Displaying items by tag: Derek Cinafrance

ROOFMAN

US, 2025, 100 minutes, Colour.

Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Ben Mendelssohn, Peter Dinklage, Juno Temple, Emory Cohen, LaKeith Stanfield, Melonie Diaz, Lily Collias, Tony Revelori, Jimmy O.Yang, Uzo Aduba.

Directed by Derek Cianfrance.

Roofman was the nickname given to man who burglarised a number of franchises, especially McDonalds, 45 times, by digging through the roof and stealing whatever cash was available. And, the film is based on a true story – with some photos of Jeffrey Manchester, the Roofman, and information that he is still in jail.

This is a kind of night out entertainment although it does provoke some thought and some conscience-checking because Jeffrey Manchester is not your ordinary criminal, robbery, yes, but a genial and kind disposition, liking people and wanting to be liked. So, with a variation in the song from The Sound of Music, “what do we do with a problem like Jeffrey?”.

And the main aspect of the problem is that Roofman is played in a pleasantly likeable fashion by Channing Tatum.

When we first meet Jeffrey, he has been discharged from military service, successful action, with the gift for accurate observation, praised by his fellow military friend, Steve (LaKeith Stanfield). Jeffrey is married with a young daughter and younger twin boys, but separated from his wife. What is he to do to support them! Well, we see him dig through the roof of McDonald’s, confront the staff, putting them in the freezer though giving his coat to the manager who forgot to wear his and is cold. 44 McDonald’s robberies later, Jeffrey is arrested at his daughter’s birthday party and off to 45 years in jail. That does seem a bit harsh because while he took the money, he was always considerate to the staffs.

Prison. He is compliant and helpful. But, out he goes, a skilful escape, hitchhikes, and, for a large part of the film, after digging through the roof of the local Toys R Us store, conveniently settling in to a hiding place and establishing a routine, roaming by night, eating M&Ms, disastrous for his teeth, pawning DVDs to pay for treatment, observing all that was going on in the store. Then he ventures out, attracted by one of the staff, Lee, played sympathetically by Kirsten Dunst.

So, a charming life outside the store, off to church with Lee, the sympathetic pastor played by Ben Mendelssohn, relationship with Lee, trying to relate to her daughter’s, including a harum-scarum road trip to buy a car to win over the older daughter.

The tantalising thing is that we are wondering what will happen to Jeffrey, now using a false name during the day, the police still searching for him, possibility of a relationship with Lee and the daughters, a plan to pay his friend Steve for a false passport and flee the country, more robberies to pay for the passport, $50,000, and some violence and arson on Jeffrey’s part.

So, an entertainment, sometimes serious, frequently humorous, touch of romance, a thief’s method in derring-do - and often checking ourselves about our approval and disapproval of Roofman, and wondering why we like him.

1. The title, based on a true story, the final photos in the credits, the final information about Jerry Winchester?
2. The comic tone, sentiment, story of a thief, fraudster, but kindly, conscience issues?
3. The portrait of Jerry Winchester, Channing Tatum’s presence and performance, genial even while criminal? The opening, the McDonald’s, through the roof, confrontation with the staff, into the freezer, the manager cold, Jerry giving his coat? Taking the money? His motivations, his military career, success, capacity for observation? End of service, friendship with Steve? His wife, his young daughter, the twin boys, the separation, contact with them? The need for money? Another 44 McDonald’s robbed?
4. His daughter’s birthday party, the candles and wishes? His arrest?
5. In court, the McDonald’s staff, 45 years, in prison, friendly, work, useful, accepting his fate? The possibility for escape, the truck, the board concealing him under the truck, the escape, in the bush, the driver relieving himself, Jerry’s escape, getting rid of clothes, hitchhiking, coming to Charlotte? Trying to contact his wife and daughter, the refusal?
6. Seeing the Toys R Us, in through the roof, his finding the secure place to hide, settling in, the bed, the M&Ms, the effect on his teeth and the dentistry and the pawning of the DVDs to pay for it? Roaming the store, the toys, washing, the comfort of the night and settling in? Observing the manager, his strictness, observing Leigh and the other workers, sympathy for Leigh, single mother, asking for some time off, the manager refusing? His altering the security system? Security cameras not working? His own screens and his surveillance of the manager and the workers? His prospects? The police still after him?
7. Coming out of the security, his new name, the encounter with Leigh, the returned toys and his donation, in the church, pastor Ron and his wife, singing? The further encounters with Leigh, the relationship, her invitation, at home? Her two daughters? His friendship with Dee, Lindsey hostile, their suspicions, harshness, close of only with Dee, the car and driving, the reckless ride, the reaction of the salesman, bonding with Lindsey? A future with them all?
8. At the church, the pastor’s wife, the organisation of the meal with the single women, the flirting and his charm?
9. Steve’s return, the issue of the passport, Steve’s girlfriend and her reactions, needing the money for the passport, the robbery, digging into the wrong shop, breaking down the wall, the alarms? Getting away? The dental records, starting the fire, the destruction of the premises?
10. The episode of the shower, seeing the naked man, the police, the presumption that it was a homeless person?
11. Jerry, the decision to go, the plan, the plane ticket, in the store, the episode with the manager, the money, the spray from the cash, his concern, phoning for the ambulance, arranging for Leigh to be absent, her arriving, recognising him, his escape?
12. Driving to the airport, the phone call, his decision to return, Leigh giving him up, the arrest? What might have been?
13. In prison again, the information of two further escapes, still in prison at the making of the film? The visiting? Her comments? And the photos during the credits?