Down by Law, an irreverent prison movie by Jim Jarmusch, stars Tom Waits (yes - the Tom Waits) as a down on his luck guy who winds up being framed for a crime he didn't commit and thus sharing a cell with a pimp played by Jack Laurie. Also in the mix is Roberto Benigni, the Italian Robin Williams, who has done something very bad indeed. Down by Law is exactly the sort of film you'd expect from a filmmaker like Jim Jarmusch; beautifully shot, poetic and strange, not to mention it's packed with the sorts of oddball characters you'd only find in... well, a Jim Jarmusch movie, to be honest. Did we mention that this is a prison break movie, too? After the trio spend the first part of the movie bickering until they're blue in the face, Roberto decides to escape. This doesn't bode too well, however, as - in typical Jarmuschian fashion - they end up getting lost. Unlike any other prison movie you've ever seen, it's definitely not one you want to miss.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
