Matt Dillon and Marisa Tomei 

Factotum 

Adapted from the book by Charles Bukowski

Directed by Bent Hamer

Starring Matt Dillon, Marisa Tomei, and Lili Taylor

Released Aug. 18, 2006 (US)

Factotum is a good but not great movie. There are many things to recommend it, including the camera work and the settings. But I think what I liked best about watching it so many years after it first came out was Matt Dillon’s portrayal of Henry Chinaski. (Dillon was about 40 at the time.) It felt exactly right. It might have been Dillon’s best performance ever. I also thought that Lili Taylor was excellent in the role of Henry’s main squeeze.

What I didn’t like so much…

The plot moved along pretty well in the book, but it dragged in the movie. I think the reason for that is that the screenwriters (Bent Hamer and Jim Stark) took liberties with Bukowski’s story (e.g., cutting some scenes, then dropping in transitional sections in an effort to help with continuity) that had the effect of slowing everything down. They also failed to capture the dark humor in the book.

I would recommend Factotum to Bukowski fans. But I would warn them not to watch it with huge expectations.

Critical Reception 

* “At times, the picture recalls Jim Jarmusch at his very best, with all the self-indulgent parts cut out.” (Eleanor Ringel Cater, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

* “Factotum, for all its grim grind, is funny-serious, and smart-stupid.” (Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle)

* “An aimless movie about an aimless man is still an aimless movie.” (Tom Long, Detroit News)

You can watch the trailer here.