Factotum (2005)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Bent Hamer

Writers:

Charles Bukowski (novel)
Bent Hamer (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 April 2005 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

What matters most is how you well you walk through the fire.

Plot:

This drama centers on Hank Chinaski, the fictional alter-ego of "Factotum" author Charles Bukowski, who wanders around Los Angeles, CA trying to live off jobs which don't interfere with his primary interest, which is writing. Along the way, he fends off the distractions offered by women, drinking and gambling.

Plot Keywords:

Drinking | Gambling | Writing | Money | Writer

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Matt Dillon	...	Hank Chinaski
Lili Taylor	...	Jan
Didier Flamand	...	Pierre
Fisher Stevens	...	Manny
Marisa Tomei	...	Laura
Adrienne Shelly	...	Jerry
Karen Young	...	Grace
Thomas Lyons	...	Tony Endicott (as Tom Lyons)
Dean Brewington	...	Old Black Man
James Cada	...	Bald Man
James Michael Detmar	...	Smithson
Kurt Schweickhardt	...	Ice Plant Supervisor
Dee Noah	...	Hank's Mother
James Noah	...	Hank's Father
Michael Egan	...	Taxi Office Clerk
Terry Hempleman	...	Superintendant Barnes
Emily Hynnek	...	Stripper (as Emily 'Sophia Simone' Hynnek)
Wayne Morton	...	Mantz
Tony Papenfuss	...	John Handler
Lana Schwab	...	Mrs. Adams
Sally Wingert	...	Payroll Lady
Robert Downing Davis	...	George Henley
Bryan J. Walker	...	Pharmacist
Dan Lee Jr.	...	Elf
Peter Moore	...	Editor
Bruce Bohne	...	Auto Parts Manager
Larry Roupe	...	Pete
Chris Carlson	...	Liquor Store Clerk
Stephen D'Ambrose	...	Mailman
Emil Herrera	...	Mendoza
Michelle Hutchison	...	Young Lady
Andy Hubbell	...	Employment Office Man
Martin Marinaro	...	Bartender
Raye Birk	...	Heathercliff
Stephen Pelinski	...	Mr. Hansen
Stanley Kipper	...	Spencer
Brent Doyle	...	McBride
John Paul Gamoke	...	Peters
Jim Lichtscheidl	...	Calloway (as James Lichtscheidl)
Jay Gjernes	...	Truck Driver
Clyde Lund	...	Employment Office Clerk
Debbie DeLisi	...	Bartender
George McGuire	...	Carson Gentry
Brad Madson	...	Tailor
Gary Tournier	...	Bar Patron
Esera Tuaolo	...	Laura's Bar Bartender
John Nadeau	...	Sleeping Man
Cathi Cooper	...	Bar Patron
Carole Samuelson	...	Bar Patron
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matthew Feeney	...	Harry Berglund (scenes deleted)
Stephanie Allensworth	...	Woman on the street and patron at the race track (uncredited)
Jim Brockhohn	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Jimmy Brockhohn	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Clint Clark	...	Horse Race Fan (uncredited)
Joseph Courtemanche	...	Bouncer in bar scene (uncredited)
Frank Crandell	...	Man Drinking Beer Next To Ms. Tomei (uncredited)
Christopher Day	...	2nd Man Placing Bet (uncredited)
Diane Kelson	...	Woman on fire escape (uncredited)
Nels Lennes	...	Man going to work (uncredited)
Shawn McNulty	...	Bike shop worker (uncredited)
Doua Moua	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Lisa Pechmiller	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Geoff Schilz	...	Man placing bet (uncredited)
Christina Sedlacek	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Annie Wallick	...	Woman on Street (uncredited)
Jim Westcott	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Donny West	...	Taxi Class Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Bent Hamer

Writing credits
Charles Bukowski		(novel)
Bent Hamer		(written by) and
Jim Stark		(written by)

Produced by
Karl Baumgartner	....	associate producer
Reinhold Elschot	....	associate producer
Bent Hamer	....	producer
Rainer Mockert	....	associate producer
Peter Nadermann	....	associate producer
Jim Stark	....	producer
Christine K. Walker	....	executive producer (as Christine Kunewa Walker)
Meinolf Zurhorst	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Kristin Asbjørnsen

