Down by Law

[rbnyc]

Netflix Member Review page is down so I can't add my review for Down by Law, which I just saw for the first time. I'm frustrated so I'm posting it here.

The film is very slow to take direction. The Tom Waits and John Lurie characters come off as inauthentic, their genesis very contrived. It's beautifully shot and the long, slow scenes make you look hard, then discover you're looking at a kind of failed experiment--there's not much really there. That is until the two are joined by Roberto Benigni. He is like the genius drummer that makes the inept musicians make sense. I did like the movie. I like the Jarmusch sensibility, the willingness to show a couple dancing for a whole song, the lingering, and the incredible black and white cinematography. But I think Jarmusch left a lot of room to see what would happen, and only one thing did, Roberto Benigni.

Anyone else see this film. Want to discuss?

[Cocoa]

1. I saw it 18 years ago

I remember "I scream you scream we all scream for ice cream" but that's about it. I remember liking it.

[rbnyc]

2. That was great.

That's where the movie really started for me.

:hi:

[Kire]

3. It's no Mystery Train.

Your review is quite apt. I was disappointed, too.

[rbnyc]

4. Thanks.

My favorite is Dead Man. But there are a few I haven't seen, including Mystery Train. I just added it to my queue.

:hi:

[Kire]

5. just saw Dead Man again last week

you haven't seen Mystery Train? Those two and Coffee & Cigarettes are his best.

Edit: in fact, I'm going to pop Mystery Train in, right now

[rbnyc]

6. Cool.

I'm going to take a bath. It's so damn hot!

Take care.

[LeftyDarthBrodie]

7. I liked Down by Law

It's been a couple years since I saw it though. I am looking forward to Jarmusch's new film Broken Flowers which is meant to come out next month I believe.