166 - Down by Law

[captainofbeef]

- New high-definition digital transfer, enhanced for widescreen televisions
- Thoughts & reflections by Jim Jarmusch
- 2002 video interview with director of photography Robby Müller
- 1986 Cannes Film Festival press conference with Jarmusch and stars John Lurie, Roberto Benigni, and Nicoletta Braschi
- 1986 John Lurie interview with commentary
- Outtakes
- Music video of Tom Waits singing Cole Porter's "It's All Right with Me," directed by Jarmusch
- Q&A with Jarmusch
- Jarmusch's phone calls with Waits, Benigni, and Lurie
- Isolated music track
- Production Polaroids
- Location stills
- Original theatrical trailer
- Optional French dub track, featuring Roberto Benigni
- Optional French subtitles
- English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
- Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

[captainofbeef]

My next Criterion purchase right here. I am in a Jarmusch obsession mode right now.

[Nomansvally]

I just saw this "neo-beat-noir-comedy" and I loved it, It was a very lean and frankly sweet film. Captured with perfect B/W cinematography and some of the dialogue was so warm and real, it smelled improvisation all the way.

I love Tom Wait's character, I want to check out his music!

[agentknight]

Fucking brilliant. Roberto Benigni is hilarious. "I screama you screama we all scream for ice cream!"

[criterionmaster]

i just watched this, but i am not quite sure how much i liked it. i know i liked it, but i think i might have really liked it. i will come back with more thoughts. i couldn't believe i actually really loved the songs in the film, even though all the other waits songs i had heard i didn't like.

[lordofdance]

I had to watch this about 3 times before it grew on me. I knew there was something about it I liked the first time, but I couldn't put my finger on it exactly. At first I was put off by the slow pace until I realized that it was one of the key reasons that the movie appealed to me. I liked the long stretches where not a lot happens, which is not always the case with movies. By the time hyperactive Roberto Benigni appears I felt pretty relaxed. His character was kind of jarring, actually. With Down By Law, I enjoyed the presentation more than the story or characters. Stylistically it was entertainining.

[criterionmaster]

i think i really agree with you. the long parts with nothing happening, like when they are in jail just talking, or not talking, are some of my favorite parts, or when they are escaping. it's style is definitely the best element of the film. the fact that it was shot in black and white is what really makes it beautiful to me, and the cinematography was just fantastic.

i watched that long-ass jarmusch audio interview on disc one and it was really nice to hear him talk at length about the film. he had a lot of interesting things to say about the film and the making. which might have made me appreciate the film a little more, as well.

the film is already growing on me, the more i think about it, and i think i might just buy it, and then re-watch it, like you said, it will probably become better the more i watch it.