable of more than the parts he's been given.

"So we were really happy to see him get this opportunity because it was a coveted role ... and to see him score like this is rewarding for all of us."

Director Andrew Dominik recalls he first met Affleck early on in the casting process. "Casey came in the third day and even though it was just the third casting session, it was clearly his part. We kept looking, but it was clearly Casey."

At a news conference at the Toronto International Film Festival, Affleck didn't have much to say, appearing uneasy, even shy, facing a crush of journalists, photographers and television cameras. Yet one suspects he had better get used to it. Next month he stars in Gone, Baby, Gone, a crime drama directed by brother Ben who, even if he can't act, may yet prove he can adapt best-selling novels into finely-honed movies.

Then again, maybe Casey, unlike Ben, has no intention of courting celebrity. Dominik isn't so sure. "Casey's the last person in the world to fall under the spell of someone famous -- the last person. It's revolting for him to do so -- which means he probably really wants to."