Director Jim Jarmusch followed up his brilliant breakout film Stranger Than Paradise with another, equally beloved portrait of loners and misfits in the American landscape. When fate brings together three hapless men—an unemployed disc jockey (Tom Waits), a small-time pimp (John Lurie), and a strong-willed Italian tourist (Roberto Benigni)—in a Louisiana prison, a singular adventure ensues. Described by Jarmusch as a “neo-Beat noir comedy,” Down by Law is part nightmare and part fairy tale, featuring sterling performances and crisp black-and-white cinematography by the esteemed Robby Müller.

Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Kinowelt Home Entertainment (Germany) - Region 2 - PAL vs. Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection (USA)

Region 1 - NTSC

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.93 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.79 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

The Criterion Collection (USA)

Kinowelt Home Entertainment (Germany)

Blu-ray

English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Thoughts & reflections by Jim Jarmusch
• 2002 video interview with director of photography Robby Müller
• 1986 Cannes Film Festival press conference
• 1986 John Lurie interview with commentary
• Outtakes
• Music video of Tom Waits singing Cole Porter's
• Q&A with Jarmusch
• Jarmusch's phone calls with Waits, Benigni, and Lurie
• Isolated music track
• Production Polaroids and Location stills
• Original theatrical trailer
• Optional French dub track, featuring Roberto Benigni
• 2 DVDs

DVD Release Date: October 22, 2002
Keep Case

Chapters 36

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen letterboxed - 1.78:1

Edition Details:
• Regions 2 & 8
• Robby Müller on 'Down by Law'
• Isolated music track
• Jim Jarmusch's phone calls to Tom Waits, Roberto Benigni and John Lurie
• Music Video 'It's Alright With Me'
• Trailers for 'Down by Law' and 'Night on Earth'

 

Chapters 21

Edition Details:
• Thoughts & reflections by Jim Jarmusch (1:13:18)
• 2002 video interview with director of photography Robby Müller (22:39)
• 9-part 1986 Cannes Film Festival press conference
• 16 Outtakes
• Music video of Tom Waits singing Cole Porter's (4:41)
• Q&A with Jarmusch (24:48)
• Jarmusch's phone calls with Waits, Benigni, and Lurie
• Isolated music track
• Production Polaroids and Location stills
• Original theatrical trailer (2:26)
• Optional French dub track, featuring Roberto Benigni

Blu-ray Release Date: July 17th, 2012
Transparent Blu-ray Case

ADDITION: Criterion - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (July 2012): The Criterion significantly improves over its own 2002 SD-DVD with brilliant contrast and a notable amount of more information in the 1.78:1 frame (over the Kinowelt as well). Detail rises and the image frequently showcases depth. It's quite a step forward for fans of the film seeing this in such a stellar appearance - contrast rivals any black + white film to Blu-ray that I can think of.

Criterion remains authentically mono via a linear PCM track - and the optional French DUB remains. It looks like extras are the same with the 1/4 hour Thoughts & reflections by Jim Jarmusch as he reminisces about the film. Plus we still get the 22-minute Müller interview, the 9-part 1986 Cannes Film Festival press conference, the 16 Outtakes and more.

I think this is a dramatic upgrade especially for the video which looks pristine and fans should certainly consider double-dipping. Strongly recommended!

Gary W. Tooze

***

ON THE DVDs: The Kinowelt image is slightly sharper and has a little bit more contrast. The Criterion picture is slightly cropped on top, on the left and on the right. Both discs have very strong image quality, but Kinowelt is slightly better.

I suppose that the English soundtracks are the same quality. Criterion includes also the French dub, but I'm not sure if it's an important addition. Criterion has a choice of English or French subtitles. Kinowelt offers German, Dutch or French subtitles. I don't understand why they haven't included English subtitles.

The Kinowelt DVD includes very good special features (especially the outtakes and very interesting lengthy interview with cameraman Robby Müller), but it's only a part of the amount offered by Criterion. Here, Criterion obviously wins.