Down by Law - Criterion Collection

Starring:John Lurie, Roberto Benigni
Studio: Criterion
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
After creating one of the breakthrough movies of the American independent cinema, Stranger than Paradise, Jim Jarmusch stayed right in the same minimalist, oddball, black-and-white groove. Down by Law takes place in Louisiana, where two losers (musicians Tom Waits and John Lurie) find themselves stuck in a jail cell together. One day they are joined by a boisterous Italian (Roberto Benigni), and the chemistry changes--suddenly an escape attempt is on the horizon. Conventional drama is not Jarmusch's intention; one of the emotional high points of this movie is the three guys marching around their prison cell shouting, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" Yet the deadpan style creates its own humorous mood, underscored by melancholy (also underscored by the music of Lurie and the gravel-voiced songs of Waits). This was the first American film for Roberto Benigni, the Italian comedian (Life Is Beautiful), and he lights it up with his effervescent clowning. Jarmusch has said that Down by Law forms a loose trilogy with Stranger than Paradise and the subsequent Mystery Train, a triptych of disaffected, drifting life in the United States. Few filmmakers have ever surveyed ennui so entertainingly. --Robert Horton

Down by Law - Criterion Collection
Average customer rating:

Hey Little Bird

Get something other than explosions and impossibly shallow writing!

Swamp Gas on The Low Side of The Road

An American classic

After Katrina, the memory of a once-existing city

Down by Law - Criterion Collection
Starring: Vernel Bagneris , Ellen Barkin , Richard Boes , Nicoletta Braschi , and L.C. Drane
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Manufacturer: Criterion
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
Buddy Films | By Theme | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
Down on Their Luck | By Theme | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
Barkin, Ellen | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Benigni, Roberto | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Braschi, Nicoletta | ( B ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Lurie, John | ( L ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Waits, Tom | ( W ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Jarmusch, Jim | ( J ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
Comedy | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video
All | Criterion Collection | Stores | DVD | Video
( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Stranger Than Paradise

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ASIN: B00005JKFX
Release Date: 2002-10-22

Amazon.com

After creating one of the breakthrough movies of the American independent cinema, Stranger than Paradise, Jim Jarmusch stayed right in the same minimalist, oddball, black-and-white groove. Down by Law takes place in Louisiana, where two losers (musicians Tom Waits and John Lurie) find themselves stuck in a jail cell together. One day they are joined by a boisterous Italian (Roberto Benigni), and the chemistry changes--suddenly an escape attempt is on the horizon. Conventional drama is not Jarmusch's intention; one of the emotional high points of this movie is the three guys marching around their prison cell shouting, "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!" Yet the deadpan style creates its own humorous mood, underscored by melancholy (also underscored by the music of Lurie and the gravel-voiced songs of Waits). This was the first American film for Roberto Benigni, the Italian comedian (Life Is Beautiful), and he lights it up with his effervescent clowning. Jarmusch has said that Down by Law forms a loose trilogy with Stranger than Paradise and the subsequent Mystery Train, a triptych of disaffected, drifting life in the United States. Few filmmakers have ever surveyed ennui so entertainingly. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

Hey Little Bird.......2007-03-23

Jarmusch's Down by Law opens with Tom Waits's seemingly nonsensical song "Jockey Full of Bourbon" playing in the background as the camera films various poor sections of New Orleans. However, while the song's lyrics might seem nothing more than a series of random phrases, it is quite fitting because they are a good representation of the absurdity of life and how chance circumstances can lead one on completely unexpected paths in life.

Filmed totally in black and white, which gives the already grim scenery an even grainier appearance, the film follows two characters, Zack (Tom Waits) and Jack (John Lurie), and the circumstances leading to their imprisonment. Both men set up by "friends" who seemingly had a bone to pick with them and while in prison they are introduced to a third fellow named Roberto who eventually helps them escape from prison.

While the above description is quite bare boned, it does sum up most of the film's "action" however, those who are familiar with Jarmusch's filmic work should be well aware that the minimalist director rarely, if ever, does anything overblown, but instead allows the humor of his films to seep through with dialogue and bantering amongst his characters. In fact much of the film takes place within the confines of a small jail cell. The music, by Tom Waits, is, as with almost every Jarmusch film, quite excellent.

While Down by Law might seem like nothing more than talking heads to some viewers, for those who enjoy simpler films that are stripped down to the bare essentials while still maintaining a great sense of humor, Down by Law is a great film to see.

Get something other than explosions and impossibly shallow writing!.......2007-02-18

This is a film that I never knew of but for the fact that at the time, I had a large satellite dish. Saw a bit of the movie on one of the hundreds of channels available. I had to see the whole thing. It's a good movie and written and directed by craftsmen not mainstream war mongering moguls. If you like this you must also get "Dead Man." One of the most brilliant pieces of cinematography that I have ever witnessed.

Swamp Gas on The Low Side of The Road.......2007-02-15

First, I 'd like to mention to the Waits fans here that the film that really charms with Tom is Cold Feet. Order immediately...it will put a big smile on your face...Tom is all over Cold Feet, charming, nuts, and real gone.
Back to Down By Law, I should preface by saying I'm completely in love in Ellen Barkin, and now that she's lightened her load, I'd be more than happy to let her throw my junk out the window. And speaking of that,, those shoes that Tom and Ellen fought over in the beginning..."No, baby, not the shoes", turned up on ebay years ago being sold by the the Starlight Childrens' Foundation...seems that they had already auctioned them and sold them, but no one picked them up, so a couple years later, they put them on ebay, and now they are under my bed. In color, they are crimson red on the inside...and size 10D. Well, they don't fit me. Down By Law is a fascinating romp, a film that lets time and place take over the plot, and characters fall in and out of their place. The DVD of this film by Criterion is the way to go...beautiful. Get Cold Feet on DVD...very cheap...very funny. Andre

An American classic.......2006-08-16

Jim Jarmusch has, up to the present date, done no wrong in his career. His films, all of which he's written himself, are on the same level of genius as Truffaut, in his ability to tell a realistic story, and Fellini, to fill said realistic story with all kinds of eccentric and memorable characters. Down By Law, his second full length film, is his undisputed masterpiece.

How I found out about this film was through being a fan of Tom Waits. Looking at his filmography on IMDB I stumbled across this film, it sounded promising, it's rating high (not that all films with great reputations are good,) so I decided to give it a shot - I was not disappointed.

Waits, Lurie and Benigni all turn in spectacular performances, full of life and subtle humor that makes the story of three escaped convicts not only highly enjoyable but fully heartwarming.

After Katrina, the memory of a once-existing city.......2005-09-06

No doubt all the wood frame structures that exist in the flooded
residential streets of New Orleans will be bulldozed over. The scenes in the first 20 minutes of this motion picture depicts some of the gritty residential streets of the city. Now just a memory. With the scenes shown on television of the aftermath of hurricane Katrina to a world-view audience, what came to mind were the characters depicted in the introductory sequences of "Down By Law". With all the radio stations and TV stations broadcasting salutatory programs with references to the city's rich musical and historical legacy, I wondered if there was going to be a TV station that was going to have the courage to broadcast this motion picture. But alas, no, it didn't happen. Too bad. It should have.

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