I entered the theatre filled with promise. I left with mascara running down my face. It was moving, hilarious, so incredibly interesting to look at from a cinematographic perspective - everything I’d hoped for and more. Yes, I have critiques, however, for the most-part I am about to give a very good review (which is rare for me may I add). If you wish to watch the film without any spoilers - stop reading now!
Roofman, to my disbelief, is based on a true story. Jeffery Manchester, otherwise known as the 'Roofman' was notorious for cutting holes in the roofs of fast food restaurants and robbing them. He escaped prison in 2004 and hid inside a ‘Toys-R-Us’ for numerous months, surviving on sweets and baby food (crazy I know), until he was recaptured in 2005. During this time, he started dating a local single mother - I mean, an unemployed, single man in his mid-30s has to have a pass time. Their relationship and how it unfolds, which the details of are fictionalised of course, is essentially the core premise of the film.
Let me give you a whistle-stop tour of the plot. Leigh (Kirsten Dunst) is essentially the archetypal ‘perfect American’ (minus maybe the whole divorce thing). You know the vibe: blonde hair, blue eyes, an avid-church goer, adores her children. Little does she know, the wholesome, generous, Christian man (Channing Tatum) whom she has fallen in love with at church, has a whole other identity: the ‘Roofman': an ex-army veteran, who traded his life in the army for a life of crime.
He spent months on end hiding from state police behind a large fixture on the shop floor of Leigh’s work, selling video games from the toy section and eating confectionary from the food aisle to survive. He also watched Leigh and the rest of the staff for almost the entire time through baby monitors for entertainment (and of course, surveillance) purposes so he didn't drive himself insane in his solitude.
He’s not just a cold hearted criminal, but a man who feels a lot of remorse for his past actions.
The multi-faceted nature of Jeffery Manchester’s character is so interesting to see played out on the screen; he’s not just a cold hearted criminal, but a man who feels a lot of remorse for his past actions, and we see glimpses of where he wishes to better himself. Although it does pain me to see Channing Tatum cast into another ‘bad-boy with a good heart’ role, at some points, I was like 'this is literally just a better directed and shot Magic Mike.' However, I digress.
Through one of the monitors, he discovered that Leigh was hosting a toy drive, and this is where the pair met. After hearing management (played by the wonderful Peter Dinklage) wouldn’t, he took it upon himself to donate toys to the drive from the store, in true anti-hero fashion. After some very cliché, heart-warming montages (cynical of me, I know) of the pair growing closer, Jeffery’s past starts to catch up with him. More and more suspicion around his whereabouts arises and he realises he needs to leave the country in order to have a shot of a normal life (by this, I mean a life outside prison). I genuinely do feel like the plot works here, in the sense that there was enough evidence shown for the audience to feel this sense of a family unit being torn apart when Jeffery decides it’s time for him to move away and start a new life. Often my biggest critique in films is that there wasn’t enough plot or character development, as most films cannot tell nearly as much story as a longer format TV series can, however this film doesn’t fall short in this department for me, and I was honestly impressed with how much was packed into this film.
I was in tears, ruined.
Back to the plot - in order to flee the country, 'Roofman' needed money, and fast. Coerced by his ex-military friend and fellow criminal (played by captivating LaKeith Stanfield), he orchestrates an armed robbery inside the one place he now knows best - the place he’s been living in and analysing for 6 months - the toy store. Once the money was secured (which was painful viewing may I add, as he destroys all audience empathy for the already morally dubious character in one moment of sheer recklessness) Jeffery is destined for South America. This was until he receives a call from Leigh, who as the viewer knows, is starting to be suspicious of Jeffery, telling him to come home for Christmas, as she and the girls miss him terribly. This was very blatantly a set up, as police were waiting outside Leigh’s house, and Jeffery is captured and sent back to prison. Yes, it’s not much of a very happy ending is it. The film then ends in Leigh, visiting an incarcerated Jeffery and in Christian style, granting him forgiveness, and showing acceptance for the events that occurred. As Jeffery and Leigh embrace one another between a wooden prison table, I was in tears, ruined.
Having gone into Roofman a Cianfrance novice, I left feeling like I’d just been punched in the chest (in the best way possible). Although some plot points were slightly too on-the-nose and predictable for my liking, I was amazed by the amount of emotional depth the story carried, however I believe a large part of that is due to the phenomenal cast.
Together or apart, Dunst and Tatum are incredibly brilliant.
Dunst and Tatum have this electric chemistry that really tied the film together, and furthermore, individually, they are both incredibly strong. Some actors require good rapport with one another to elevate their performance, whereas here, together or apart, Dunst and Tatum are incredibly brilliant. Dunst has this profound ability to solely use facial expressions to convey deep meaning, especially towards the end, when her character starts to notice something is awry. Tatum uses physicality to make his performance eye-catching, from when his body language drops when he knows it’s his last time watching Leigh and her family sing in church, to the scenes of him exploring the toy store at night on his own.
In addition, I thought Peter Dinklage was absolutely phenomenal, although again, it did pain me to see that he had been type cast into his role. Similarly to Tatum, most of his characters are often cynical, such as his role as Dean Casca Highbottom in The Hunger Games: Ballad of the Songbirds and Snakes for example. However, whenever he was in a scene, I was absolutely entertained in his presence.
No one faded into the background for me, every actor, even if they were just in one singular segment such as Jimmy O. Yang, who played the car salesman, had their moment. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Uzo Aduba (most famously known for playing ‘Crazy Eyes’ in Orange is the New Black) in another acting role outside of voice acting. I think her talent is so much better suited to being on screen as her facial expressions and general screen presence is absolutely brilliant.
In addition, I think it is also worth noting the unwavering devotion to the early 2000s era that the film withheld. From the ever so slight saturation of colour, the choices in wardrobe and set design, and the soundtrack which included some proper bangers such as Don’t Speak by No Doubt, Roofman didn’t miss at giving us a dose of nostalgia.
All in all, I highly recommend this film. It’s moving and well-thought out from a visual and plot perspective and showcases a wonderful cast of actors.