Jerry and Tom

Jerry and Tom is a 1998 crime comedy-drama film directed by Saul Rubinek. The intriguing plot indulges viewers breaking the shackles of a typical crime drama, blending dark comedy with moments of heartfelt sentimentality, testing the boundaries of morality between two murders-for-hire.

In the lead roles, the film stars the ever-powerful Joe Mantegna as Tom and Sam Rockwell in his breakthrough role as Jerry. Maury Chaykin plays a spectacular supporting character, adding flavor to the narrative. The talented cast embodies the distinct nature of their characters, gaining the favor of the audience whilst providing depth to the multifaceted storyline.

The movie opens with Tom, a seasoned hitman, an expert in his field who carries out his profession with a calm and collected demeanor. Tom is no typical murder machine, he's an average-looking gentleman who could easily blend into a standard suburban lifestyle, yet his job alternates between the extremes of fatherhood and cold-blooded murder. His ethos: detach emotion from the act. Success in this business, according to him, is to treat murder as a mundane desk job, removing all elements of personal emotion.

Enter Jerry, an amateur hitman, a young, impulsive novice who is taken under Tom's wing. Jerry’s impulsivity contrasts sharply with Tom's cool, calculated approach giving the duo's dynamic an interesting edge. Jerry is brash, impetuous, and constantly teetering on the edge of violence. Jerry has potential but he needs to learn to control his volatile personality, something that Tom tries to cultivate.

Maury Chaykin plays an essential character, both darkly humorous and intimidating. His character complements the film's tone, feeding into the narrative in an engaging and quirky style.

The movie is set against the backdrop of Chicago and its suburbs, a place where people live anonymous lives, perfect for people in Tom and Jerry’s line of work who must mingle with society while remaining undetected. The film's settings beautifully incorporate the constant shift between normal, everyday life and the horrors attached to their haunting occupation, adding depth and reality to the cinematic landscape.

The story unfolds through discreet episodic scenes from various points in the duo's career, providing glimpses into their personal journeys and individual growth. The narrative cleverly explores their mentor-mentee relationship, moving beyond their harrowing job description to weave a tale of unexpected camaraderie and mutual respect.

Jerry and Tom tackle the themes of good and evil, morality, and the price of humanity in interesting ways. The film exposes us to the ethical challenges faced by the protégés in an atypical profession, their struggles with conscience, and the underlying humor that alleviates the grave subject matter.

Director Saul Rubinek masterfully presents this unconventional tale with a balance of tension and humor. Rubinek frames the storyline in such a way that viewers are shown murder scenes conveyed with a style that is far from the usual gore, instead, opting for a more subtle, yet nonetheless impactful representation. In doing so, the viewer is drawn more towards understanding the characters’ perspectives and unique lives, rather than focusing solely on the severity of their actions.

The dialogue is witty, raw, and engaging. Screenwriter Rick Cleveland adroitly crafts the words that give life to Jerry and Tom, translating the original stage play (Jerry and Tom written by Cleveland) into a compelling onscreen narrative. The beautifully written dialogue keeps viewers on the edge, providing not just story progression, but also allowing insight into these complex characters.

Jerry and Tom is not for the faint-hearted, nor for those seeking a light, casual watch. It is a deep dive into the minds of professional killers, exposing viewers to the often unexplored side of professional crime, showing that even in the darkest of occupations, elements of humanity can be found. Its adept handling of character development and dynamics, mixed with an unexpected vein of dark humor, will leave audiences contemplating long after the credits roll. In its balance of tension and wit, Jerry and Tom stand as an unconventional exploration of ethics, comedy, and surprising friendship within the shadowy world of hired assassination.