Cinematography by
John Christian Rosenlund		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pål Gengenbach

Production Design by
Eve Cauley		(as Eve Cauley Turner)

Set Decoration by
Sarah Kruchowski		(as Sarah Jean Kruckowski)
Kate Sheeley

Costume Design by
Tere Duncan

Makeup Department
Natalie A. Hale	....	additional makeup artist (as Natalie Hale)
Sherry Heart	....	key hair stylist
Patricia Regan	....	makeup designer
Tara Smith	....	hair stylist: Marisa Tomei

Production Management
Devorah DeVries	....	production manager
Jason Cooper Hall	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jason Cooper Hall	....	second assistant director: dayplayer
Matt Holz	....	second second assistant director
Eric D. Howell	....	second assistant director (as Eric Howell)
Paul B. Johnson	....	first assistant director
Atsuko Sato	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Cheri Anderson	....	set dresser
Paul Berglund	....	assistant property master
Jennie Bond	....	graphic designer
Kelsey Cramer	....	production assistant: props
Mindy Harris	....	property master
Oceana Lawler Larsen	....	set dresser
Evan Morris	....	construction foreman
Savannah Rhomberg-Reich	....	head painter
Paul Rothmeier	....	carpenter
Andrew Shea	....	draftsperson
Mark S. Turner	....	art department associate (as Mark Steven Turner)
Dave Underhill	....	lead person

Sound Department
Ken Chastain	....	sound recordist
Petter Fladeby	....	sound designer
Petter Fladeby	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cully Gallagher	....	boom operator
Micki Joanni	....	synchron editor
Christopher Riley	....	production assistant: sound department
John Sims	....	production sound mixer (as John L. Sims Jr.)
John Sims	....	sound recordist (as John L. Sims Jr.)
Richard Sveen	....	sound editor
Erik S. Watland	....	foley artist

Visual Effects by
Torgeir Busch	....	visual effects
Aksel Jermstad	....	visual effects artist
Aksel Jermstad	....	visual effects

Stunts
Rose M. Frazier	....	stunts
Eric D. Howell	....	stunt coordinator (as Eric Howell)
Peter Moore	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Tristan Allen	....	camera production assistant: video
Sebastián Almeida	....	first assistant camera
Ray Attridge	....	electrician
Eddie Cohen	....	lighting technician
Edward Cohen	....	gaffer (as Eddie Cohen)
Joseph Gallup	....	key grip
Fernando Gayesky	....	camera operator
Fernando Gayesky	....	director of photography: second unit
Tony Hanson	....	grip
Mark Higashino	....	still photographer
Travis Hottinger	....	electrician
Marty Jurek	....	camera production assistant (as Martin Jurek)
Kevin Karpinski	....	best boy grip
Yoshiji D. Katagiri	....	electrician
Damian Kussian	....	grip
Michael Lindquist	....	second assistant camera (as Michael V. Lindquist)
Chris Malone	....	best boy electric
Lucas McCarter	....	grip
David S. Pope	....	dolly grip (as David Pope)
Shannon Schaefer	....	grip
Randall Smith	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Michael Winn	....	electrician
Dean Woytcke	....	grip

Casting Department
Lynn Blumenthal	....	casting director: Minneapolis
Marisa Collins	....	extras casting assistant
Debbie DeLisi	....	extras casting
Carolyn Deters	....	extras casting intern
Matthew Feeney	....	extras casting associate
Kaari Moen	....	extras casting intern
Amber Lee Olivier	....	extras casting assistant (as Amber Lee Olson)
Jay Runquist	....	extras casting intern
Lisa Stearns	....	extras casting intern

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deborah Fiscus	....	wardrobe supervisor
Amy Pickering	....	costume design assistant: New York City
Hannah Walker	....	wardrobe assistant
Hannah Walter	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Liv Risvaag	....	colorist
Darren Roark	....	digital color corrector (uncredited)

