In 2004, former soldier Jeffrey Manchester escaped prison, where he was serving a 45-year sentence for armed robbery. He was given the moniker ‘Roofman’ for his MO of creating a hole in the roofs of his targets – mostly McDonald’s – and robbing the cash registers. For six months, he evaded law enforcement by hiding in a Toys ‘R’ Us store before he was recaptured. Marking Derek Cianfrance’s first directorial film since 2016 feature The Light Between Oceans, Roofman sees Manchester’s exploits on the big screen with Channing Tatum in the eponymous role.
At first glance, Roofman offers a similar vibe to Linklater comedy Hitman. Both features revolve around a similarly fantastical true story about an ordinary guy and given the success of Hitman, it would be unsurprising if Roofman paints itself as a comedy, given that audiences see Manchester’s criminal yet good-natured demeanour in the intro by offering his coat to a captive before he closes them in a walk-in fridge. However, the film reiterates that ‘this is a true story’, so it gives audiences the chance to find out about the man in Roofman.
Known for his character-driven dramas, Cianfrance is an interesting director choice for what is basically a biopic. The normalisation of Manchester’s story into a relatable cinematic journey feels like a test for his skills behind the camera, as well as a screenwriter, yet the focal point is Manchester’s desire for family – a familiar theme for Cianfrance, with it being a focus in films such as Blue Valentine and The Place Beyond the Pines. Cianfrance’s narrative paints Manchester as a desperate father who wants to do right by his young children. Yet he isn’t entirely inept – as an Armed Forces Reserve, he has strong survival and observational skills that ultimately help him evade capture from police. Unfortunately, he just makes bad choices – driven by his need for normality, he robs to give his family a life of luxury that he seemingly thinks would make them happy. As a result, he doesn’t think twice about returning to crime to win over single mum Leigh (Dunst) and her two daughters, using expensive gifts under the alias ‘John Zorn’ to become the dad he always wanted to be.
As a while, the combination of an amoral man yearning to be a dad who resorts to hiding in the midst of cuddly bears and the general fuzziness of a popular toy store is a notable device that causes occasional tonal inconsistencies in the narrative. The film switches between whimsical comedy, driven by bouts of physicality, and domestic dramatic moments that aim to evoke empathy for a criminal as Cianfrance’s grainy yet frank direction blurs the line between entertainment and the documentation of Manchester’s life. So while it feels incredulous at times, it is hard to take Roofman seriously as a portrait of a criminal doing hard time – especially when the issues of soldiers returning to civilian life, as well as their related financial struggles, are overshadowed by Manchester’s crimes.
To this extent, Tatum excels as Manchester, showing that he can do more than portray a comical and/or attractive male lead. His profound performance portrays a man who is calm and in control, manipulating the Toys ‘R’ Us security systems and engineering a little cubby as a hideout like a natural. But when his desperation causes him to break the law repeatedly, his scrambling shows that his control has limits. While Tatum aims to hit the emotional spots, Dunst brings a charm and realism as struggling single mom Leigh, whose guardedness shows her reluctance to romance but is won over by the charms of Manchester – sorry, John Zorn.
Supporting stars LaKeith Stanfield and Peter Dinklage are also notable additions, delivering a sense of realism as Manchester’s fellow soldier friend Steve and Leigh’s boss Mitch, respectively. Steve presents himself as a loyal friend but recognises his skills are more in tune with crime than the real world, whereas Mitch is a stern hardass, whose unrelenting rudeness makes him a relatable character.
Roofman‘s caper involving a criminal hiding in a toy store offers a confusing tone, so it is not as strong as Cianfrance’s earlier works. However, Tatum’s depth as the eponymous ‘Roofman’ will keep audiences engaged.
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Director: Derek Cianfrance
Stars: Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, Lakeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Ben Mendelsohn
Runtime: 126 minutes
Country: USA
