Down by Law
Director: Jim Jarmusch
Year Released: 1986
Rating: 2.0
Droning minimalism from Jarmusch about three convicts who escape from prison in Louisiana. The absence of content is probably intentional and acts as an unpleasant distancing device, leaving you to stare at the gorgeous cinematography and grimace as Roberto Benigni's broken English is mocked. Unlike Stranger Than Paradise, where you're left waiting for the other shoe to drop - that entire picture was a conceptual comedy about lethargy and unhappiness - this actually has the people/figurines speaking and 'acting.' The single scene with each of the convicts' love interests is not enough to provide the men with real substance as 'characters' (if that was the intention).
