Film Review: Down by Law (1986)

(source: tmdb.org)

Low budget independent art films are an acquired taste. If you want to actually acquire that taste, you might start by watching films like Down by Law, 1986 black comedy written and directed by Jim Jarmusch.

The plot begins in New Orleans, where we are introduced to main characters. Zack (played by Tom Waits) is unemployed DJ who gets thrown out from home by his girlfriend Laurette (played by Ellen Barkin) and later tries to drown his sorrow by drinking a bottle of Bourbon. In such state he accepts the offer to drive someone’s car for suspiciously high amount of money and soon regrets it when the police stops him and finds dead body inside. Jack (played by John Lurie) is an overambitious small time pimp whose rival talks him into taking one of his girls, leading to Jack falling into police trap. Two men end up in jail cell where they begin to dislike each other as much as their predicament. Everything changes when they are joined by third prisoner, Italian tourist Roberto (played by Roberto Benigni) who freely admits that he killed someone in self-defence, but who nevertheless kept surprisingly cheerful disposition. Roberto not only lifts his cellmates’ spirits, but also makes a plan for escape which actually works. Three men end up in the large bayou, where they must find ways to survive and decide what they would do next.

Jarmusch became critics’ darling with his quirky debut Stranger Than Paradise two years earlier, but this film, originally shown at Cannes Film Festival, enhanced his fame to international level. Here he again delivered shown directorial skills, turning cheap, simple and ascetic film into something remarkable. With the aid of famed cinematographer Robby Müller whose black-and-white images perfectly capture usually bleak and intimidating surroundings, Jarmusch confidently tells an interesting story, seamlessly switching moods and genres from film noir in the beginning, prison film in the middle, adventure in the final part and fable-like finale. There is a lot of dark humour in the film, including some that certain audience could find it slightly disturbing, like in the scene featuring underage prostitute. Yet, for the most part, Down by Law works, helped a lot by a music provided by two of its stars – Waits and Lurie.

Although Waits, a singer with one of the most recognisable voices in the world of music, helps a film with his iconic presence, it is Benigni who proves to be the most valuable member of the cast. His appearance in the film completely transforms general mood of film. Benigni, who, like the character he played, had limited command of English, uses this as a source of humour. His character’s naivety and cheerfulness are initially at odds with bleak atmosphere of film, but he gradually changes the mood. Beningni does so with great skill, bringing a lot of intensity but never going overboard and allowing that his character becomes clownish or annoying. He also brings refreshing outside perspective to other two characters, never able to see beyond the bleakness of New Orleans, city which was apparently in bad shape decades before Katrina. “Bob” (as his character is called in the film), whose knowledge of America was mostly built on Hollywood films, has more optimistic outlook and in the end he gets rewarded by something resembling American Dream.

Down by Law is far from perfect and, especially in the opening, Jarmusch tests average viewer’s patience with shots that take a little bit too long and that appear to serve no purpose other than displaying his skill. Some might complain about film being too conventional or the ending happy for this sort of film. Cinephiles are, on the other hand, enjoy it due to some details ordinary viewer might miss. One of them is presence of Nicoletta Braschi, Italian actress best known as Benigni’s screen partner, wife and muse. Here she appears in small but memorable role of Italian diner owner with whom “Bob” falls in love. Real life matched Jarmusch’s fiction made Down by Law into delectable little film which shows how fairytales, at least sometimes, can happen in real life.

RATING: 7/10 (++)