BARFLY (1987) - ♦♦♦

Directed by - Barbet Schroeder

Written by - Charles Bukowski

Starring - Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway

"Acclaimed poet and author Charles Bukowski made his cinematic debut by writing the screenplay of Barfly, commissioned by French director Barbet Schroeder. This screenplay, much like his literary works, is semi-autobiographical, focusing on a time he spent in L.A. mostly getting drunk and particularly on his love affair with a woman who shared his alcoholism. 

The film probably looked more decadent on paper, and indeed many of the narrative aspects of the film can be directly linked to Bukowski's novels and poems. The plot itself, for instance, is not conventionally structured and rather more driven by the character's own worryingly natural impulses towards pathetic self destruction, often shown in an ironic and satirical life, a style that calls for no pity. 

But it certainly is not the honest cinematic rendition that fans would like to have seen. Barfly is simply too glamorous. The casting of Mickey Rourke as the writer's alter ego seemed like an obvious choice, but he is probably far too histrionic and often simply slips into the role of the average drunk."

Drama, USA