Down by Law
Director Jim Jarmusch made a big impression with his debut film Stranger Than Paradise. Two years later, he released Down by Law, a film shot in more or less the same style as its predecessor, but with much (more) deadpan humor. Dutch cinematographer Robby MĂĽller provided the atmospheric black-and-white cinematography for this unconventional crime comedy. Tom Waits, John Lurie, and Roberto Benigni star in the lead roles, while Waits and Lurie also composed the music.
DJ Zack, pimp Jack, and the Italian tourist Roberto, who speaks poor English—three men who don’t know each other—end up in jail in Louisiana. Zack and Jack are there without having done anything wrong; they’ve been framed. Roberto, on the other hand, has killed someone. Jack and Zack can’t stand each other and would rather not speak to one another, but Roberto can’t keep his mouth shut, which really gets on Zack and Jack’s nerves. The mood improves when he comes up with a way to escape.
