7.8
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Crime, Drama, Comedy • 1986 • 106 min • Adults (18+)
Down by Law (1986)
Down by Law (1986)
Overview
Down by Law is a quirky 1986 crime-comedy directed by Jim Jarmusch that follows three misfits—a disc jockey, a pimp, and an Italian tourist—after they escape from jail in New Orleans. The film leans traditional through its focus on universal themes, lack of explicit diversity or progressive messaging, and a character whose desire for lifelong marriage is fulfilled by the story's end. Set in a dim-lit, deadpan world, it avoids politicizing its premise while keeping gender and race roles standard. This creates a straightforward, apolitical charm.
Starring Cast
Tom Waits • John Lurie • Roberto Benigni
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Family Values: Leans Traditional
Viewer Rating
7.8
Overview
Down by Law is a quirky 1986 crime-comedy directed by Jim Jarmusch that follows three misfits—a disc jockey, a pimp, and an Italian tourist—after they escape from jail in New Orleans. The film leans traditional through its focus on universal themes, lack of explicit diversity or progressive messaging, and a character whose desire for lifelong marriage is fulfilled by the story's end. Set in a dim-lit, deadpan world, it avoids politicizing its premise while keeping gender and race roles standard. This creates a straightforward, apolitical charm.
Starring Cast
Tom Waits • John Lurie • Roberto Benigni
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Traditional
Primary
Political: Center
Confidence: High
The film focuses on apolitical themes of individual freedom, human connection, and the absurdities of life, rather than promoting a specific political ideology. The wrongful imprisonment serves as a catalyst for personal journeys and interactions, not a critique of systemic issues.
Diversity: Low
Confidence: High
The movie features a predominantly white male cast without intentional race or gender swaps of traditional roles. Its narrative maintains a neutral or positive framing of these traditional identities, focusing on universal themes rather than explicit DEI critiques or themes.
Secondary
Family Values: Leans Traditional
Confidence: High
The film presents a contrast between characters who are isolated and lack traditional family ties, and one character whose primary motivation is to find a partner for lifelong marriage, a desire that is positively fulfilled by the narrative's end.
LGBTQ: N/A
Confidence: High
Down by Law does not feature any identifiable LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or themes. The narrative centers on three men who escape prison and their subsequent journey, with all character interactions and romantic subplots being exclusively heterosexual. The film's focus lies elsewhere, exploring themes of alienation, freedom, and the absurdities of life.
Trans: N/A
Confidence: High
The film 'Down by Law' does not feature any identifiable transgender characters or explore transsexual themes. The narrative centers exclusively on the experiences of three male protagonists, Zack, Jack, and Roberto, as they navigate their escape from prison and subsequent travels, with no elements related to transgender identity emerging in the plot or character arcs.
Female Combat: N/R
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Gender Swap: No
Confidence: High
Down by Law is an original film with characters created specifically for its narrative. There are no pre-existing canonical or historical figures whose gender was altered for their portrayal in this movie.
Race Swap: No
Confidence: High
The film "Down by Law" is an original story with characters created specifically for this production. There is no prior source material, historical record, or previous adaptation from which character races could be established and subsequently changed.
Hinduism: N/A
Confidence: High
Not depicted in the film.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.7
7.4
Critic Ratings
8.5
7.5
More Like This
Leans Traditional
8.3
Stranger Than Paradise
(1984)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
6.7
The Ref
(1994)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
8.5
The Sting
(1973)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.1
Matchstick Men
(2003)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.7
To Die For
(1995)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Neutral
Traditional
6.6
Deathtrap
(1982)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Negative
Leans Traditional
6.8
The Informant!
(2009)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
8.2
Paper Moon
(1973)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
8.1
Adaptation.
(2002)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.2
Going in Style
(1979)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.2
Bottle Rocket
(1996)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.3
Something for Everyone
(1970)
Political: Leans Left
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Negative
Leans Traditional
7.7
Logan Lucky
(2017)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.4
Faults
(2014)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.1
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
(2002)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
7.6
In Bruges
(2008)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
6.8
The Matador
(2005)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Neutral
Traditional
8.0
Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
(2019)
Political: Leans Right
Diversity: Low
Leans Traditional
8.2
Once Upon a Time in America
(1984)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
Center
8.2
Mystic River
(2003)
Political: Center
Diversity: Low