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Barfly (1987)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 2
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 1

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82

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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 6,958

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Movie Info

Charles Bukowski, the talented crown prince of self-abuse, wrote the short stories upon which the surprisingly entertaining Barfly was based. The film concentrates on alcoholic writer Mickey Rourke (the Bukowski alter ego) who carries on a hate-hate relationship with bartender Frank Stallone. Rourke makes the acquaintance of another of society's castaways, Faye Dunaway, who in addition to being a souse is said to be crazy. They move in together, even though Dunaway all but promises to be

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Drama, Comedy

Charles Bukowski

Sep 3, 2002

Cannon Releasing

Cast

All Critics (24) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (4) | DVD (9)

The first four letters say it all.

March 23, 2010 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (2)
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

As I write about Barfly, I do seem to be talking myself into greater admiration for it, or at least into a sense of welcome design beneath its superficial inertia.

January 13, 2012 Full Review Source: Nick's Flick Picks | Comment
Nick's Flick Picks

Charles Bukowski's semi-autobiographical short story-cum-screenplay is rich fodder for filmmaker Schroeder, who squeezes all the available juice out of it in a sensitively directed film

June 5, 2009 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | Comment
Urban Cinefile

A lowlife seriocomedy.

July 20, 2006 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

An audacious movie about skid-row existentialism.

August 27, 2004 Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | Comment
Spirituality and Practice

Captures Bukowski well.

January 5, 2004 Comment

Rourke and Dunaway are dynamite

April 27, 2003 Comment
Moviehole
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Barfly

Usually when you see two people in as rough a shape as Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway look on the poster you don't expect a hell of a lot of entertainment out of that movie. Just honest misery. Fortunately, the late Charles Bukowski wrote Barfly and its entertaining as all hell. Rourke appropriately seems to play a

July 3, 2008
mjgildea

Super Reviewer

A brilliant film with what I believe to be Mickey Roarke's finest piece of work as an actor. The film was written by poet-author Charles Bukowski, and Roarke's character is based on Bukowski himself. Henry(Roarke) spends most of his time at the bar, getting into the occasional fistfight with the bartender Eddie which

November 21, 2009
yona71

Super Reviewer

    1. Henry Chinaski: It takes a special talent to be a drunk. It takes endurance.
    – Submitted by Kara K (11 months ago)

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Foreign Titles

  • Barfly (1987) (DE)
  • Barfly (1987) (UK)
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