Dom Hemingway (2014)

How sad is this?

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

An ex-con who serves his time goes after his heist money upon his release from jail. After some rambling and a series disconnected events, which are supposed to be funny but can't break a smile, the presumably dark comedy turns into a drama centered around a neglecting father and an unforgiving daughter. The plot is spotty, uninteresting, unengaging and doesn't make much sense anyway. Jude Law stands out as a miscast for the "dumb and dumber" character he acts. This could be why his acting looks so theatrical. His buddy's acting on the other hand is as animated as a piece of wood. They are both unlovable characters with whom you can't sympathize and turn the movie into a borefest.

Dom Hemingway is a middling darkly comedic film following a criminal who returns to society after an incident that stole enough years from his life to miss many things. Some including family drama, partners in crime changing their styles, and Dom's previous lifestyle and relationships eventually catching him. Dom is a hilariously flawed and shameless individual with no intent to change or apologize to anyone. His behavior spirals out of control so much to the point where everyone either leaves him or meets their unfortunate demise. He's simply an uncontrollable daredevil who suddenly shows there's more about him the world hasn't seen yet until it's too late after untimely incidents.But that also applies to audiences who view this film expecting more from Jude Law's great performance as Dom including the film's seemingly convoluted storytelling. It presents potential and willpower to shock audiences, with its crass violence and humor, but ultimately losing its flair between moments involving drama and resolving various subplots.It's impossible to determine who the main villains were, if Dom ever truly learned to redeem himself, or successfully vowed revenge for experiencing nonstop deceits, and furthermore if anything that occurs within the film's timespan were worth introducing us to Dom's twisted world of criminality and idiocy. Although the film shines with memorable performances and cinematography, its repetitive pacing and storytelling ruins what would be an instant classic.There's simply too much Hemingway to see and not enough reasons to care.

Jude Law plays 'Dom Hemingway', a guy who is (wait for it) his own worst enemy. Brash, volatile and reckless, he is a one man walking soliloquy. Complimented by his loyal buddy 'Dickie'(Richard E. Grant), who is softer but no less earnest, 'Dom' is out of prison and looking to shake the world on his own terms and without consequence. The thing is 'Dom' is such a force of nature that it's hard for consequence to catch up to him. He's a walking hurricane of entitlement. Law's performance is amazing and unsympathetic even if his character is someone we've seen before and perhaps in better movies. (Alan Ford in 'Snatch'; Ray Winstone in...well, anything.) But 'Dom' has just enough redeeming qualities that one is encouraged to root for him. (It is Jude Law, after all.) And 'Dom' has a delightful pseudo self awareness in the way that people do who are forced into therapy. A hip electronica big beat soundtrack and strong supporting performances make for a fun but definitely unusual movie.

Flat, stagy, overacted & underwritten, this thing plays out for the most part as a junior high school attempt at imitating Guy Ritchie. I mostly agree with the reviewer who said he expected Guy Ritchie & got Will Ferrell, except that Will Ferrell does manage to be funny which I don't think Jude Law succeeds at at all. There was really no plot to speak of, just a very tired & very old cliché about some stolen money but the whole sequence of events unrolls so choppily & the Dom Hemingway character is so overwrought & unsympathetic, you wind up rooting for the wrong people (or no one - just for the bloody film to end already). Nothing redeeming in this thing. Saw it all better in Sexy Beast & that was no great shakes either but at least Kingsley can be truly menacing, not just pathetic like an overweight Jude Law.