Review of Down by Law (1986) by Rosco B — 09 Apr 2013
American indie, served cool as you like on a plate from Jim Jarmusch. An unlikely friendship grows as three men make an escape from a Louisiana prison: Zack (Tom Waits), a DJ, Jack (John Lurie), A pimp, and Bob (Roberto Benigni, in his first US film) an Italian tourist. Wim Wender's regular cinematographer Robby Muller provides an effective, slow moving travelogue familiar to Jarmusch fans - taking in the structures of downtown New Orleans to the wilds of the bayou. The jailhouse scenes between the three leads have a laid-back swagger and an amusing edge as grumbling hipsters Lurie and Waits deal with Benigni's incessant need for conversation, despite his grasp of English being limited to the scribbles of his ever-present notebook.
There's a cameo from Ellen Barkin as Waits' furious, record smashing (but 'not the shoes') girlfriend, and both Lurie and Waits contribute to the suitably super-cool soundtrack.
This review of Down by Law (1986) was written by Rosco B on 09 Apr 2013.
Down by Law has generally received very positive reviews.
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