Down by Law

I find prison movies to be quite interesting. Most of them tell of the setting and the characters within them in a very serious way, where stakes are high. Whether that's an escape or survival plot, most of the time these as dramatic movies. Every once and a while there are those that come along and make an impression on us that treat the subject in a different lens. One blending irony, humor, or satire to make something funny. Our subject today is a fil as much about imprisonment as it is not about imprisonment. A film that follows three very different men as they wind up in a jail cell together to form a bond as their journey and hopes of freedom unfurl.

So if you're like me and you enjoy film and the impact and emotions they convey, then grab a glass of your preferred liquid and join me for the next little while. For me, that's a glass of ice cold water on a rather humid day. So sit back, relax, and let's talk about the love of film. Welcome to Glazed Cinema.

Down by Law is about three men living in New Orleans, who are all strangers to each other. Over the course one night their luck runs out one by one and all of them are arrested for one thing or another. Two of the men end up in a jail cell together and later on a third is thrown into the same cell, adding another clashing person to the environment. Sharing a small jail cell they're personalities clash and meld as they plan their escape.

Directed by Jim Jarmusch, Down by Law is very much a product of the man himself. His films share a few common threads, but none stronger than his use of deadpan. Our subject today is no different in this regard. Down by Law is sparse and minimal in a lot of different aspects from the cast, locations, direction, and shots. Jarmusch used a new cinematographer on this project by the name of Robby Muller. When asked what direction he should take with the photography Jim responded with, "Well Robby, it's just a fairy tale." Robby commented in the interview that this felt extremely free with this and that he could follow his instinct.

With a budget of roughly one million dollars it was filmed in a rather exotic location compared to his last efforts, with everything being shot on location. As independent project there wasn't a lot of excess to be found. Even the film crew was fairly small, consisting of twenty-five people. It's also in the cast as there are three main characters that drive the movie forward and for the majority of the film they're who we interact with visually. As the saying goes however, quality over quantity and the same is true here as everyone turns in great performances.

We talked about there being three main characters in this film and they are very different from one another. They all play well together up to a certain point and we’re introduced to two right from the jump and the third a little later. The first two we meet are named Jack and Zack, which despite the rhyming names are no more harmonious than a fifth grade music class learning the recorder. The movie follows them through one of the lowest points in their respective lives, but Jarmusch approaches this perfectly. Through a delicate balance of blending their unfortunate circumstances with humor the experience is very enjoyable.

Jack is the first character we meet, which happens very quickly. Jack is played by John Lurie who is a Jim Jarmusch regular. I always link the two together in my mind, much like one might do with other director, duo combos like Scorcese and DeNiro for instance. Down by Law is their second effort together, their first being another great film called Stranger than Paradise, released just two years prior. Jack is a taller man who has a certain swagger and smoothness to him. He is certainly used to leading and has a certain air of confidence, which at times borders on arrogance, but his sense of humor softens that. He's a small time pimp, who is a bit out of his depth living in New Orleans. He runs a brothel in a building downtown and when we meet him he's just waking up in bed, cuddling with a woman. Our introduction to him ends when he lays back down alongside her, wraps his arm around her, and closes his eyes. Before we depart, her eyes open, almost offended by the situation.

Zack is the second of the three main characters we meet and he is played by the one and only Tom Waits. Now, I am a huge fan of Tom Waits in general, but especially for his music. He’s in my Top six favorite musical artists of all time and the only reason why its a top six is because it’s too hard to narrow it down to five. He’s a man who just oozes coolness and to me he’s always represented something my Top Six all share. Being just fine with who you are and unapologetically doing things your own way. Down by Law was my introduction to Waits as an actor and my main draw for watching this movie. Zack is an ex-disc jockey who has turned in his microphone and on-air persona of Lee “Baby” Sims for the time being. We get from conversations that he’s been a radio dj for several stations, bouncing around the country. At one point he recites a radio intro in his car alone and sounds like a jazz radio dj with a smoother, lower, and semi raspy delivery. When we meet him he’s living with his girlfriend in a second story apartment. Down on his luck, she harps on him to get a local radio gig, but instead he does odd jobs he can find for money.

