Dom Hemingway
Fox Searchlight Pictures | Release Date: April 2, 2014
6.4
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 55 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
23
Mixed:
29
Negative:
3
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
7
BobbyPeruApr 3, 2014
Jude Law is great, but the pacing of the story lacks any rhythm. Some scenes play too long and while a rambling narrative can be a fun ride, there's just a bit too much slack here to support Law's performance. It tips into the greenJude Law is great, but the pacing of the story lacks any rhythm. Some scenes play too long and while a rambling narrative can be a fun ride, there's just a bit too much slack here to support Law's performance. It tips into the green because the cast as a whole is fun to watch and Shepard makes some fun choices in his use of music, color, camera angle and slow motion.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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5
Derek1127Mar 30, 2015
an overall strange movie that tries to be both serious and funny at the same time. Sometimes it works but most of the time I was left just scratching my head.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
amboyApr 20, 2014
This is a foul mouthed lark on the order of Sexy Beast, but is lifted to the level of superb by the all stops out performance of Jude Law. Who would have thought Gentleman Jude had it in him? He gives the whole film a glorious manicThis is a foul mouthed lark on the order of Sexy Beast, but is lifted to the level of superb by the all stops out performance of Jude Law. Who would have thought Gentleman Jude had it in him? He gives the whole film a glorious manic energy. Great fun but violent and as profane as Wall Street's Wolf.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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10
ThegodfathersonApr 2, 2014
Dom Hemigmway is funny, poignant and wild- all because of the awesome Jude Law. This british gangster comedy directed by Richard Shepard, offers comedy and a bundle of good performances. If that's not all, a british gangster Jude Law thatDom Hemigmway is funny, poignant and wild- all because of the awesome Jude Law. This british gangster comedy directed by Richard Shepard, offers comedy and a bundle of good performances. If that's not all, a british gangster Jude Law that will make you smile. Dom Hemingway is crazy and wild- in a good way.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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10
smokinjohnnieSep 7, 2015
Jude Law is amazing. What a brilliant performance. Great screenplay, actors, cinematography, editing, score, art direction and director. A total thrill ride with some amazing and amusing dialogue. Don't miss it.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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7
TVJerryApr 30, 2014
Jude Law flexes his muscles (figuratively and literally) as a brash, bellicose safecracker who gets out of jail after 12 years. He sets out (with friend Richard E. Grant) to collect what's owed him and reconnect with his daughter. This is oneJude Law flexes his muscles (figuratively and literally) as a brash, bellicose safecracker who gets out of jail after 12 years. He sets out (with friend Richard E. Grant) to collect what's owed him and reconnect with his daughter. This is one of those roles that gives a classy actor a chance to play against type and Law approaches it with gusto: cussing, ranting and violently attacking every one and every scene. While it's fun to watch (and sometimes too much), the character doesn't draw much sympathy until it's almost over. The writing and direction are solid without elevating the film to exceptional, but Law's energy makes it worthwhile.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
duncan1964Mar 29, 2015
Dom Hemingway has just been released from prison and travels to the south of France to get money that he is owed from a master criminal. A slight film built around a star turn from Jude Law it is, admittedly, all surface but its anDom Hemingway has just been released from prison and travels to the south of France to get money that he is owed from a master criminal. A slight film built around a star turn from Jude Law it is, admittedly, all surface but its an entertaining surface with an expletive strewn script that the cast all relish, it's just a shame that there isn't more meat on the bones of the story. The real delight of the film is seeing Law throw off the shackles of his pretty boy career and embrace character acting.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
LeZeeJul 4, 2016
An ex-con caught between in his old life and to adapt a new one.

The film is worth watching only for Jude Law in the title role. All the other character were weak, only he was the bright shining spot in it. The story also should have beenAn ex-con caught between in his old life and to adapt a new one.

The film is worth watching only for Jude Law in the title role. All the other character were weak, only he was the bright shining spot in it. The story also should have been better. At least improvising Emilia Clarke's part as she was in a an important role would have had a good impact on the film. Of course, it's a black-comedy-drama in the crime theme, but utilise its full potential to go some extent like maybe some interesting crime plots.

A few segments were quite absorbing like bet on to open the safe and France visit. There's no smooth storytelling, but the constant rise and fall of the main character was the reason for the lag in development and its pace. The overall point was very clear in portraying a struggling ex con and how he adapts to a new life or he desires to go back to his old life tells the remaining film. So some people might like or liked it, but I did not. Just below average film, but it's okay to watch once.

