Channing Tatum's "Roofman" goes into great detail on a true story that needed it.

It's clear that the real crime genre has become quite popular in movies and TV series, but not many stories are as strange and moving as Jeffrey Manchester's. "Roofman" is his nickname, and it gives away the strange way he did his crimes, but what really interests me is the human tale behind the headlines. I think we're about to see a movie that goes beyond just being fantastic now that Channing Tatum is playing Manchester in the upcoming film Roofman, directed by Derek Cianfrance. This movie aims to reveal the many layers of a complicated person and his dire situation, giving us a deeper look at a life lived on the brink.

I have always liked stories that look into the "why" behind strange situations, and Manchester's story is perfect for that kind of investigation. It's easy to write off a criminal as "bad," but Roofman looks ready to push that simple view, much like the movie's slogan, "How far would you go to change who you are?" suggests. This movie has the potential to be great, not just because of its stars Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, but also because it tries to show a man who became a legend in his own odd manner in a more honest and caring way.

The Incredible True Story Behind Jeffrey Manchester's "Roofman" Crimes

From being an Army Ranger to a robber on a rooftop and a Toys 'R' Us resident

The true story of Jeffrey Manchester is so unbelievable that it's simple to see why filmmakers were so interested in it. Manchester used to be an Army Ranger, but now he's a struggling father who is having a lot of trouble with money. He started robbing McDonald's to support his family. Instead of smashing down doors, he cut holes in the rooftops. People quickly started calling him "Roofman" or "Rooftop Robber" because of the strange way he worked. His crime spree spread across the U.S., including Charlotte, where he was caught in Gaston County in 2000.

But Manchester's story didn't finish when he was arrested. Four years into his prison sentence, in 2004, he did something amazing again: he broke out of an Anson County prison. The next part of his story was probably the most amazing. Manchester hitchhiked to Charlotte and then spent months hiding away at an abandoned Toys "R" Us and a Circuit City store on Independence Boulevard. He ate baby food and snacks to stay alive, and the toy store was his strange, secret home. He was caught in a strange way, too, after placing a fingerprint on a Catch Me If You Can DVD in the store. Just this one thing makes me think the movie will be really interesting.

Channing Tatum's Deep Dive into Playing the Complicated Life of Jeffrey Manchester

The Actor's "Spiritual Marathon" to Make the Screen More Real

I've always liked how Channing Tatum is ready to play a lot of different kinds of characters. His part as Jeffrey Manchester in Roofman sounds like it will be his hardest yet. Tatum said he felt "a lot of pressure" playing a real person since "it's impossible to tell someone's real life story in 90 minutes." He talked on the phone a lot with the genuine Manchester, who is now serving a 40-year sentence in Central Prison in Raleigh. Tatum called Manchester "a beautiful and unfortunate soul" who is "so smart and alive," even on the phone. This personal connection must have made his performance even better.

Director Derek Cianfrance, who is recognized for being very intense and real, pushed Tatum to new heights. Tatum termed the event a "spiritual marathon" and said that Derek pushed him harder than anyone else had ever pushed him. Cianfrance made the performers feel safe by making a set where "there was no unsafe place" for them to try things out. He also had them do takes silently or even "like Jerry Lewis." To get real reactions from Tatum, he even set up "traps" for him, like putting coffee cups together or shifting props. I'm really looking forward to seeing Tatum's raw performance because of how dedicated she is to being real, even in minor moments. It's apparent that Tatum's dedication to showing Manchester's loneliness and inner struggle was a big part of the show.

The Emotional Heart of "Roofman": More Than Just Heists and Escapes

A story about redemption, connection, and the weight of the past

In my perspective, what makes Roofman stand out is that it focuses on the human drama in Manchester's amazing story. The movie takes place over six months in 2004. During that time, Manchester, who goes by the name "John Zorn," makes an unexpected connection with Leigh Wainscott, a divorced mother who works at Toys 'R' Us and is played by Kirsten Dunst. This connection, in which he tries to start over, is the main part of the story and gives it a lot more emotional depth than what could have been just a crime story. Dunst said the movie had a "Christmas movie feeling" at points, which is a mix of happy and sad that sounds really different.

The movie's tagline, "Based on a true story as told by a liar," hints at an interesting way of telling the story. It might be about how unreliable memory is or how Manchester sees himself. The fact that genuine individuals from Manchester's life, including his preacher and the truck driver who helped him escape, are in the movie makes it even more real and adds an indisputable sense of realism. Roofman feels more like a character study than a straightforward crime thriller because it focuses on the emotional effects and the desire for a different life. It's a story that makes us think about the man who did the crimes and the things that caused him to do them.

What Makes "Roofman" Stand Out in the True Crime Genre

A one-of-a-kind mix of crime, drama, and unexpected kindness

Roofman seems to be making its own unique space in a world full with genuine crime. This movie seems to focus more on the perpetrator's emotional journey than on the investigation or the victims, and it doesn't glorify what he did. The mix of serious criminality with the sweet, almost silly aspects of living in a toy store and the growing relationship makes for an interesting juxtaposition. I adore how Tatum's character makes the most of being let loose at a toy store, riding bikes and wearing inner tubes, just like Manchester's own stories.

I also like that the movie was filmed in Charlotte, North Carolina, and featured many of the real places, such the church where Manchester and Wainscott met. This makes it feel even more real. This isn't only a narrative about a string of robberies; it's also about a man who is trying to change who he is and find connection in the middle of all the craziness. Roofman claims to be a movie that makes you feel, laugh, and cry without being cheesy or trying to control your emotions. When a movie can take such an unusual true story and have it touch people on a deep level, it shows how powerful storytelling can be.

On October 10, Roofman will be in theaters.