Review of Factotum (2005) by Sv G — 03 Mar 2008
This was based on the novel by one of my favorite writers Charles "Buk" Bukowski. Matt Dillon plays the lead character Henry Chinaski but he takes on Charles Bukowski's persona. I've watched several documentaries on Buk, and he nails him both in voice and mannerisims, and even manages to look a little like a young version of him, I'm not sure it was ever the writers intent for this character to actually BE him.
The story reads like one that takes place in the early 60s, and part of it looks like that but it's tossed together with things of today like computers. Everything in this movie mixes two time periods and so it was completely disjointed.
Buk hated what they did to his story Barfly and detested Mickey Roarkes portrayal of him; and I'm not to sure he'd be happy with this one either. The story was good but wasn't done justice.
Matt does a hell of a good Bukowski, but had no place here. All that being said: 3 stars for the Bukowski impersonation - but the movie was fair at best.
This review of Factotum (2005) was written by Sv G on 03 Mar 2008.
Factotum has generally received positive reviews.
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