I'm not very familiar with Bukowski, aka I haven't read anything by him. I will. Just haven't gotten around to it. Been busy actually BEING BUKOWSKI. Anyway, I saw the film based on his novel Factotum starring Matt Dillon. So even with my limited, Cliff-Notesy understanding of Mr. Bukowski's work, my review is coming from a completely cinematic place and I will leave it up to you, dear readers, to let me know where I may inadvertantly discredit the source material.
Factotum plot outline. Guy drinks a lot, works different jobs and fucks different women because he's a writer.
My first impression of this film is that helmer Bent Hamer is a very talented director and a weak (borderline dismal) writer. It would have been absolutely worth it in my opinion to hire someone else to do the script. Sigh. The auteur syndrome rears its ugly multi-tasking head. It may have been his intention to give this halting episodic script a weighted-down under-water pace but Hamer has little to no understanding of beats. He never takes advantage of any of the magnificent scenes to build momentum. He lets (perhaps insists) that everything play flat and leaden.
This sometimes works to the film's advantage whenever Matt "Who Knew He Liked Herzog?" Dillon and Lily "FUCKING" Taylor are onscreen together. As Hank and Jan, they seem to be very much in on the joke of whatever this movie is. I've always been a bigger fan of Taylor's choices than her style of acting. But she was great in this. Also, she's got an ass that won't quit. I think I am the only person in the world who feels this way but I thought Matt Dillon's performance in Crash was the most enjoyable part of that movie. Not that he's Brando or anything. But he, you know, was making active choices. He was capable of a solid 3 on the smolder scale. I enjoyed him. Oscar-worthy? Is anything these days?
In Factotum, Dillon very discreetly carries the film with a thoughtful (if not terribly thought-provoking) performance as Bukowski alter ego, Henry "Hank" Chianski. Dillon has the flushed face of a drunk but the heart of a puppy with the eyes to match. He inspires sympathy more often than cringes. Mostly, what Matt Dillon has going for him is a very enviable trait as far as actors are concerned. He is practically immune to embarrassment. Whether he's sporting fake teeth or being cuckolded by a psychopath, he's adept at blurring the line between telling the joke and being the butt of it. Factotum gives him a chance to stretch creatively and he relishes in it.
Unfortunately, it's an inspired marriage of actor and role in a disappointing film. It just never distills in a satisfying way. That's what it is. It's not bad. It's unsatisfying. Most of the time the film just made me want to read Factotum which I think is probably the best course of action for any of you out there debating whether or not to see this.
Bottom Line: I wouldn't encourage anyone to spend money on this. I would just read the book and maybe like glance at a photo of Matt Dillon every once in awhile. You'll get the same effect most likely.
2 comments:
Personally, I love the idea that while his influence may, regretfully, have waned in the States, Jim Jarmusch remains the obvious formative director for an assortment of Scandinavian directors including Bent Hamer and Aki Kaurismaki. For my money, "Factotum" was Jarmusch-Laconic in many of the best ways possible, meandering, setting mood and getting laughs at unexpected moments.
Also, "Factotum" does a great public service in filming the "Flamingo Kid" reunion between Matt Dillon and Fisher Stevens.
Good times.
-Dan
As an aside, I would pick up a Bukowski book of poems or one of his novels (Post Office or Factotem is good)if I were you. I think you would love him. He is as nitty and gritty as they come. I guess he's about my favorite poet. There are those who hate him though. But you won't, I bet.
Post a Comment