Went to a sold out screening at 8pm on a Monday night in the West Village (since I'm sure whiskey's keeping track).
For those of you unfamiliar, this is Matt Dillon playing Charles Bukowski's alter ego, Harold Chunaski. He's a drunk who wants to be a writer ... so he reminds me of a few of the DD faithful. In fact, this should probably be required viewing for noobs for that very reason.
Seriously though, this was a beautifully shot character study of a barely functional alcoholic on his way to skid row. Dillon is great, as usual, as is Lili Taylor as his usual girlfriend. I really don't even see the purpose of having Marisa Tomei in this, though her transformation is one of the highlights. She's not the usual fresh faced beauty, but a used up drunk slut ... so much so I barely recognized her in her introductory scene. Finally, Fisher Stephens takes a nice turn as a gambling buddy ... I just wish he'd been in the film longer, but Hank had to go blow that job just like all the others.
This is a scathingly dark comedy, but I noticed that even the sophisticated Village audience stopped laughing after a while, because the guy was just too pathetic. I don't think the audience turned on the film or the character, I just think things got too intense to laugh anymore despite the humor. If I had to describe it briefly I'd say it's a funnier version of Leaving Las Vegas.
Definitely not for everyone, but if you like Bukowski, character studies, and/or depressing comedies about self-destructive behavior, this is worth seeing.
For those of you unfamiliar, this is Matt Dillon playing Charles Bukowski's alter ego, Harold Chunaski. He's a drunk who wants to be a writer ... so he reminds me of a few of the DD faithful. In fact, this should probably be required viewing for noobs for that very reason.
Seriously though, this was a beautifully shot character study of a barely functional alcoholic on his way to skid row. Dillon is great, as usual, as is Lili Taylor as his usual girlfriend. I really don't even see the purpose of having Marisa Tomei in this, though her transformation is one of the highlights. She's not the usual fresh faced beauty, but a used up drunk slut ... so much so I barely recognized her in her introductory scene. Finally, Fisher Stephens takes a nice turn as a gambling buddy ... I just wish he'd been in the film longer, but Hank had to go blow that job just like all the others.
This is a scathingly dark comedy, but I noticed that even the sophisticated Village audience stopped laughing after a while, because the guy was just too pathetic. I don't think the audience turned on the film or the character, I just think things got too intense to laugh anymore despite the humor. If I had to describe it briefly I'd say it's a funnier version of Leaving Las Vegas.
Definitely not for everyone, but if you like Bukowski, character studies, and/or depressing comedies about self-destructive behavior, this is worth seeing.
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