Review of Barfly (1987) by Joshua C — 07 Feb 2007

I had wanted to see this film for years and was chuffed to bits to finally get a copy (the DVD is very rare especially in Europe) from ebay. It is very different; there isn't a plot per se, the viewer simply follows genius poet/resolute alcoholic Henry (semi-autobiographically based on scriptwriter Charles Bukowski's own life) as he stumbles from one day to the next.

For its perculiarity though I found it quirkily entertaining, watching a man of obvious intelligence and with a profound understanding of humanity shunning things which are supposed to be valued in the westen world in favour of doing exactly what he wants to do, which in this case is drink and occasionally write.

As Henry says, "anyone can be a non-drunk, it takes endurance to be a drunk.".