What intrigued me to begin with when I was searching for some noir films was this film's title. The idea of what it could possibly be ran through my mind a few times. A title like this certainly provokes some wild thoughts. Is it a horror film? Perhaps a thriller? Perhaps it holds some mystery to its narrative that'll keep you sitting at the edge of your seat, so curious as to what could happen next? Well, sadly, that wasn't the case with They Live by Night. With an incredibly interesting title, it is actually a rather simple film. One that doesn't hold any elements of fantasy, and instead is a tale on the troubled lives of criminals. Looking into the ways in which these individuals struggle to break free from their life of crime, even when a family or love is what's slowly attempting to pull them out of the chaotic lifestyle, one of which that is lived purely on borrowed time. While a little disappointed by the title and the actual film, half expecting something more, I still enjoyed the film.
Its narrative reminding me of the more modern The Old Man & the Gun by David Lowery. A beautiful film on an elderly man that finds love in his old age, but is stuck in the past of endlessly robbing banks for the thrill of it. Incapable of letting it go even when another life sits there, waiting to start. There's this idea that these characters get caught up in the frantic actions of crime and robbery to the point in which it's all they know and want. Incapable of letting it go even if they tried to do so. Well, The Live by Night is a film that shows that other half, the attempt to put it all aside, but so deep in that it continues to be a hurdle that just can't be reached. The story of a troubled youth discovering something greater, and wanting to pursue it, but the past refuses to be left alone, with troubles and expectations only returning.
Having seen films similar to this, I do feel it made me enjoy it more. As my mind would roam through the many films that seemed influenced, perhaps, by this one. Though I can see it being a bit less interesting to others.
With its simple narrative, The Live by Night sums up the influence of love on the youth. How two clashing sides of life can come together and fall in love, knowing that they are in fact rather opposite to each other, but insisting on building something more together. Our protagonist is a young, escaped convict. One that is on the run and still performing robberies, even obtaining injuries. He's far from a bad person, and is rather baby-faced as to ensure the audience feels a bit for him, almost seeing some innocence in him despite his lifestyle. His crew, on the other hand, are gritty. Old, slightly overweight, and more roughed-up over the decades of poor choices. We feel for this younger convict quite easily through this strong contrast in personalities. It sets up the rest of the story as we can instantly feel some empathy. The idea that our young convict can in fact do better, and might even want to.
Though it becomes clear that this isn't possible quite early on. We see him still performing robberies and engaging in gaining quite the name for himself as a result. Though meeting a young woman, the two quickly fall for each other, and the romance blossoms, starting a chain of negative events as this character attempts to start a new life while still very much wanted for his prior one. The past follows quickly, and the film's relatively short runtime almost results in some of these important character building moments being pushed aside. I felt that it could have expanded a bit more on the relationship and struggles of the two youths. Giving us more tension to deal with and a bit more drama. The woman does end up pregnant and the two realise a child may be to come in the future, but it's handled in a way that did feel a bit glanced over. I found myself wanting a bit more added around this aspect of the story as to increase the tensions knowing that things would only get worse. This was definitely a film in which you know things wil get worse and it's only a matter of time until things spiral out of control; though with They Live by Night, it's just all too fast.
Though part of me sees this as intentional. A fast, chaotic life processes big events quickly. There is almost no time to sit and relax. For things continue moving forward, and that includes the lawmen in their searches. It worked well in that often enough the locations used would be cycled through, adding to the feeling that the chances of being caught were increasing. Sometimes the cinematography accounted for this, using up-close and almost claustrophobic perspectives for the most part. Only to open up and show a wider one around the climax of the film. It seemed there was some attention to detail in the directing even though it was very much straightforward for most of the runtime. Only really seeming quite free and creative around the staff of the film, as well as with aerial perspectives of the two characters driving. This is something I did find surprising for the era, not an easy shot to get and certainly quite expensive at the time. Requiring either a helicopter or plane. I suspect it was a plane due to the fact that the camera was so shaky in these moments. Though a great addition!
Despite the lack of emotion and time to process the most important parts of the story, I couldn't help but think of this other films I had seen. If anything, spending much of the time just trying to figure out where I had seen influenced material elsewhere. And whether it was actually a result of this film or not. It is a film that is incredibly simple, but quite effective, and with a story that takes a generally established genre and adds a few fresh ideas to it. Showing the struggles of the youth in crime over romanticising the idea of the crimes themselves. Slowly displaying the ways in which each character fails to break free from the law, one by one, having their stories end. Though our most touching story being the one of a youthful criminal, wanting a normal life. Pursuing it. But incapable of having the life of crime let him go.
When i saw the title and the grey colors, it remember me Angry Beavers 🤣🤣
because those beavers like to see movies like this in grey colour of old times, when i was a kid and saw nickelodeon Angry Beavers i remember that i want to see films like this of the very old times 😃😃
The title when i read it, i think in monsters, i though it will be a monsters movie and i like that but it was another theme. What i like most is the actress, is so beautiful how she look in grey colour 😍😍. Best Regards :D
Yeah it really gives a more thriller/horror genre.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't agree. :^)
Hey @namiks at first, thanks for this review. I think that love (real love) should be really explained and exemplified to young people. This would reduce Ego problems and such!.
One more thing. I am publishing an article about a short-movie I co-produced on the topic of the WheelChair basketball (it has been made by a professional screen-recorder). It has been elected for the Raffaello prize in Italy (which is one of the most important) BUT it's not a TV show. Shall I post it here in Movies and TV Shows, or find some other communities to publish it?
Hmm I didn't think people still watched black and white movie these days, I haven't even contemplated the idea of it either.
I guess you can tell from of the movie how formal people were back then.
Watching these kinds of movie just reminds you of how different things were back then.
The fact that in our time, it's easy to use drones to shoot overhead or aerial shots. But as at then, they had hire planes or helicopters to do so. Technology has really come a long way.
I might check the movie out, just for experience sake.
Nice review!