Barfly (1987)

Director:

Barbet Schroeder

Writer:

Charles Bukowski (writer)

Release Date:

16 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead.

Plot:

Henry Chinaski never cared for the American dream, the thought of needing to become 'something' and fit into the system disgusts him...

Plot Keywords:

Bar | Whiskey | Fight | Bartender | Radio

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Mickey Rourke	...	Henry Chinaski
Faye Dunaway	...	Wanda Wilcox
Alice Krige	...	Tully Sorenson
Jack Nance	...	Detective
J.C. Quinn	...	Jim
Frank Stallone	...	Eddie
Sandy Martin	...	Janice
Roberta Bassin	...	Lilly
Gloria LeRoy	...	Grandma Moses
Joe Unger	...	Ben
Harry Cohn	...	Rick
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Joe
Joe Rice	...	Old Man in Bar
Julie 'Sunny' Pearson	...	Hooker in Bar
Donald L. Norden	...	Man in Alley

Runtime:

USA:97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA (TV rating) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 (f) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Bryson Hotel - 2701 Wilshire Boulevard, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Golan-Globus Productions

Trivia:

Composer Trevor Jones was considered to write original music for this film, but director Barbet Schroeder felt that source music was more suited for the film's authenticity.

Quotes:

Wanda: I can't stand people, I hate them.
Henry: Oh yeah?
Wanda: Do you hate them?
Henry: No, but I seem to feel better when they're not around.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Snakes on a Train (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Exsultate, Jubilate, K166

One of Mickey Rourke's best performances in a darkly funny film

"Barfly" was a fairly successful film when it was released and garnered generally favorable reviews. Roger Ebert gave it four out of four, and along with "Angel Heart," it helped solidify 1987 as the Year of Mickey Rourke.

However, almost twenty years later it isn't talked so much about anymore, and I feel it deserves to be. Rourke gives one of his finest performances as Henry, a loner who walks hunched over like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. Henry works at a bar as a runner - delivering orders and such. But he's always getting into drunken brawls with the bartender, usually losing.

One day Henry's life takes a turn when he meets a downtrodden woman (Faye Dunaway) and they embark on a relationship.

"Barfly" is a great film. Rourke was vocal later on in his career about his dislike of director Barbet Schroeder, but Schroeder's direction is part of what makes this film so good.

However, the absolute best aspect of the movie is Rourke's performance. Embodying the late writer Charles Bukowski (whose work this was based upon, and who had a brief cameo in the film), Rourke is unrecognizable - like Billy Bob Thornton in "Sling Blade," his entire demeanor and physicality seems to change.

I highly recommend "Barfly" - it's funny, dark, witty, touching and downright enjoyable. One of the best films of the '80s.