Bent Hamer has made a fine independent film in Factotum, starring Matt Dillon as Henry Chinaski and based on Charles Bukowski's 1975 Black Sparrow novel. Dillon is perfectly understated and thereby effective and funny in a deadpan kind of way. Lili Taylor is superb, as well, and Marisa Tomei fans will not be disappointed, either. I highly recommend this flick for its take on Chinaski/Bukowski and his traditional male writer's addictions: writing, drinking, smoking, women, and the need for at least a feeling of independence. Hamer sets Factotum loosely in the present, though there are few references to modern technology and no cellphones, which gives it the feel of any time between the 1950s and early 2000s, a sound decision made, one may suspect, at least in part because of a small budget. The story follows Chinaski through a series of episodic events, from one job or experience to another, always concerned with writing and living hard and by the cheap while paying close attention to the complexities of his relationship with occasional intimate companion Jan (Taylor), plus an interesting time with Laura (Tomei) and her "associates."Chinaski always keeps his eyes on the prize, and is repeatedly seen not only writing, but also dropping manuscripts off in mailboxes (also a nod to Bukowski's tedious job with the U.S. Postal Service). All of this reminds me of Henry Miller and, to a lesser extent, the Beats. For any adult who loves writing/reading and doesn't mind a walk on the rough side, you might very well enjoy Factotum -- both the novel and the movie.
Today's Rune: Harvest.
7 comments:
This movie sounds great! Love old Hank!
Well done Erik. Nice write up. Will spare the world my own. Cheers!
Also: for those of you out there who like Bukowski...you might want to take a look at "Ask the Dust" by John Fante. (There is a so-so movie out on this, but the book is a different deal.) Bukowski wrote "He was to be a lifetime influence on my writing...Fante was my god"
Pretty serious endorsement, that.
I don't like Matt Dillon too much. Not cuz I think he can't act or anything... he just creeps me out. He has the biggest teeth I've ever seen on a guy!
Factotum - it provokes, it manipulates and it makes to think. What it is not little for the cinema of today. Erik, wants to participate of the collective publication that will go to become fullfilled itself tomorrow? The main subject is on the violence why the world passes. It participates! It informs and it will place link in the light! Beijus
Erik
You keep writing these great film write ups on movies I want to see but never get around to seeing. I really did old Hank, ever since Michelle read Raymond Carver's Poem "You Don't Know What Love Is - A Night With Charles Bukowski" in class. I seen the Matt Dillon interview on Conan O'Brien. Seen the film cip where Chinaski is being interviewed for the job at the pickle factory. "What’s your book about," the manager asked. "Everything," Chinaski replied. I'm seeing this one.
Shelia, the Matt Dillon Big teeth thing probably comes from the scene in "There's Something About Mary," where he gets his teeth whitened. They were really fake teeth he wore during that scene. On Conan he said he keeps the teeth on his fire place mantle and during crazy parties someone always tries them one. He was great in "Crash," but then again, who wasn’t.
Thanks for the great review, and motivating me to make sure I see the film. It was fun to find someone else sharing the Ikea experience too.
Hey Michelle, Chas, Sheila, Luma, Lee, and Helen,
Thanks for the comments! Chas, I'll have to check out the Fante and Helen, here's again to Ikea ;)
Cheers,
Erik
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