Barfly

R

1987

1 hr. 40 min.

Comedy

Drama

List

76%

25 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Down-and-out writer Henry Chinaski (Mickey Rourke) spends his nights drinking and picking brawls at a dingy Los Angeles watering hole. One night Henry spies a kindred spirit in pretty barfly Wanda (Faye Dunaway) and, despite warning signs that she may be unfaithful, shacks up with the woman. When Henry's fears are confirmed by Wanda's infidelity with bartender Eddie (Frank Stallone), he begins an affair of his own with wealthy publisher Tully Sorenson (Alice Krige).

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Alec B

The film practically reeks of booze and hopelessness. What I like most here is that both Schroeder and Bukowski understand that dive bars and their patrons are as American as apple pie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/05/24

Full Review

Richard L

Decided to give this a watch after enjoying Factotum (2005). Although this earlier take is certainly down and dirtier, and Rourke is amazing as the main character, the script is significantly less refined making for an overal inferior (though still interesting) experience.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

06/16/23

Full Review

Robert O

An absolutely stunning portrayal of skid row life in L.A. I loved it when it came out in the theatres and I had to own it so just went to EBay and bought it on DVD. The acting all around is just outstanding: Mickey Rourke as the protagonist, a hopeless drunk but yet a brilliant poet, his love interest Faye Dunaway, and the badass macho bartender Frank Stallone (Sylvester's brother). Maybe best of all, skid row author and poet Charles Bukowski wrote the screenplay. Rourke's character is loosely based on Bukowski. Bukowski's books are hilariously funny, and this film is at times hilariously funny. It's a one of a kind film that IMO every movie lover should check out.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/13/23

Full Review

Peter W

Overall, I can understand how this film wouldn't sit well with everyone. The lead is a careless man who enjoys being sloppy and trashy in all areas. Yet somehow, I found him kind of fun to watch, mostly because it's so different from anything else Mickey Rourke has done in his career. Pacing, for the most part, is a delight. Still, I can't deny the third act is weak and even introduces a love triangle that was a bit too much. The conclusion is fun and wacky enough as if the whole story has only moved forwards in a tiny direction and perhaps that's the whole point.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/01/23

Full Review

Shioka O

I don't know anything about the writer, just googled that this is his autobiographical film. Really sketchy tale about drunk people. Only possible reason to watch this is two leads performance. Cinematography is good.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/02/22

Full Review

jon c

Not much going on here to sustain interest Even with Mickey Rourke nothing ever feels resolved by the end Shame Alice Krige doesn't show up until halfway through Feels like an overextended vignette

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Barbet Schroeder

Director

Mickey Rourke

Henry Chinaski

Faye Dunaway

Wanda Wilcox

Alice Krige

Tully Sorenson

Jack Nance

Detective

J.C. Quinn

Jim

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Both characters are the kind of people who want to be left alone. That`s what you may feel like after you spend a few minutes with them.

Rated: 2/4

Aug 23, 2017

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The first four letters say it all.

Mar 23, 2010

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

The result is a truly original American movie, a film like no other, a period of time spent in the company of the kinds of characters Saroyan and O'Neill would have understood.

Rated: 4/4

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

No more than an extended vignette. [Full review in Spanish].

Jun 28, 2022

Full Review

Candice Russell

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Director Barbet Schroeder brilliantly creates a world unknown or invisible to most filmgoers.

Rated: 3.5/4

Aug 19, 2021

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

Barfly remains a flavorful approximation of life on the bottom rungs.

Jul 16, 2021

Full Review

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Synopsis

Down-and-out writer Henry Chinaski (Mickey Rourke) spends his nights drinking and picking brawls at a dingy Los Angeles watering hole. One night Henry spies a kindred spirit in pretty barfly Wanda (Faye Dunaway) and, despite warning signs that she may be unfaithful, shacks up with the woman. When Henry's fears are confirmed by Wanda's infidelity with bartender Eddie (Frank Stallone), he begins an affair of his own with wealthy publisher Tully Sorenson (Alice Krige).

Director: Barbet Schroeder
Screenwriter: Charles Bukowski
Production Co: Golan-Globus
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $116.6K

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