Barfly
1987 · Movie · R · 100 min · ★ 6.9 · 73% critics
A down-on-his-luck writer drifts through grimy bars and cheap rooms, living for the next drink and the next scrap of inspiration. When he connects with an equally troubled drinking companion and catches the attention of someone who sees promise in his work, he’s pulled between fleeting opportunity and the life he knows.
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Details
- Years
- 1987
- Release date
- 1987-09-02
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Critic score
- 73/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 (386 votes)
About
If you enjoy offbeat, character-first stories about messy lives and barroom humor, this could click, especially if you liked Trees Lounge; Not for you if you need a clear plot, uplifting vibes, or tidy resolutions.
Pros: sharp, quotable dialogue; darkly funny moments; strong lead performances | Cons: thin, episodic story; abrasive, grim subject; uneven, over-the-top scenes
Themes
- career
- prostitute
- fight
- bartender
- poet
- alcoholism
- money
- los angeles, california
- alcohol abuse
- paramedic
- boyfriend girlfriend relationship
- street fight
- +5 more
Cast & crew
Mickey Rourke
as Henry Chinaski
Faye Dunaway
as Wanda Wilcox
Alice Krige
as Tully Sorenson
Jack Nance
as Detective
J.C. Quinn
as Jim
Frank Stallone Jr.
as Eddie
Sandy Martin
as Janice
Roberta Bassin
as Lilly
Gloria LeRoy
as Grandma Moses
Joe Unger
as Ben
Directed by Barbet Schroeder