The affable drunk is a staple in film and on TV. Sometimes it works really well (I wouldn't mind sitting through an Absolutely fabulous-marathon right now!). Barfly - I don't know. In many ways, this film is just what I expected it to be. Henry is an unremitting drunk (the screenplay was written by a certain Mr. Bukowski). We learn that it takes more to be constantly drinking than ... So, Henry's got some talent for drinking. Usually, he hangs out at the local coctail dive (showering in piss-coloured light). Sometimes he just feels an irresistable need to fight the bartender. Naturally, he's popular among the ladies. He takes a liking to a local character named Wanda, and she takes a liking to him. They are the perfect couple, sharing the unabiding joy of a glass of Scoth (or 15). We also learn that Henry has some hidden literary talents (which, of course, also makes him popular with the ladies). The main point of the film seems to be to show us the bohemian who detests the Straight life of the common Joe. Because, you know, Henry wants to live and he cannot live in "a golden cage". You get the point / I get the point. Barfly obviously has some charm (especially the depiction of the local dive exudes some genuine warmth) but most of the time, I cannot stop feeling this film is just ridiculously romanticizing "the Bohemian". But hell, I'd rather watch Barfly than Into the Wild. At least, this is a cheery film almost without traces of sentimentality. Plus: I like Mickey Rourke.
Convincing performances of drunkenness is remains of the toughest challenges on film - Rourke might be one-dimensional, but he's pretty good at that.
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