The third man is Roberto, played by Roberto Benigni. Roberto is an Italian tourist who ends up on the wrong side of town. His English is very broken, but gets by on what he knows...and by what phrases he writes down to remember for later in his pocket sized notebook. These phrases have either captured his imagination or that he feels are humorous in someway, like "If looks can kill, I am-a dead now". He’s a peculiar man with a child like sensibility and innocence, and messy hair adds to that aesthetically. A stranger in a strange new land, unfamiliar to his native Italy, we get the sense that he’s enjoying learning about America. With a wonderfully thick Italian accent, Roberto is the glue that holds the trio together and makes following the trio more enjoyable. When Jack and Zack are fighting, Roberto is the one to bring them together again. Of all three characters, he is certainly the most magnetic, a result of Benigni's great performance in the role. Almost everything he does is funny in some way to me.

Down by Law was shot entirely in black and white and the cinematography of the movie feels wonderfully tangible. Using a wide lens, the cinematographer, Robby Muller almost reminds me of some Japanese style of camera work, harkening on Kurosawa or Ozu at times. The overall look of the movie matches with its setting as it's very gritty and dirty, almost tangible at times even. There's nothing extravagant about the film overall. It's told in a fairly straightforward manner. Despite that however, there are some beautiful shots and sequences that are absolutely amazing to me.

One of my favorite shots in this film is one of these in that it's a stand-alone image that I could see framed on a wall. It's in the beginning when Zack is kicked out by his girlfriend. After an argument that leads her to throw his belonging out the window he finds himself on the street. Standing alone with the lonely street lights, the balcony stands as a reminder of rejection as he stands amongst the broken rubble of his past. Other shots in the film are fantastic in their own right, but there's something about this one that I really enjoy. I used this shot as the hint for the episode just this past Wednesday. If you haven’t seen it, it’s on our social media feeds for your review.

Another thing I really enjoy about this movie is the dialogue and sometimes it cuts through everything on screen to draw attention to it. There are some great lines in this movie that I quote from time to time, like when Bob proclaims, "It's a sad and-a beautiful world" or in asking for a match, "Jack, do you have some fire?" or one of my favorites, when Zack states, “Well we can't live in the present forever Charline". I have a thing about quotes though, sometimes someone will say something and it'll remind me of a movie quote and it brings me back to that scene and makes me smile. I guess that comes with the power of a good movie, right?

The opening of the film is muted in the best way, almost ordinary in the sense that this is just another day in New Orleans. We open to moving shots from a vehicle of outdoor scenes of the city with Tom Wait’s Jockey Full of Bourbon playing in tandem. It plays as the connective tissue that connects Jack and Zach, playing between their introductions.

The first time I watched Down by Law I didn’t really know what to expect. I was there for Tom Waits and beyond that I didn’t really have any other expectation. What I was greeted with however was such a pleasant surprise.

I honestly had no idea on what to expect. It's always exciting for me to watch a film form a new director and this was no different. The only measuring stick I had to go on though were other prison type movies like Shawshank Redemption, Escape from Alcatraz, or Papillion, but a comedy prison film, probably only The Longest Yard. So when I pressed play I essentially disregarded any expectation I had and went in cold. This film drew me in very early on and had me more invested as the plot unfurled before me. By the end I was sad to see the characters go, but was really glad that I tuned in to see their story.

Down by Law is a movie depicting serious subjects, done in a brilliantly balanced way that feels energized and humorous. If you're looking for a movie to watch that you can turn on and melt into and enjoy, Down by Law is a great option to choose. With great performances, witty and natural dialogue, and fantastic direction, you can't go wrong with pressing play on this one as either a casual or more serious film fan.

If you'd like to watch Down by Law for yourself, you can find it on a variety of streaming services. At the time of this recording yo can find it on the Criterion Channel. The Criterion Channel is a service with tremendous value from our friends at the Criterion Collection. The Criterion Channel offers two pricing options including $9.99 per month or $99 per year, which is what I chose to do.

You can also find Down by law on HBO Max if you subscribe to their service. HBO Max offers two pricing option including $9.99 per month with ads and $14.99 per month ad-free.

Down by Law is also available on Apple TV and Prime Video at $3.99 to rent.

If you like this podcast, tell your friends and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Each week there will be new content including hints about episodes before they air. If you'd like to learn more about the podcast, visit our website atglazedcinema.com. There you'll find more info about the show and a place to submit ideas for future episodes. For film fans who are hearing impaired our blog page offers each episode in written form as well. As always, thanks for listening and I hope to see you next time on Glazed Cinema.