*** out of ****
Dom Hemingway is another offbeat, darkly funny character study from Richard Shepard, director of 2005's The Matador. Jude Law, in a colorful performance, plays Dom, a safe-cracker with rage issues. Dom is just out of prison for doing a 12 year stint for keeping his mouth shut. Once free, he sets out to beat the stuffing out of the man who was romancing his now deceased ex-wife, get some compensation from the gangster (Demian Bichir) whom he refused to rat out, and possibly build a relationship with his adult daughter (Game of Thrones' Emilia Clarke).
Sometimes the character of Dom is hard to take, for he is loud, obnoxious and long-winded. However, I must commend Shepard's sure-footed direction and Law's performance, because we eventually start to care about this low-life.
Law has great support by Richard E. Grant (who, by sporting tinted glasses, kind of resembles Peter Fonda here) as Dom's loyal partner Dickie. Grant's character is the perfect opposite to Law's high volume character. Dickie is generally quiet, and Grant's subtle facial expressions are the best.
If you are looking for something that is off the beaten path with character importance over action, then Dom Hemingway is your best bet.
