Even an abundance of profanity, nudity, violence and flashy cinematography didn’t keep me from getting bored during Dom Hemingway. And it’s a shame, because the film’s title character is spectacularly played by Jude Law, who fully inhabits the angry, low-class criminal who returns to London’s streets after 12 years in prison. Law, transformed into a balding, mutton-chopped loser with a gut, regularly bursts out in violent spouts of verbose monologues, red-faced and shaking with rage. Along with best friend Dickie (Richard E. Grant), Hemingway sets out to settle past scores. An abrupt tone shift halfway through is jarring—Hemingway, who we’ve seen only pursuing money, drugs and sex, is suddenly preoccupied with reuniting with his estranged daughter. While the film no doubt attempts to deliver a redemption story, it fails. I couldn’t bring myself to care much about Hemingway, his motives or ultimate fate, perhaps because there are too few scenes that develop nuances of character. The inconsistent tone, underdeveloped supporting roles and threadbare plot fail to hold interest. The scenes play like set pieces of a not terribly interesting character study, and fail successfully to stitch together into a cohesive whole.
Should You See It? Although Jude Law’s performance is noteworthy, it doesn’t save the film. –S.Z.
Viewed at Landmark Plaza Frontenac