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Down by Law

7.6

12,654

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Original title

Down by Law

Year

1986

Running time

107 min.

Country

United States

Director

Jim Jarmusch

Screenwriter

Jim Jarmusch

Cast

Music

John Lurie. Songs: Tom Waits

Cinematography

Robby Müller (B&W)

Producer

Co-production United States-Germany - West Germany (FRG);

Black Snake, Grokenberger Film Produktion, Island Pictures

Genre

Comedy. Drama | Crime. Prison Drama. Cult Movie. Independent Film (US)

Synopsis

DJ Zack and pimp Jack end up in prison for being too laid-back to avoid being framed for crimes they didn't commit. They end up sharing a cell with eccentric Italian optimist Roberto, whose limited command of the English language is both entertaining and infuriating - but rather more useful to them is the fact that Roberto knows an escape route.

Rankings Position

Awards: 1986: Cannes Film Festival: Nominated for Palme d'Or (Best Film)

1986: Independent Spirit Awards: 4 Nominations including Best Film

1986: National Society of Film Critics (NSFC): nominated to Best Cinematography.

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Critics' reviews

"A terrific movie (...) A beautiful, melancholy, kidding escape fantasy"

David Denby: The New Yorker
"It doesn't have the inspired perfection of "Stranger Than Paradise," in which every shot seemed inevitable. But it's a good movie, and the more you know about movies, the more you're likely to like it (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"Reduced to its plot, it is very slight. But the plot isn't the point. The excitement comes from the realization that we are seeing a true film maker at work"

Vincent Canby: The New York Times
"A complicated and multi-layered tale (...) Hyper-intellectualizing aside, it's pure pleasure for comedy connoisseurs. Read full review

Rita Kempley: The Washington Post
"Jarmusch's passive style has its wit, but the style is deadening here until he brings in Roberto--a character out of folk humor"

Pauline Kael: The New Yorker
"With its hypnotic score, stupendous performances and its superb monochrome cinematography by Robby Müller, it is something to set aside early work by David Lynch and Spike Lee (...) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Peter Bradshaw: The Guardian
"Alternately downbeat, witty, bleak and optimistic. Down by Law is a delight, right down to the unexpected last scene"

Martin Chilton: Telegraph

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Down by Law

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