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Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway, Alice Krige, Jack Nance, J.C. Quinn ... see more see more... , Frank Stallone , Wil Albert , Roberta Bassin , Carlos Cervantes , Rik Colitti , Vance Colvig , Fritz Feld , Albert Henderson , Damon Hines , Ronald G. Joseph , Gloria Le Roy , Sandy Martin , Donald L. Norden , Julie "Sunny" Pearson , Stacey Pickren , Joe Rice , Debbie Lynn Ross , George Marshall Ruge , Hal Shafer , Pearl Shear , Leonard Termo , Joe Unger , Pruitt Taylor Vince , Michael Collins , Zeke Manners , Sandy Rose , Peter Conti , Lahmard J. Tate , Harry Cohn

Charles Bukowski, the talented crown prince of self-abuse, wrote the short stories upon which the surprisingly entertaining Barfly was based. The film concentrates on alcoholic writer Mickey Rourke (t... read more read more...he Bukowski alter ego) who carries on a hate-hate relationship with bartender Frank Stallone. Rourke makes the acquaintance of another of society's castaways, Faye Dunaway, who in addition to being a souse is said to be crazy. They move in together, even though Dunaway all but promises to be unfaithful for the price of a drink. Rourke has a chance to clean up his act when offered a large commission for his writings by publisher Alice Krige. They too end up in bed, each trying to change the other. The clarion call of the cheap wine bottle overrides Rourke's half-hearted efforts to enter the mainstream. Watch for author Charles Bukowski, as well as Fritz "Pop!" Feld and Vance Colvig (who's made a career out of playing street people) in Barfly bit parts. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

82% liked it

7,032 ratings

Critics

78% liked it

18 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Barbet Schroeder

Release Date: October 16, 1987

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DVD Release Date: September 3, 2002

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Flixster Reviews (543)

