THE DEVIL AND TOM WAITS
Oct 16, 2009Whatever Tom Waits is up to—be it music or acting (Down by Law, Short Cuts)—is bound to be interesting, so we can’t wait to see him in the role of a lifetime, as the devil in ...
Synopsis
When fate lands three hapless men—an unemployed disc jockey (Tom Waits), a small-time pimp (John Lurie), and a strong-willed Italian tourist (Roberto Benigni)—in a Louisiana prison, their singular adventure begins. Described by director Jim Jarmusch as a “neo–Beat noir comedy,” Down by Law is part nightmare and part fairy tale, featuring fine performances and crisp black-and-white photography by esteemed cinematographer Robby Müller.
Cast
| Zack | Tom Waits |
| Jack | John Lurie |
| Roberto | Roberto Benigni |
| Nicoletta | Nicoletta Braschi |
| Laurette | Ellen Barkin |
| Bobbie | Billie Neal |
| Gig | Rockets Redglare |
| Preston | Vernel Bagneris |
| Julie | Timothea |
| L.C. | L.C. Drane |
Credits
| Director | Jim Jarmusch |
| Cinematography | Robby Müller |
| Music | John Lurie |
| Editing | Melody London |
| Songs | Tom Waits |
| Producer | Alan Kleinberg |
| Co-producers | Tom Rothman and Jim Stark |
| Executive producers | Otto Grokenberger, Cary Brokaw and Russell Schwartz |
| Production manager | Rudd Simmons |
| Unit manager | David Ross McCarty |
| Set dresser | Janet Densmore |
| Assistant director | Claire Denis |
| Production troubleshooter | Sara Driver |
| First assistant camera | Jack Anderson |
| Sound | Drew Kunin |
| Gaffer | Christopher Porter |
| Key grip | Paul Ferrera |
| Supervising sound editor | John Auerbach |
| Sound editing | Frank Kern |
| Music recorded and mixed by | Tom Lazarus |
Disc Features
- 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
From the Current
Down by Law
by Oct 21, 2002Down by Law, released in 1986, was Jim Jarmusch’s third movie. Unlike its predecessors, Permanent Vacation and Stranger Than Paradise, it did not take off from a semi-documentary view of downtown Manhattan. It was entirely shot on location...
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