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Down By Law
1986
Jim Jarmusch follows his groundbreaking Stranger Than Paradise with another rambling, character-driven film with a twisted sense of humor. Set in a seedy New Orleans summer, Down By Law details the meeting of three unlikely convicts and their just as unlikely escape. Zack (Tom Waits) is an out-of-work DJ who is accused of .. Read more
| Starring | Chris Parker, Tom Waits, Leila Gastil, John Lurie |
|---|---|
| Director | Jim Jarmusch |
| Genres | Drama |
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Down By Law
Jim Jarmusch follows his groundbreaking Stranger Than Paradise with another rambling, character-driven film with a twisted sense of humor. Set in a seedy New Orleans summer, Down By Law details the meeting of three unlikely convicts and their just as unlikely escape. Zack (Tom Waits) is an out-of-work DJ who is accused of murder when a body is found in the trunk of a stolen car he was hired to drive across town. Jack (John Lurie) is a pimp set up for a fall by a competitor. These two sullen souls are locked in a cell with Roberto (Roberto Benigni), a cheerful Italian immigrant who happens to have killed a man. The chemistry between the members of this loosely bound team is fascinating: Zack and Jack are forever laughing at Roberto, yet they rely on his energy and good will to escape their dire situation. The three mismatched miscreants eventually bust out of jail and head into the Louisiana bayous. Tired and hungry, they separate to search for food: Waits goes one way, Lurie another, and the frightened Benigni decides to risk stepping into a ramshackle diner. Somehow or other, he winds up in the arms of gorgeous Italian girl Nicoletta Braschi -- and is even able to provide new clothes and escape routes for his astonished comrades! ~ John Voorhees, All Movie Guide
| Starring | Chris Parker, Tom Waits, Leila Gastil, John Lurie, Roberto Benigni, Ellen Barkin, Ruth Bolton, Richard Boes, Eszter Balint, Richard Edson, Cecillia Stark, Danny Rosen, Tom DiCillo, Robert Benigni, Ellen Barkan |
|---|---|
| Director | Jim Jarmusch |
| Studio | OPTIMUM RELEASING HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 46 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Collections | New releases |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 12 May 2008 Production year: 1986 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Jim Jarmusch's uneven but stylish comédie noire is an astute mixture of prison picture, road movie and downbeat screwball. Posturing hard men Tom Waits and John Lurie find themselves sharing a cell after they are framed for transporting a corpse and corrupting a minor respectively. Their petty feuding is interrupted by chatty new cellmate Roberto Benigni, who soon devises an escape plan. As the excellent soundtrack testifies, Waits and Lurie are more effectively paired as songwriters than performers, but they offer solid support to the brilliant Benigni, whose pidgin prattling is a joy.
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Included in the New York Times "10 BEST FILMS OF 1986"
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Most helpful member's review
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11 out of 12 people found this review helpful
Impressive early work of talented filmaker
This is an intriguing film that despite an unsure start proves very watchable and stylish.
Shot entirely in black and white there are plenty of 'indie' stylistic choices and compositions. From the director of "Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai", Jim Jaramusch, it is inspiring to see such a proficient early work.
Bertolucci is a really entertaining character and his presence drives an otherwise plodding narrative. There is no particular genre applied, as with many indie features, but if you are a fan of Jaramusch or a budding filmmaker, then this film is useful to see the kind of panache and style that can be achieved on low-budget independent projects.
Given a chance I think this film will impress even the most mainstream viewer, but on the other hand it could well fly over their head. A downside maybe the absence of an engrossing storyline as the character development is all the story offered.
Regardless, if you rent this film chances are you are already intrigued so enjoy a good quality film from a very modern director. -
Most recent members' review
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Slow moving atmospheric, character development, poignancy and depth make this black comedy a slow film to watch with great effect. Need lots of time and patience for this one otherwise you will be dissapointed.
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Down By Law
Jim Jarmusch follows his groundbreaking Stranger Than Paradise with another rambling, character-driven film with a twisted sense of humor. Set in a seedy New Orleans summer, Down By Law details the meeting of three unlikely convicts and their just as unlikely escape. Zack (Tom Waits) is an out-of-...
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