Roofman

by Julian Spivey

Photo: Paramount Pictures

Director: Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst & Peter Dinklage 
Rated: R (language, nudity & brief sexuality) 
Runtime: 2 hours & 6 minutes

 
Director Derek Cianfrance’s “Roofman” is the incredible true tale of Jeffrey Manchester, a man who broke into McDonald’s in North Carolina via the roof in the late ‘90s, was caught, escaped from prison, and then hid out in a Toys “R” Us store.
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Jeffrey was a U.S. Army veteran struggling to get by with three kids and an ex-wife, and he turned to crime to get by and provide for his family.

As played by Channing Tatum in “Roofman,” Jeffrey comes off as a likable heroic figure just trying to survive tough times, which makes the character somewhat of a Robin Hood character to viewers. McDonald’s and Toys “R” Us as stand-ins for world leaders and billionaires in today’s country, throwing Gatsby parties while common folk lose their SNAP benefits.  

Tatum’s charm and everyman demeanor work perfectly for such a character, and we’ve seen Tatum pull this act off terrifically before in Steven Soderbergh’s underrated 2017 film “Logan Lucky.” “Roofman” is more of a dramatic tale of an individual pushed to steal through life’s downfalls, but Tatum once again knocks the role out of the park.

Hiding out at Toys “R” Us is where we truly get to see Jeffrey’s humanity, as he watches the employees do their jobs, including the hard-working, single mother Leigh (Kirsten Dunst), and how they’re treated by their uncaring boss, Mitch (Peter Dinklage). When Mitch refuses to donate toys to Leigh’s church toy drive, Jeffrey takes matters into his own hands, stealing a bag of toys and delivering them to the church himself – risking his safety in the process. At the church, he is introduced to Leigh, and the two quickly form a relationship, with Jeffrey taking over the alias of John Zorn, a government employee with classified status.

Tatum and Dunst have good chemistry that makes you root for their characters’ relationship, even though you know it could crumble at any moment. Jeffrey and Leigh are meant for each other, but ever since the days of Shakespeare, we know not all “meant to be” come to fruition.

“Roofman” has a talented supporting cast that includes LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Ben Mendelsohn and Uzo Aduba, but the main focus is on Jeffrey’s ordeal and his relationship with Leigh. Only Dinklage’s character really has a chance to stand out, outside of those two.

If you dig too much into the real-life story of Manchester, you’ll find out how this movie is going to end, as Cianfrance and co-writer Kirt Gunn stick to the real-life tale, when they easily could’ve taken creative liberties. I’d suggest watching the film and later reading up on the true story.