Review of Jarmusch's Down by Law

I thought this film was very minimalist. There was very little action, dialogue, and sets were simple. Like the previous Jarmusch film I have seen Limits of Control, there seems to be no point or theme to the film. The stylistic elements of the film are very reductionist. The camera moves little. The editing is uncomplicated. Like Ebert says in his review, the style of the film is very "noirish."

Analyzing Jarmusch films could probably constitute a whole course. Comparing it to other films like Limits of Control yields some points of comparison. Limits of Control has more action and a definitive climax. Perhaps it does not, like Down by Law, have a plot or metatextual meaning.

I enjoyed watching the film because of what it does for Cinema. It purposefully eschews blockbuster style filmmaking and puts forth an artistic creation. Some of the shots were very well done and the cinematographer should be commended. The story and style of the film grow out of Noir films. All of the characters are struggling to survive in the urban jungle that New Orleans is. Each of the three characters paths intersects, and, by the end of the movie, all three characters have again gone their separate ways.

Down by Law is a film about struggling to survive. In each character we see someone who is setup to take a fall and has ended up in jail. The film is an interesting story that tells of random occurrences with no apparent meaning. Aimless, wandering, typical Jarmusch.