Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: ROOFMAN [Toronto International Film Festival 2025 - Toronto, Canada]

The context of a film like "Roofman" [Gala] is the irony that everyone wants to be loved despite the decisions that might make. Based on a real story, Channing Tatum plays Jeff, an ex-military guy who through his robberies became known as the Roofman because of the way he breaks in. While the film does show Tatum's comedic chops, director Derek Cianfrance knows, as most of his films do, that the dread is only slightly underneath. It is just a matter when the other shoe is going to drop. His lead character here tries to be a good dad but as his former sergeant played by Lakeith Stanfield says to him earlier in the film, he just makes the wrong choices despite his powers of observation. Stanfield's character functions on the outskirts but knows how to keep low key and make the most of what he does without giving into the goat. His adventures could actually serve his own television show. While most of the film takes place inside a ToysRUs store back in 2004 where Jeff hides out after breaking out of prison, it is a matter of whether he is inside or out in his mind. After losing his first family trying to provide, he becomes involved with a recently divorced church mom Leigh (Kirsten Dunst) and begins causing the same trouble despite good intentions. Tatum plays Jeff charming but aloof, intelligent but yet missing certain aspects of common sense. The big box store motif, like "Superstore," is meant to show a man in transition but stuck in his ways.

Even the small apartment Leigh shares with her two daughters provides more comfort. Jeff thinks he has to win people over in certain, usually pertaining to money, but that is where most of his problems start. Peter Dinklage and Juno Temple have small character bits that elevate the film but they are more story progressions despite the great cadence within their scenes. Tatum seems to understand Jeff's plight and emotes well enough for us to understand the pain but one never gets the sense that there is any remorse on Jeff's part...and that this is just the way he is. This is actually the best truism of the film. Ben Mendelsohn in an interesting piece of casting plays a pastor (singing and all) which is a nice distraction from the more complex roles (usually villainous) that tend to populate his resume. Dunst has the most meat to chew on beyond Tatum though her character almost just seems like a pawn in his game. If Jeff really cared about her, he would found a way to stay away once the heat begins but he can't help himself. Dunst grounds the film, and as she said at the Q&A, she likes stories about human beings and she plays it to that point. There is no hiding behind anything. That said, Cianfrance makes an interesting movie but not necessarily a cinematic one and yet his films have always been character pieces. The film brings back to mind the mid-range pictures of the 90s and with that said, if it does well theatrically, it will perpetuate more of them since the movie looks like it was made for a price in a world of never ending blockbusters which are a hit on the bottom line with ROI for any studio. This is a character comedy mixed with tragedy which certain people can relate to while understanding it is a tale of caution. B

By Tim Wassberg