Dom Hemingway (2013)

Directed by: Richard Shepard
Country: UK

Movie Review: American film director Richard Shepard, committed to TV series in the last six years, brings us a comedy-crime drama (a more vulgar version of Guy Ritchie’s old flicks) focused on the brash character of Dom Hemingway, a deranged safecracker looking for an opportunity after coming out of prison, where for 12 years he didn't snitch on his mates. Dom goes to his boss’ French villa to demand a good compensation but his plans are thwarted by a car accident and a greedy femme fatale. Penniless and angered, he returns to London to reconnect with his long-lost daughter, later realizing that she must be his priority. In the meantime, the vain Dom will have to come to terms with Lester, an old acquainted who hates him since he killed a cat called Bernard. The film is episodically demarcated through explanatory sentences in the beginning of each adventure, and intends to be a feast of dirty jokes and savage behavior from its unrestrained, petulant and defiant main character whose anger and vitality can make you love him or hate him. The plot is somewhat overdone in many aspects and sometimes loses track of balance and consistency, remaining watchable till the end only due to Jude Law’s great performance. In all his craziness, Dom just needs a deep breath to calm down and admit he’s a charmless monster, but inevitably and gradually, Shepard shows us that all he needs is love. Production values are good and score includes Motorhead, Pixies, and a sweet version of Waterboys’ “Fisherman’s Blues” by the actress Emilia Clarke.