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Tales of Ordinary Madness

Play trailer Poster for Tales of Ordinary Madness Released Jan 3, 1982 1h 47m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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60% Tomatometer 5 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A drunken Los Angeles poet (Ben Gazzara) who is given to excess has a series of sleazy, violent encounters with bizarre women (Ornella Muti, Susan Tyrrell).

Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker It’s a startling movie, partly because it’s so simply presented. Sep 19, 2023 Full Review Variety Staff Variety [Director Marco Ferreri,] who has delved into the human psyche often in its mainly frustrated, exploited aspects in today’s world, seems to have found a kindred spirit in the stories of the 1960s Yank sub-culture writer-poet Charles Bukowski. Mar 27, 2009 Full Review Diego Galán El Pais (Spain) Ben Gazzara does a remarkable job. [Full Review in Spanish] Aug 23, 2019 Full Review Steve Rhodes Internet Reviews Denise Gentile tries her best to save the picture but can't. The writing is too loose and the other acting is credible only in fits and spurts. Rated: 2/4 Jul 29, 2002 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Ben Gazzara had some of Bukowski's outward mannerisms and the same beady eyes as the poet. Rated: C Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member This has got to be one of the most under-rated character studies of all time. Ben Gazzara is terrific as an alcoholic poet drinkinghimself into one stupor after another, and falling in love along the way. Based on material written by Charles Bukowski, this is an all-but-forgotten gem. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member I've got to say that "Barfly" is my best. Storie di ordinaria follia is pretty good but the fans of Bukowski should try "Barfly" with Mickey Rourke first... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/23/23 Full Review Audience Member I read the book, and this just seemed like artsy soft porn in comparison. Weird acting, and unmotivated plotlines created by cramming a 300 plus page book into an hour and a half. It had moments...but I was really looking for something else here....Gotta go watch Barfly again, I think! Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Unusual movie. Ok, but not great. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Audience Member What is this nonsense? Some weird portrail in a 1980s style romance film! No humanistic element to the actor Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member I've got to say that "Barfly" is my best. Storie di ordinaria follia is pretty good but the fans of Bukowski should try "Barfly" with Mickey Rourke first... Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Tales of Ordinary Madness

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Cast & Crew

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Marco Ferreri

Director

Ben Gazzara

Charles Serking

Ornella Muti

Cass

Susan Tyrrell

Vera

Tanya Lopert

Vicky

Roy Brocksmith

Barman
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Tales of Ordinary Madness

Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981) Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981) Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981) Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A drunken Los Angeles poet (Ben Gazzara) who is given to excess has a series of sleazy, violent encounters with bizarre women (Ornella Muti, Susan Tyrrell).
Director
Marco Ferreri
Producer
Jacqueline Ferreri
Screenwriter
Charles Bukowski, Sergio Amidei, Marco Ferreri, Anthony Foutz
Distributor
Fred Baker Films
Production Co
Ginis Films, 23 Giugno, Roma
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 3, 1982, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Aug 19, 2008
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Mono