Drinking movies are always fun. Sordid assholes are always interesting. You put them together and what do you know here's a good movie.

how fucking awesome are these performances? :o

Faye Dunaway acts like Cat Lady and beats everyone. "Regard the society of women as a necessary unpleasantness of social life and avoid it as much as possible."

Score based on distant memory.

Good job by Rourke, an unlikable actor well cast in an unlikable role, and making an effort on top of it. Dunaway, however, is so very drab and untalented, she shouldn't even portray unpleasant women. Schroeder's Henry Chinaski is more cynicism and less lyricism than the Chinaski in Bent Hamer's Factotum (2006), and Barfly is more uneasy to watch, but definitely better (though Factotum's good too).

I found this too starry for a Bukowski adaptation. I mean, here you have Chinaski, a really ugly but tough guy, and who plays it? Mickey Rourke, the baby-face No.1 of the time! And the glamorous Dunaway? Was she really appropriate for Chinaski's broken, older love? I did enjoy the movie partly and it's difficult not to recommend it. (After all, it's Bukowski.) I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't read any Bukowski. But what's the point in that? - Note: Try the movie Factotum after this.

Great story and pacing. Funny as hell, too.

i probably like this way too much

A perfect depiction of the vacuous and dysfunctional life of a living alcoholic, particularly one with lost potential. Mickey Rourke plays the character naturally and was a great performance. The film was uneven all around but the light philosophical undertones and dry ol' timer humor made it interesting. The 80's was quite a convenient time to be a drunk.

The world and language of Bukowski translated to the screen, and through this medium it seems so much more sadder and less exciting than it was on page (at least for the first third). Rourke translates Henry Chinaski unsuccessfully (he's too boastful and bashful) but it's still a good performance of a down-and-out drunk that prefers to stay that way: no wonder women fight over him.

I found the movie somewhat sad, but not for the actual story or events depicted in it. Rather, because it is full of bits and pieces of a time, place and culture which I remember well and is now gone forever.

Do all stewbums win this many fights against larger opponents and get girlfriends who look like Faye Dunaway?

Rourke and his convincing turn as a jacked up stewbum deserved a better script and ultimately a better movie. This was just painful to watch. Too fucking depressing and only mildly entertaining.

Barfly: 7 // 10 // 8 // 6 // 7 // 7 // 7

I really liked this.

Okay Movie

Rourke like never seen before of after. He was also great in The Wrestler, it's like he was made to act worn out he-men. The main difference is that Bukow.. ah, Chinaski character finds meaning and purpose in self-destruction and meaninglessness of life. And who is to say that this philosophy is wrong. Overall, this movie is a bit too light to deliver heavy messages, but you really might want to see Rourke's acting.

Perfect dialogues!

Deliciously cynical.

Laborer, no experience. Heyyy, that's me.

Sarcastic and genius.