4/10… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
NightReviewsApr 18, 2014
There comes a time in every clean, charming actor’s career where the prospect of playing the bad guy is just as exciting as playing the good guy. Jude Law has been an actor who has played the good guy for the last two decades with dignity andThere comes a time in every clean, charming actor’s career where the prospect of playing the bad guy is just as exciting as playing the good guy. Jude Law has been an actor who has played the good guy for the last two decades with dignity and compassion; from a sophisticated playboy in Alfie, to a artificially intelligent gigolo in A.I: Artificial Intelligence, to young, lost writers in Closer and the recent The Grand Budapest Hotel, it’s clear that Law’s time to wreck havoc is now.

Dom Hemingway is Jude Law’s entrance to the world of cinema’s certifiably insane; driven on ego, sexual prowess and the pursuit of criminal icon status, Law’s performance is one performance that will have you believing in the power of filthy transformations on film.

Law embodies Hemingway; a loud, fouled-mouth safecracking vagabond whose rough Shakespearean-esque monologues are fuelled like a man on an eternal sugar rush and coke bender. Law, who put on thirty pounds, reportedly drank ten bottles of coke a day to thicken his midsection and put on an unhealthy amount of weight in a short period of time to portray Hemingway’s peasant-like/rugby player body figure, and does it sure work. Law, who has always been a delicate and fashionably conscious film star, sheds all charm aside and replaces it with rugged goatee, absurdity and crudeness, always pushing the envelope with his words and actions.

Dom Hemingway opens just days before Dom’s released from a long twelve year unknown criminal sentence. Naked and at the pleasure end of a fellow inmate’s fellatio duties, it becomes clear that Dom’s priorities in life are his dignity, his legacy, his cock, his ego and what is due to him at the end of his sentence from his boss Mr. Fountaine, played wonderfully by the constantly underrated Damien Bichir.

Upon his release, Dom settles a few scores, including beating the life out of his decease wide’s second husband Sandy Butterfield (Nick Raggett) for no good reason, chugging down a pint (or ten), sex with hookers, coke and collecting what’s due to him. After three days of partying that results in the most throbbing and painful hangover recorded, Dom and his trusty best friend Dixie Black (Richard E. Grant) visit Mr. Fountaine for Dom’s reward of silence in the south of France. As tempers flare and egos cross revolving around Mr.Fountaine’s newest exotic squeeze Paolina (Madalina Diana Ghenea), Dom gets what he wants from Mr.Fontaine in a mutual agreement. Together with Fountaine, Dom and his company celebrate like any good gangsters, thefts and crooks would do; with a ton of drugs, women and illegal activity. But while Dom and his entourage are enjoying his newly found freedom, another scheme to screw Dom from his twelve year long reward unexpected throws Dom cycle of deep, crappy luck.

Director Richard Shepard (The Matador) is the mastermind behind Dom Hemingway, writing and directing the picture, he captures a diabolical character through his trusted muse and actor Jude Law that is both grotesque yet gains minimal empathy from its audience. Together, the actor and director indulge in a exaggerated and highly unnecessary story of a man’s unhealthy lifestyle, poor choices and an estranged daughter Evelyn (Emilia Clarke) who refuses to acknowledge her father in any way. Essentially, Dom admits to always being a greasy, slimy, peasant level crook who chooses to find a shortcut to success and fortune, even if his skewed brain thinks serving a twelve years sentence pays over hard work and a family. His attempts to assimilate himself in the life of his daughter Evelyn, her husband Hugh (Nathan Stewart-Jarret), and a grandson he never knew he had, becomes the most gut-wrenching moments of the film, substituting theatrical monologues and insanity for tender emotion and human triumph. Sadly, the film only spends minimal amount of time with Dom and his daughter, and more on scenes involving low-level gangster and a heist scene involving Dom humping a safe.

If there is one word that could describe Dom Hemingway as a whole it would be filthy–his attitude is filthy, he antics are outrageous, his execution is uncalled for, yet, surrounded by the deep reds fuelled by anger and a drunken stupor, Dom still manages to always mess up, gaining sympathy from his audience. Tormented and plagued by a series of misfortunes, Dom is his own worst enemy, choosing his image as a notorious safecracker over his family.