Music Department
Jostein Ansnes	....	music mixer
Jostein Ansnes	....	music recordist
Trygve Brøske	....	composer: organ music
Thomas Henriksen	....	music recordist
Magnus Torkildsen	....	music mixer
Magnus Torkildsen	....	music recordist
Peer Espen Ursfjord	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Michael Kennedy	....	transportation captain (as Mike Kennedy)
Brenton McCracken	....	transportation coordinator
Rajiv Sarin	....	driver
Leo Skudlarek	....	driver

Other crew
Shelli Ainsworth	....	location manager
Topper Anton	....	set production assistant
Robert Becka	....	production intern
Andrew Burton	....	key set production assistant
Torgeir Busch	....	title designer
Joe Dressel	....	production intern
Jesse Ehman	....	production assistant
Robin Garland	....	location coordinator
Kurt W. Gensmer	....	set medic
Molly Getty	....	assistant to producers
Arzu Gokcen	....	assistant: Matt Dillon
Graham Gremore	....	clearance coordinator
Mike Griesser	....	production intern
David Hansen	....	assistant: Matt Dillon (as Dave Hansen)
Mark Har	....	location scout
Christianne Hedtke	....	production assistant
Aksel Jermstad	....	title designer
Lars Johanessen	....	title designer: end credits
Todd B. Johnson	....	production office intern
Vanessa Miles	....	production assistant
Mary Moga	....	production secretary (as Mary Louise Moga)
Jamie Molever	....	assistant: Ms. Tomei
Thomas G. Page	....	assistant production coordinator
Aaron Pikala	....	production office assistant
Laurie Pyle	....	set medic
Darren Roark	....	computer and technical support
Stephen Root	....	production intern
Benjamin Rosenbaum	....	assistant: Lilli Taylor
Jason P. Schumacher	....	strike crew
Seth Shapiro	....	set production assistant
Lisa Stearns	....	production intern
Bridget Striker	....	production intern
Jill Sweiven	....	product placement
Jill Sweiven	....	public relations
Julie Swenson	....	set publicist
Dylan Thies	....	production intern
C. Elizabeth Trumble	....	production accountant
Sidney Walker	....	location assistant
Lynn Younglove	....	script supervisor
Rachel Grubb	....	stand-in: Lily (uncredited)

Thanks
Linda Saetre	....	thanks
Ruth Waldburger	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Arte
• Bulbul Films
• Canal+
• Celluloid Dreams
• MBP (Germany)
• Mikado Films
• Network Movie Film-und Fernsehproduktion
• Norsk Filmfond
• Norsk Filmstudio
• Norwegian Film Institute
• Pandora Filmproduktion
• SF Norge A/S
• StarkSales Inc.
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
• ZDF/Arte

Distributors

• Cinemien (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2005-2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• ID Distribution (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• IFC Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Longride (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Picturehouse Entertainment (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Al!ve AG (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2009) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• Canvas (2009) (Belgium) (TV)
• Homescreen (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Video Audio Project (VAP) (2008) (Japan) (DVD)

Other Companies

• ARRI / Camera Service Center  camera provided by (as Arri Rental/CSC, New York)
• Barracuda  music mixed at
• Barracuda  music recorded at
• Cinequipt  grip and electric equipment
• Consolidated Film Industries (CFI)  negative processing (as Consolidated Film Industries)
• Digital Film Lab  ARRI laser film recording (as Digital Filmlab, Copenhagen)
• Drylab  digital intermediate
• Du Art Film and Video  adr (as DuArt Film & Video, New York)
• Gamma & Density  on-set color correction (as Gamma and Density's 3CP system)
• Nidaros Studio  music recorded at
• Norsk Filmstudio  post-production facilities
• Norsk Filmstudio  sound design
• Props On Wheels  picture vehicles/insert vehicle driver
• Rainbow Studio  music recorded at (as Rainbow Studio, Oslo)
• Soundtrack  trailer
• Technicolor Creative Services  video film dailies
• øra Studio  music mixed at
• øra Studio  music recorded at

Also Known As:

Factotum (France)
Factotum: A Man Who Performs Many Jobs (USA) (long title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

France | Germany | Sweden | USA | Norway

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Brazil:16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Germany:12 | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R (MPAA rating) | Australia:M | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Finland:K-15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Canterbury Park Racetrack - 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Arte

Trivia:

This is the second feature film in which Matt Dillon and Fisher Stevens go to the horse races (the first being "Flamingo Kid").

