Roofman (15)
Directed by Derek Cianfrance
★★★★

THEY say the truth is stranger than fiction and none so much as the unbelievable story of US army veteran Jeffrey Manchester who in 2000 was jailed for 45 years for robbing a McDonald’s, although he is believed to have robbed dozens more. Four years later he escaped from prison and hid in plain sight in a Toys “R” Us store in Charlotte, North Carolina, for six months. During that time he attended a local church where he met and befriended Leigh Wainscott (now Moore) a divorced mother of three with whom he embarked on a relationship. 

Co-writer-director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine, The Place Beyond the Pines) brings Manchester’s extraordinary tale to the big screen in this gripping, edge of the seat, genre-busting film. It is part dark comedy, part romance, part action thriller, and part prison break drama, all rolled into one. 

It is driven by a virtuoso performance from Channing Tatum on charismatic form as the charming and polite Manchester, dubbed the Roofman for breaking into McDonalds’ restaurants through the roof. He bares all in this phenomenal portrayal opposite a mesmerising Kirsten Dunst as Leigh Wainscott. 

In the film he observes the Toys “R” Us store’s controlling and heartless manager (a fabulous Peter Dinklage) and employees through monitors. Adopting a new identity, he becomes involved with member of staff and mother of two Leigh (Kirsten Dunst). He woos her and her daughters, winning them over, along with the head of her church, Pastor Ron (Ben Mendelsohn) who all believe he is a good and decent man.  

Shot in Charlotte, Cianfrance also cast many of the real people from the actual story in the film, including the driver of the truck Manchester used to escape prison, who plays himself, the arresting officer, and Leigh Moore herself. 

What is fascinating is the compilation of clips during the end credits of the real-life people, including his victims, in which none of them has a bad word to say about Manchester. They all speak well of him including the staff at the McDonald’s he robbed. It is truly unbelievable. 

You do wonder why he was given such a long sentence for robbing a fast-food restaurant as you root for him not to be caught. This is a must-see film.

In cinemas October 17