  • mjgildea
    June 7, 2010
    mjgildea
    Usually when you see two people in as rough a shape as Mickey Rourke and Faye Dunaway look on the poster you don't expect a hell of a lot of entertainment out of that movie. Just honest misery. Fortunately, the late Charles Bukowski wrote Barfly and its entertaining as all hell. ... read moreRourke appropriately seems to play a mumbling caricature of Bukowski and a still attractive Dunaway fits the bill nicely. The soundtrack is outstanding and for as much as Bukowski's script shuffles along as Hank Chinaski himself does, its definitely hysterical and you don't really seem to mind. Cram that in with director Barbet Schroeder's talent for filling the movie with all kinds of grit and characters and the good times are rolling...
  • yona71
    November 21, 2009
    yona71
    A brilliant film with what I believe to be Mickey Roarke's finest piece of work as an actor. The film was written by poet-author Charles Bukowski, and Roarke's character is based on Bukowski himself.
    Henry(Roarke) spends most of his time at the bar, getting into the occasional f... read moreistfight with the bartender Eddie which is so well portrayed by Frank Stallone, and gets involved with a haggard alcoholic portrayed by Faye Dunaway. Henry puts all the money he wins from his streetfights into his drink of choice, scotch and water, and occasionally buys one for the house, "To all my friends!"
    There's really not much going on with the story itself, but this film is simply entertaining, and manages to keep some humor in it's dim premise. Simplicity is usually better, and this film is a good example of what can be done when the right group of artists are put together.
  • jjnxn
    September 23, 2007
    jjnxn
    Good acting can only help a film so far, this one is an ugly, depressing experience.
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 17, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A rotten and dismal film. I did like that it ended, exactly how it started.
  • drago25
    March 10, 2007
    drago25
    Disappointing, to say the least. I had never even heard of this movie, until it was covered in the documentary Bukowski: Born Into This - you see this script was apparently written by American literary legend, Charles Bukowski, in the later stages of his life (he has a brief came... read moreo in the film). What it mentioned in the documentary was that Bukowski and his wife were quite disappointed in how the film turned out, and I can see why now. The script was written about his alter-ego, Henry Chinaski, who was the protagonist of much of his work in poetry & prose. Chinaski is basically a different version of himself, and as such, Rourke is essentially playing Charles Bukowski, and he fails in this respect. Rourke's performance is a somewhat over-the-top caricature. The script is great but Rourke's delivery saps a lot of meaning out of most of the material, leaving us with a vacuous dark comedy. I think a lot of that is also due to the director, Barbet Schroeder, though - he really doesn't show much respect for the material, and the fact that most of this would have come from Bukowski's actual life. He puts his own spin on it, but it really spins out of control and becomes something that, while watchable, you get the sense was meant to be an entirely different monster. Even Faye Dunaway, who I usually love, doesn't add much to the proceedings. It's an okay film, but I can't really recommend it. In the end it just made me want a drink.
  • michaelcorleone
    January 11, 2010
    michaelcorleone
    A very disappointing film considering the talent involved, but it's still worth a look for Bukowski enthusiasts. The screenplay is written by Charles Bukowski himself, and it encompasses almost all of the themes prevalent throughout his work. However, director Barbet Schroeder ta... read morekes an approach to the material that I found to be underwhelming. Instead of exploring the script as a realistic drama, the film is played out as an outrageous black comedy. Mickey Rourke is particularly disappointing, since he's an actor I admire and respect so much. He takes big chances with this role and goes beyond over-the-top. Unfortunately, the result is a performance that feels forced and at times downright obnoxious. He also has moments of strength, but they're too sporadic. Faye Dunaway does the best acting in the film, playing a memorable and convincing supporting character. The writing is good, and deserves recognition, but the adaptation doesn't do it justice.
  • jimbotender
    January 12, 2009
    jimbotender
    This is how American cinema should be...openly dense and fearlessly howling to all contenders,bouts from every corner of this world.It's a terrible newsreel,Bukowski on the screenplay of a Schroeder film,pessimistic,as far as the jackals can move...Rourke in an electrifying perfo... read morermance.I gotta get a drink...
  • Chosen718
    November 5, 2007
    Chosen718
    From what I remember..it was a good film.
  • Chapsky
    February 24, 2011
    Chapsky
    I grew up reading Bukowski's poems. I have almost all his poetry books. This movie was like meeting an old friend for me. Therefore 4 1/2 stars might be a little bit high. At first I felt a bit strange... Rourke's strange walk and Brando-esque talk... But then yes he was a comple... read morete Chinaski ! And seeing Bukowski at the bar for a few seconds was priceless !
  • thrusz
    August 22, 2007
    thrusz
    After watching Factotum, I feel it necessary to review this movie. It is absolutely fantastic. Admittedly, Rourke plays Bukowski over-the-top, but that works for this movie in a way I've never seen in film. The mood and atmosphere are spot on for this film and I highly ... read morerecommend this for every surly assh*le I ever meet.

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Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
March 23, 2010
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The first four letters say it all. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
March 17, 2012
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Mickey Rourke gives a splendid performance as Bukowski's alter ego, the boozy, offbeat and eccentric writer, and he also brings the best out of Faye Dunaway as his unstable companion. Full Review

Nick Davis
January 13, 2012
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

As I write about Barfly, I do seem to be talking myself into greater admiration for it, or at least into a sense of welcome design beneath its superficial inertia. Full Review

Andrew L. Urban
June 5, 2009
Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile

Charles Bukowski's semi-autobiographical short story-cum-screenplay is rich fodder for filmmaker Schroeder, who squeezes all the available juice out of it in a sensitively directed film Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
July 20, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

A lowlife seriocomedy. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
August 27, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

An audacious movie about skid-row existentialism. Full Review

Mark Robison
January 5, 2004
Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal

Captures Bukowski well.

Clint Morris
April 27, 2003
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Rourke and Dunaway are dynamite

Larry Carroll
August 8, 2002
Larry Carroll, Countingdown.com

A terrific little film that features the best performance Mickey Rourke has ever given. It drags you into its world and makes you care about the characters.

June 11, 2008
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

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    • Henry Chinaski: It takes a special talent to be a drunk. It takes endurance.
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Barfly Trivia

  • which movie does this quote belong to "Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead"  Answer »
  • "Barfly" a film about an alcoholic and his alcoholic girlfriend (Faye Dunnaway) who played the lead?  Answer »
  • In Barfly, what does Henry need to do to beat Eddie the Bartender in a fight?  Answer »
  • In order to "secure" the financing for the 1987 film "Barfly" (written by Charles Bukowski), director Barbet Schroder sealed himself off in the offices of Cannon Films and threatened to cut his fingers off one by one with a chainsaw.  Answer »
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