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the scene where Lili Taylor's character changes out of her high heel shoes the reflection of the dolly tracks is visible in the polished stone of the building.

Quotes:

Henry Chinaski: If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs. And maybe your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail...

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-09-02)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Where Breathing Starts

An excellent interpretation of Bukowski that truly captures the essence of his writing

Bent Hamer has become one of the most celebrated Norwegian directors of recent times that DIDN'T spawn from the Norwegian new wave that helped lift the average quality of Norwegian film production out of the quagmire it was in. He was one of the few who was worth keeping around of the previous generation, and one of the few who didn't need to be influenced by Detektor or Mongoland.

With titles such as Eggs (1995) and Salmer fra kjøkkenet (2003) he has long since established himself as a more than competent director with the ability of transferring emotion to film without losing credibility or affecting the narrative disfavourably. Factotum is no exception.

Factotum is the absolute opposite of the trend in Norwegian film making, the feel-good comedy wave that has swept the scene, and is quickly becoming redundant. If the scene does not renew itself and develop, Norwegian film making will end up the way it did pre-the new wave. Or then again, it mightn't. We still have Bent Hamer, and he has yet to make a film with Kristoffer Joner who, despite being one of our best actors, is also the most abused, appearing in pretty much everything that comes out. That is, with the exception of Hamer's work. Thankfully. May it stay that way. Bent Hamer might possibly be the best contemporary Norwegian director there is.

Now, regarding Factotum. Casting Matt Dillon, despite the critique this move has received, was a stroke of genius. Many feel he was wrongly cast (for instance, because he is not as ugly as Bukowski was. What the hell kind of argument is that, anyway?), but this truly is a misconception. Dillon manages to summon up the very essence of Henry Chinaski; his attitude, his stance, his walk - after seeing this film I doubt anyone else could ever play Chinaski again; never mind Barfly. Dillon looks atrocious; like a shadow of a former self, so marinated in alcohol and defeatist attitude that he can do nothing else in the world but indulge in these two sins. Oh, and live to write about it. This is not a pretty-boy who will melt teenage girls' hearts. This is low-life, urban white-trash America. This is Henry Chinaski. And what he does - in perfect harmony with Hamer's movie-making magic - is to convey that emotion so brilliantly well to the audience. I personally had previously only had three powerful resonance effects after films in the past (I suppose I am too jaded for it to be a generality): Requiem for a Dream and the two versions of Insomnia (the Norwegian Erik Skjoldbjærg-original with Stellan Skarsgaard, and Cristopher Nolan's remake, with what must be dubbed Pacino's greatest performance to date). The latter two made me feel like I hadn't slept for a week. Factotum made me feel like I had been drinking for a week. And I badly needed another drink when I came out of the theater. This is a truly amazing experience, and as far as I am concerned, a very rare event. This alone was worth watching the film. Woe unto the US if it is released directly on DVD - the American audience deserve to see it on the silver screen.

As far as the story goes, most of it follows Factotum pretty closely, with a few changes and updates (the story is set to modern day), with influences from a good selection of Bukowski's additional writing. As far as dubbing the book "the weakest" (ref. these forums) and wondering why Hamer and producer Jim Stark chose to filmatize this one out of the bunch, it is, in my observation, the book that best exemplifies Henry Chinaski, and thusly serves best as a cross-section of his existence. Post-Office or Women would have been too thematic, and Ham on Rye mainly details his upbringing. Factotum was the logical choice.

To close, I am not naming this the best film I have ever seen, or anything of the like, but it is still truly a masterpiece, a perfect rendition of slow-paced, low-life urbanity and alcoholism, and an excellent interpretation of Bukowski's writing. If you are lucky enough to see it in the theaters, you should do so - at least if you are a long-time fan, or only passing reader, of Bukowski.