There isn’t much to Dom Hemingway as a whole. The basis of the narrative only takes place in a few locations and involves very few characters, but the essence of the film relies on monologues and dialogues usually involving Dom and other characters that hardly drives the narrative, if at all. For the most part, many of the characters seemed force to be included in Dom life’s, serving only a purpose of adding to Dom’s regret of being quiet for those twelve years and adding a certain amount of guilt to our drug-fuelled character.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
AllenReviewsApr 2, 2014
Though Jude Laws performance is one of his best, And the film does offer a couple suspencful sequences, Unfortunately Dom Hemingways script is just not that good.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
DCEdmondsNov 13, 2014
"Dom Hemingway" 10 Scale Rating: 6.5 (Solid) ...

The Good: Jude Law completely carries what would otherwise be a mediocre movie. His mannerisms, wardrobe and dialogue makes him seem like a character who just stepped out of a Guy Ritchie"Dom Hemingway" 10 Scale Rating: 6.5 (Solid) ...

The Good: Jude Law completely carries what would otherwise be a mediocre movie. His mannerisms, wardrobe and dialogue makes him seem like a character who just stepped out of a Guy Ritchie film. Every time he starts speaking (even if it's mostly crass nonsense) you can't help but sit up and take notice. The supporting cast was also good and played off of Law's larger-than-life Dom Hemingway quite well. It seemed like a fun movie to make all around and the settings and tone made the film come to life. An amusing film, I actually laughed out loud on more than one occasion.

The Bad: Unfortunately, there really isn't anything resembling a story here. Not that I expected anything deep or gripping, but I did expect SOMETHING. While Law propels the film into decency, some semblance of a real story would have bumped the film up a notch or two. As usual with films lacking in the story department, the ending left something to be desired.… Expand
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7
John935Jan 6, 2017
Some critics called Dom Hemingway "inconsequential" and I can't argue w/ that. What I can say in its favor, though, is that Jude Law is a revelation. I've never been a huge fan, found him satisfactory in The Talented Mr. Ripley but hisSome critics called Dom Hemingway "inconsequential" and I can't argue w/ that. What I can say in its favor, though, is that Jude Law is a revelation. I've never been a huge fan, found him satisfactory in The Talented Mr. Ripley but his casting often seems predictable. Dom Hemingway is, surprisingly, his vehicle par excellence, hilariously vulgar, Tarantinoesque but less violent, not Oscar bait but if you're in the mood for weird and crazy this is definitely that. (January 2017)… Expand
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5
JLuis_001Sep 6, 2017
I really like Dom Hemingway, it's not a really remarkable work but it's entertaining and fun enough to hang out, maybe it will not transcend but it's a quite enjoyable hour and a half.
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6
ryu9376Nov 13, 2018
Honestly, it was refreshing to see Jude Law in a total different type of role.
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10
pearlmistryMar 16, 2019
WOWWW absolutely AMAZING film !! wow the cast is amazing JUDE LAW wow wow wow so good
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5
DawdlingPoetNov 28, 2021
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First off, this film is brash and features some criminal (and I mean CRIMINAL) London accents, mainly from the titular character, played by Jude Law. I watched it as it was recommended on another website and I saw it starred Law and Richard E Grant, who I like as actors, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Its bright, cocky, loud, ludicrous, unapologetic etc. you get the idea. Its not un-entertaining but its no great shakes either, as it were. Its certainly an easy, leave your brain at the door type watch, think 'The Brothers Grimsby' and/or the flop that was 'Mortdecai'. Apart from the titular characters strong cockney accent, there's also a cringe-y Russian accent/dialect featured.

The film features a lot of strong language and many sex references, so I suppose it depends on if you get a laugh out of that sort of thing, as to how amusing you might find it. Maybe I'm a bit of a prude, usually strong language and sex references don't overly bother me but I didn't much like the frequent use of graphic sexual references, especially the 'c' word, thrown about the place, as it were.

I thought, all in all, it was ok, a bit same-y and unoriginal but somewhat watchable all the same, if only to see Jude Law take on such a cocky cockney pure comedy/over the top type role. Mortdecai was mildly amusing with Johnny Depp playing a similar type of character and this is roughly about as good (although slightly shorter in running time, perhaps thankfully) as that was, I'd say.… Expand
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