I watched Down By Law for the first time the other day and, reviewing the storyline on here, used seven words. This film takes nine: three people drift together, drift around then drift apart. The narrative idea- to take a staple dramatic device (chancing upon a stash of criminals’ cash and taking it) and place it at the climax rather than the outset- is interesting but downplayed. Plot is not important here.
There are lots of still, silent shots of people sat doing nothing. It is a beautiful film of dull subjects. The mundanity of the protaganists’ lives, their lack of direction or aspiration is writ large. If I could have anyone make the film of my ridiculous, nondescript life I’d want a Jim Jarmusch film. His style and vision would make the rundown, grime of West Bromwich look like the place it still is in my head.
The main character of the three Bela/Willie is played beautifully by John Lurie. He looks great, like Belmondo in ‘À Bout de Souffle’, but his hipster style is betrayed by his bemoaning the repeated airings of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ ‘I Put A Spell On You’. The style is superficial, it doesn’t matter to him. Nothing does. This is reinforced by the aping of his style by Eddie (Richard Edson) he wants the look to be like Willie, but he’s not like Willie. The third main player is Eva, a recently arrived Hungarian emigree, played by Eszter Balint. She is the coolest of the three, but that’s no great praise really. She looks square but is a bit more self-assured (though this is only once acknowledged, by Willie when she’s- presumably- shoplifted some groceries) while the other two protagonists look cool but lack any verve or drive.
Stylistically, thematically, visually this is a classic. The character arc I’d have hoped for doesn’t happen though- a fucking shame.
