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Reviews
Empty Spaces (2019)
Visually stunning, but goes nowhere
This "movie" is very beautiful from a purely visual standpoint and interesting for that reason alone. It may be worthwhile to watch it with the sound off just to enjoy the stunning cinematography. There are some truly fascinating shots. However, that is the only thing I enjoyed about this film. The story was confusing and went nowhere. Who are these people? Are they brothers? Why was one of them burying money in the wilderness? I have so many questions and none of them were answered. I like for a movie to wrap up all the loose end in the final act and answer all of the viewer's questions. This one did not. Instead it only raised more questions, and I found it frustrating for that reason. It reminded me of a weird European art film or a David Lynch movie, so if you're into that sort of thing you may enjoy this, but it was not for me. I give it 2 stars out of 10 for the story only because there were one or two funny parts, and I give it 10 stars out of 10 for the wonderful cinematography. That averages out to 6 stars out of 10. Thank you and goodnight.
Barfly (1987)
Beware the bottle
Barfly finds Charles Bukowski's Henry Chinaski going from bar to bar unable, and unwilling, to give up the drink, even while it clearly has a negative impact on his life. Bukoswki himself was no doubt all too aware of this affect and saw both sides of it. He is Chinaski, the two men are one and the same. But he also knows that alcohol is a part of his life, for better or worse. He's a smart man and knows what it does to him, but still knows that he needs it. As much as part of him may want to give it up, and as much as circumstances scream at him to quit drinking so much, he knows that there is no point in listening because he knows that he never will never quit drinking. It is too much a part of who he is. But his is not a cautionary tale of a man who drinks too much, nor is it a celebration of the joys of alcohol. Instead, it is an honest look at an alcoholic who is more than just an alcoholic. That is part of him for sure, and it is an inextricable part of him that plays a factor in all of his relationships and everything he does, right or wrong. But it is only one factor of many.
Factotum (2005)
Struggling writer struggles with life
Charles Bukowski's Henry Chinaski goes from menial job to menial job while trying to be a writer. Oh yeah and he's also an alcoholic. It's a tale we've heard before, but here as the focus of the story it is truly mesmerizing. Matt Dillon turns in a superb performance in the lead role, but what really makes this film stand out is the writing. It is true to Bukowski's vision and it is ever so real, in no small part because it is indeed based on Bukowski's own life experiences. That is the key building block of good writing and good film-making.