Synopsis
It's not where you start - It's where you start again.
A disc jockey, a pimp and an Italian tourist escape from jail in New Orleans.
Down by Law
1986 Directed by Jim Jarmusch
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Alternative Titles
Вне закона, Down by Law - Alles im Griff, Daunbailò, Down by Law - Sous le coup de la loi, 다운 바이 로, Bajo el peso de la ley, 不法之徒, 다운 바이 로우
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Part of Jim Jarmusch January: A Director's Retrospective
Down by Law follows three men, each from their own movie. Zack (Tom Waits) is from a movie about the blues. Jack (John Lurie) is from a noirish gangster film. Bob (Roberto Begnini) is from an unseen European film, but we can probably guess it is a comedy. Together they end it up in the archetypal American prison film, and here is where all the magic happens.
After the success of Stranger Than Paradise, Jarmusch returned with this even more polished and upbeat film. While it doesn't have that film's attention to lack of detail, this one is far more funny and infectious in energy. The humor is still very deadpan, but…
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The Good: If I had to come up with a list of my all-time favorite cinematic characters, Zack (Tom Waits), Jack (John Lurie), and Bob (Roberto Benigni) would be in it. Especially Bob. I love Bob. Who doesn't love Bob? I fucking love Bob. Benigni is a freaking riot in this. Every single line he utters is pure comedic gold. Excellent writing and direction by Jim Jarmusch. Impeccable black-and-white cinematography by Robby Müller (Paris, Texas). Awesome, awesome soundtrack, featuring 'Jockey Full of Bourbon' and 'Tango Till They're Sore' by Waits. A treasure trove of memorable scenes and quotes: "It is a sad and beautiful world."; "Not enough room to swing a cat. Cat. The animal."; "Jack! Do you have some…
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This is exactly the sort of cinema that I find so comforting. It's not really anything, just a mixture of cinematic influences and ideas presented with an emphasis on mood and technique. The cinematography, black and white and slow, is beautiful and elegant. There's parts that didn't work for me, and it seems too meaningless (for both the characters and the audience), but Down by Law is an unresolved, laidback gem. Very easy viewing.
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Written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, Down by Law develops excitement from its usage of cinematic language. Starring Tom Waits (as a jobless disc jockey), the movie accomplishes a wonderful task of discovering humour within the smaller elements from everyday life rather than visual or verbal comedy. Robby Müller’s luxurious black-and-white cinematography progresses a fairly unstructured scenario into something undeniably fascinating, and his positioning of the camera facilitates both the actions and reactions of the characters beautifully. Down by Law rides a narrow line between amateur technique and professional brilliance, and is an extraordinary poetic fable.
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“Down by Law” is a crossroads film. It captures the moment of standing at an intersection as midnight arrives. And out of the darkness, walk three demons - each with a different punchline to the same joke.
Those three demons being: Tom Waits, John Lurie and Roberto Benigni. And as demons do, each one comes into “Law” bearing his own style of roguish temptation.
Director Jim Jarmusch claims that his third movie is the only one made with ‘American money;’ preferring international financiers, since they have less strings attached.
It’s fitting that Jarmusch made a deal with his own sort of devil for “Law;” since the film has the ambiance of seduction and danger that comes in the moment before…
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A little slow to get going but when the time came, I didn’t want this odyssey to end at all. When the end unfortunately came, I was left speechless and with a heavy heart.
Everything about Down By Law is superb. The performances, the direction, the staging and the gorgeous cinematography. You name it, it all works. The strange friendship that evolves between these men feels so real and tangible. There’s this unspoken respect and brotherhood amongst them that really got to me.
I absolutely loved this film and now instantly want to buy the criterion lol. Definitely a new favourite.
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jim jarmusch liked one of my instagram posts so i guess that's my peak. WHAT A RIDE
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Part of my effort to watch some of Todd Gaines's favorite movies because he seems like a cool guy.
I've got a problem. I just finished this movie and I have no idea how to rate it. I can plug it into my Story Rater but everything I have to compare to is so different it feels like apples and oranges. I mean, at its bare bones it's just a low budget movie about three guys, and I certainly couldn't tell you what's "underneath" the story (what it "means"), but there's something so unique and wonderful about it.
I've never seen a Jim Jarmusch film before, are all of his movies like this? I intend to find out, but for…
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