Roofman feels like it comes from a different writer-director. Compassionate, packed with pathos, and oddly down to earth, few people would suspect Derek Cianfrance was behind the lens. Oscar-nominated for Sound of Metal, and responsible for propelling Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams into a self-destructive relationship during Blue Valentine, Roofman is a real departure. Based on a true story, that feels too good to be true, Channing Tatum takes centre stage as petty thief Jeffrey Manchester. A man compelled to commit crime, but behind bars in under 10 minutes when audiences first encounter him.
At heart Roofman is a redemption story. One featuring a hugely charismatic turn from Channing Tatum, who dove into drama last year with Blink Twice, finally got his Gambit on for Deadpool vs Wolverine and continues to carve his own path as Jeffery Manchester. Audiences with a long memory will remember Bennett Miller’s Foxcatcher, 21 Jump Street opposite Jonah Hill, and Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike. However, Roofman really brings home how good this actor can be with the right material, irrespective of genre. Keeping everyone on side with an affable everyman turn, despite playing a character who steals for a living.
From the self-effacing voice over that allows audiences a way inside his head, through to the subtle displays of intelligence on screen, everything is there to encourage empathy. The real-life Manchester is still serving his sentence for armed robbery, but the fact that Channing Tatum is on board as producer, speaks to the connection they share and the passion behind his performance. This is what separates Roofman from those other roles and allows him to get under the skin of Manchester, transforming it into an uncut gem.
Image via Paramount Pictures
There is nothing super-human about Manchester, who remains flawed despite those good intentions. What really elevates the performance from Channing Tatum are those moments of human frailty exhibited by the supporting players around him. Petty meanness from Peter Dinklage as store manager Mitch, sit alongside selfless acts of charity from Manchester, giving Roofman real heart. His relationship with Leigh, played by Kirsten Dunst, adds an emotional element that further illustrates his softer edges.
Where Roofman slips up slightly is in an over reliance on formula. This is an underdog story for someone who really deserves no sympathy. A career criminal who has used his intelligence to break the law, profit from petty pilfering, and remains on the run throughout. Having good manners never makes Jeffrey Manchester less of a criminal, making the question at the centre of Roofman a moral and ethical one. It is something Cianfrance addresses between the lines, giving Manchester quandaries to address and emotional obstacles to overcome.
However, this film walks a fine line and never deigns to judge Manchester for his actions. Preferring instead to draw human drama from the epiphanies he experiences in an ending that sticks the landing. For anyone after a subtle character study that masquerades as romantic comedy, Roofman turns out to be a lot better than audiences might imagine.
Roofman is out in selected cinemas from Oct. 17.