A classy celebration of obscenity and vulgarity.

“Misfortune. Misfortune befell me.”

Vulgarity centered humor is tricky to pull off well. If the movie is too vulgar, then the crudeness overtakes the comedy (2013’s Filth); however, if the movie is not vulgar enough, then the movie has no bite (the tragically overrated American Pie). Dom Hemingway walks this tightrope with ease.

Dom is a recently released from jail after a 12 year stretch, and he is bursting at the seams to drink up the life he has missed and the money he is owed. The world has changed in those 12 years, and Dom must decide what his place will be in the new world. Unquestionably, Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes, The Road to Perdition, A.I. Artificial Intelligence) puts on the performance of his career, a role that is unlike any of the pretty boy characters he is known for playing. Law’s transformation is an outlandish performance that dictates the tone of the film, much like Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance as Bill “the Butcher” Cutting in Gangs of New York. Without Law’s pitch perfect performance, the movie would fall off the tightrope.

Unfortunately, the one place where Dom Hemingway is not completely in your face is in emotional and character development. Don’t get me wrong, the journey Dom takes character altering and even touching; however, it feels rushed and exclusive to Dom. The characters that surround our anti-hero do not get the chance to grow, even for supporting characters. Additionally, there is a bit too much predictability. Wouldn’t the movie be more surprising if main characters can’t miraculously save themselves from the situation at hand without fail? Without the sense that our character can fail, tension is never really created. Ultimately, none of these complaints kept Dom from entertaining me from start to finish.

Back to the good stuff! Generally, we all underappreciate soundtracks (why is that?). So that fact that I made a strong note about the score, speaks volumes. The punk rock songs are perfectly in tune with not only Dom Hemingway himself, but with the energy of Dom Hemingway the movie. When Dom is walking out of the prison at the beginning of the movie, you can’t help but get excited about the shenanigans to come, and the music is essential in creating that effect.

Dom Hemingway shows us a man who behaves as he thinks he should, but not as he wants to behave. Looming over all our heads is the margin between the person we are and the person we aspire to become. Narrowing that margin is never easy and often frightening. Does Dom have the courage to let go and move on? Do you?

Rating:

Run Time: 94

General Release: 2013

Director: Richard Shepard

Cast: Jude Law / Richard E. Grant / Demian Bichir

Country: United Kingdom

Trailer: