'Dom Hemingway' review - A mess, even with Law's brilliant performance

I didn't see it as a mess at all. I went in with no preconceived notions about how a "black comedy" or a "gangster" should be played, and I was thoroughly entertained. I've seen comparisons and contrasts made with films like Sexy Beast, and frankly, I didn't find myself thinking of that or any other film while watching this. It didn't need to be like any other film.

I liked the comedy, but I liked the story with his daughter as well. This was all about Dom, not about a crime or a heist or a superhero battle. Dom is a messed up human, street tough, huge ego, who happens to have a soft center in the area of his heart that holds his daughter, with whom he missed out on so much. Watching him watch her sing is kind of heartbreaking. I think that's a very human, realistic condition.

I do agree that it lost steam about halfway through the second act, but it was still a fantastic film. I cared about Dom throughout the film, but stopped being engaged in the plot about halfway through (I suppose shortly after Dom broke into Lester's safe). Jude Law definitely make's the film work though as a whole.