Review of Down by Law (1986) by Al M — 10 Jun 2009
A phenomenal picaresque prison/escape film that features beautiful cinematography and direction as well as outstanding performances. Hilarious and moving, Jarmusch's flim deftly explores the not-so-bad people who live on the fringes of society and happen to step over the line every now and again.
Set against a breathtakingly filmed Louisana backdrop, Jarmusch deftly weaves these three characters' lives together into a tapestry that is painful to watch torn apart when the characters separate.
An insightful look into the forces that motivate us and the ways we definte our own selves and ethical stances, Down by Law is as powerful as it is riveting and as artsy as it is easily accesible. And to top it all off, Tom Waits is absolutely awesome--he is the epitome of cool in this film, which is also supported by his songs.
This review of Down by Law (1986) was written by Al M on 10 Jun 2009.
Down by Law has generally received very positive reviews.
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