Roofman, 2025.
Directed by Derek Cianfrance.
Starring Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Peter Dinklage. Uzo Aduba, Ben Mendelsohn, Melonie Díaz, Lily Collias, Emory Cohen, Tony Revolori, Molly Price, Jimmy O. Yang, Gabe Fazio, Erika Jackson, Stephen Strickland, Kathryn Stamas, Uzo Aduba, Keya Hamilton, Katherine Scheimreif, and Javier Molina.
SYNOPSIS:
A charismatic criminal, while on the run from the police, hides in a hidden space of a toy store. There, he adopts a new identity and becomes involved with an employee, beginning a relationship as unlikely as it is risky.
There is a lesser version of Roofman that nearly every other filmmaker, other than co-writer/director Derek Cianfrance, would have made. That would be one far more interested in how Jeffrey Manchester, described as a kind and charismatic career criminal thief (which all checks out as played by Channing Tatum in a top shelf career performance that is much more than those elements)who had no interest in hurting anyone, robbed a variety of McDonald’s restaurants (45 to be exact) to be reunited with a family that wanted nothing to do with him for being a screwup in life, now with boatloads of money to buy a house and his daughter the birthday gifts she actually wants. This is, of course, before he is inevitably caught and arrested at the worst possible time for him, but the funniest time for us as an audience. There is an entire movie’s worth of material there for a filmmaker who would rather see the ludicrous nature of that part of the true story or make a zany heist film, rather than the real human and other aspects of his life.
That is only the prologue of Derek Cianfrance’s Roofman (penned alongside Kirt Gunn), which, yes, is concerned with the quirks and charm of a thief summed up as the most competent dumb person alive by his Afghanistan tour buddy Steve (LaKeith Stanfield), but more so how, following is similarly brainy escape from prison, isolation inside a Toys “R” Us (which comes with some outstandingly detailed production design considering the chain has gone out of business. That or one of the remaining stores in Canada was used and filled with period-piece accurate inventory), which led to a longing for connection with a new identity and life.
After the manhunt had died down, Jeff was free to do some good without the monkey of his past on his back. It starts with gestures from a distance, typically involving messing with bully store manager Mitch (a brilliant casting choice in Peter Dinklage), whether it be changing the employees work schedule without his knowing to something more reasonable or stealing copious amounts of M&Ms during after hours, where he is free to roam around the store and do as he pleases (the CCTV recording has been deactivated). One such instance involves stealing and bagging up several toys and games to bring to a toy drive for employee Leigh’s (Kirsten Dunst) church, after observing on the cameras that she had asked the Scrooge-like Mitch to do so, only to receive stern talk about how he is trying to run a business.
It is there where Jeff, addressing himself as “John Zorn” has something of a meet cute with Leigh, where it also becomes evident that underneath all the absurdity, humor, and appeal of living out every kids dream (from that generation, anyway) of living inside a Toys “R” Us, Derek Cianfrance is also interested in this true story as another example of what he excels at, which is profoundly moving relationship dramas. Naturally, this one is lighter than, say, Blue Valentine, but it’s not without emotional heft of its own as the closer these two get, with Jeff also ingratiating himself into the family and trying to earn the trust of Leigh’s two daughters, for as sweet and moving as this all is, there is also that sinking feeling there is no happy ending to this story.
Roofman isn’t only about Jeff coming to terms with the ending of one life and potentially starting another, but also whether he will be able to do so. There is a choice that will have to eventually be made, one involving a permanent new identity and complete freedom from being rearrested as the rooftop thief (which, by the way, comes from his sharp observational skills that allowed him to drill into buildings through the top and robbing them by morning) or risking it all under a false identity with Leigh, who doesn’t know his past. Yes, it’s often laugh-out-loud funny, and it’s also unbelievably sweet and devastating. This is Derek Cianfrance doing something fresh and completely unexpected from his heavier tones, but also something entirely within his wheelhouse and still emotionally heavy.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Robert Kojder
