Factotum (2005)

This drama centers on Hank Chinaski, the fictional alter-ego of "Factotum" author Charles Bukowski, who wanders around Los Angeles, CA trying to live off jobs which don't interfere with his primary interest, which is writing. Along the way, he fends off the distractions offered by women, drinking and gambling.

Director:

Bent Hamer

Writers:

Charles Bukowski (novel), Bent Hamer,

Stars:

Matt Dillon, Lili Taylor, Didier Flamand

3 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt Dillon	...	Hank Chinaski
Lili Taylor	...	Jan
Didier Flamand	...	Pierre
Fisher Stevens	...	Manny
Marisa Tomei	...	Laura
Adrienne Shelly	...	Jerry
Karen Young	...	Grace
Thomas Lyons	...	Tony Endicott (as Tom Lyons)
Dean Brewington	...	Old Black Man
James Cada	...	Bald Man
James Michael Detmar	...	Smithson
Kurt Schweickhardt	...	Ice Plant Supervisor
Dee Noah	...	Hank's Mother
James Noah	...	Hank's Father
Michael Egan	...	Taxi Office Clerk

Storyline

Self-declared aspiring writer Hank Chinaski has neither qualifications, ambition nor ethics. Any dead-end job he lands is soon lost through laziness or mischief. His relationship with fellow deadbeat Jan gets strained to crisis through her insecurity, so he even gives up betting on horses which brought in easy money.

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Plot Keywords:

writer | writing | gambling | drinking | money | 

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Taglines:

From the book by Charles Bukowski

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

ID Distribution [fr] Official site [no]

Country:

Norway USA Germany France Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 April 2005 (Norway)

Also Known As:

Factotum: A Man Who Performs Many Jobs

Filming Locations:

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$59,212 (USA) (18 August 2006)

Gross:

$808,221 (USA) (8 December 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bulbul Films, Canal+, Celluloid Dreams

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sean Penn was the first choice for the role of Henry Chinaski.

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Goofs

Despite the fact that the film takes place in Los Angeles, the filming location of Minneapolis is clearly revealed in the shots of the skyline and the area codes of the phone numbers on the sides of the taxicabs.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Ice Plant Supervisor: Chinaski! Hey! Chinaski, come on out here! You got a drivers license, don't you?
Henry Chinaski: Yeah.
Ice Plant Supervisor: I got a driver out sick today. We got some rush orders we need to get out right away. I need you to make these deliveries.

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Connections

Referenced in Hand of Glory (2012)

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Soundtracks

"Where Breathing Starts"
(Excerpts)
Music by Tord Gustavsen
Performed by Tord Gustavsen Trio
By courtesy of Tord Gustavsen/ECM
Sound Recording Copyright ECM Records 2003

User Reviews

Hamers take on Bukowski's alter ego

Hamer is a wonderful director and is well suited to adapt a life so besoffened as Henry Chinaski's is, with its peculiar humour. That said, the full potential of Bukowski is not realized and probably would never be outside of the books. Its still close though. Some sequences, like for instance, the pickle factory is very funny in true spirit of Buk's work.

What may scare most fans away from this though, is pretty face Matt Dillon. He does not have the personality, understanding or the looks to match Chinaski. This is the main hindrance of this movie. Lili Taylor and Marisa Tomei comes better off, giving solid performances.

If you're a fan of Buk, go check it out. If you're a fan of good cinema, check it out as well. Bent Hamer is a man of vision.