Down by Law (1986)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ½

Down by Law (1986) – J. Jarmusch

Jim Jarmusch follows Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni from the streets of New Orleans into jail, then out of jail and into the bayou.  So, it’s a road movie of sorts, aided immensely by Robby Müller’s gorgeous black and white cinematography. The images range from extremely low-key high-contrast (New Orleans at night) to low contrast (shades of grey in prison and in the woods at the very end of the picture).  Just a delight to look at.  Of course, the script meanders in laid-back Jarmusch-style, allowing the actors to establish their characters and to emit often funny dialogue (probably improvised at times – though showing the director’s proclivities: the Italian loves Walt Whitman).  Tom Waits (“Zack”) is relatively restrained (given what we know of his verbal abilities) as a DJ framed for stealing a car (or worse) – but we do get some good patter from him and his acting is top notch.  John Lurie (“Jack”) is sullen as the pimp (also set up) who forms an adversarial friendship with Waits.  But Roberto Benigni (“Bob”) is riotous as the Italian tourist (in for murder with an eight-ball) who lets loose with absurd English expressions and also engineers their escape (and ultimately their way out of the swamp).  So, is it an homage to the prison films of the Thirties? That might be a stretch.  Is it something more existential about life and how to live it? Probably not.  Is it a chance for this team to stretch out and show their talents in a memorably funny (and sad and beautiful) picture? Definitely yes.