Why is every movie that I really love so damn hard to find on DVD? Why must they be so annoyingly obscure?
I have a hankering to open a bottle of wine and watch Barfly this weekend, but every online link I've found so far has been dead and none of the local video stores carry it.
See, this is why Blockbuster sucks. They have five hundred copies of The Hannah Montana Movie and every big action piece of crap that Tom Cruise ever starred in, but not a Mickey Rourke flick made in 1987? None of the clerks have even heard of it? Come on!
In desperation I turned to Amazon figuring I'd just buy the DVD but that was not to be either. It's out of print now and selling for $250.
Sigh.
If you are rich and enjoy unconventional movies, then I highly recommend that you snap up a copy right this minute. (And then send it to me after you've watched it, okay?) You won't regret it.
Barfly is one of my all time favorite films. This movie just has everything. A quirky plot where nothing much happens, a cheerfully obnoxious drunken lout for a hero, lots of sly, lunatic humor, Mickey Rourke when he was hawt, numerous funny and profound lines that I find myself quoting over and over, good poetry, a raggedly glamorous Faye Dunaway throwing a beat down on dainty little Alice Krige in a very Dynasty moment, and the best performance of Frank Stallone's career.
Of course, this is the only Frank Stallone performance I've ever seen, but he really does a good job. His mustache is particularly outstanding.
Barfly was written by the boozer poet Charles Bukowski, and is one of those movies you either love or can't stand. Someone once sniffly told me he hated it because it's an unrealistic portrayal of alcoholics and he thought it glorified the life of a Skid Row bum.
Okay, I can see that point of view. Personally though, I'm glad there isn't a preachy message of repentance at the end and the characters all remain adamant drunks. Geez, it's a movie! If I want realism I'll go watch an episode of Intervention.
Here is one of the fight scenes between Mickey and Frank Stallone's mustache, featuring Frank's great line, "I'd hate to be you if I were me!"
Check out the blonde chick at 3.39. Now that's acting!
Have you seen this movie? If so, what did you think of it?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
21 comments:
Oh come on. Unless he's a skid row bum is he qualified to say that? Normally I would deride you for recommended a mickey rourke movie, but I saw angelheart a while ago and was stunned to realize hey, if they try hard enough it's possible to squeeze a good performance out of mickey rourke.
Did you ever read post office? It was such a bizarre thing, like a look into my work life or something.
Thankfully I have bittorrent and emule so I will watch barfly tonight.
Here ya go...eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/BARFLY-MICKEY-ROURKE-Faye-Dunaway-ORIGINAL-DVD-NEW_W0QQitemZ250430215288QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_DVD_HD_DVD_Blu_ray?hash=item3a4ecdd478&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A2096|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50
Up here in the boonies people don't know how much that movie is worth, I'm sure. If I see a copy at the flea market, I'll snap one up for you.
Regarding Frank Stallone, we all (philly crowd) used to make fun of him behind his back whenever he came around. His band, Valentine, was crap, and he was obviously catching a ride on his brother's fame.
I haven't seen it yet ... but now I really want to! (if only to witness the acting skills of Frank Stallone's moostash! )
If you want a more 'Hollywood' ending for an addiction movie, how about 28 Days with everyone's favorite Sandra Bollocks?
I don't remember seeing this film, maybe I should pick up a copy...
I saw Barfly when it was released. I didn't like it as much as I liked Angel Heart.
I have been despondently awaiting the DVD release of Brewster McCloud myself...
Wow, even Netflix doesn't have it, and I'm pretty sure they have my uncle's old Super 8 home movies. I'm surprised such a well-regarded movie is out of print.
looks pretty neato
None of the Blockbuster clerks have heard of Barfly-- that's just really sad-- and makes me feel really old.
If a movies any good I will catch it when they make the XXX parody of it.
I haven't seen it - but you've made me want to.
x
Finally saw it, the trailer intrigued me too much to forget it. What a great movie. All this time all I needed was a fith of gin? What a moron I am.
Ohhh, a good Mickey rourke recommendation.
I must check it out. He's like the new black....(and I mean that like in fashion)
I fucking love that movie. The boozy romanticized alcoholic love between Faye Dunaway and Mickey Rourke (with his old face) makes me wanna quit my job and sit at the sketchy bar up the street from me all day and buy rounds "For all my FRIENDS!!!"
I cannot believe you cant get it on Netflix???
Funny you blogged about this because we just went to a local bar that was so divey and dark and it was filled with Bukowski-ish characters. I think I tweeted about it.
Great movie...haven't seen it in years, but really enjoyed it. It's good stoned too, by the way.
never seen it, but it sounds completely awesome. austin has some great DVD rental stores, so i'll check it out and see if i can mail you a rental. :)
I had a friend who was a big Bukowski fan. He also made a point of going to Vegas with me - his lawyer - to re-live that Hunter S. Thompson moment.
I wondered how Faye could sleep with him and still breathe.
i think frank stallone was the guy singing on the street by the trashcan that's on fire in the first rocky, so that's something else.
Saw it ages ago and now want to see it again - how can this not be on Netflix??? Insane!
I've been looking for this movie for you, but still no luck. I'm not giving up though.
LOL!! This movie is great!! I remember seeing it years ago on VHS.
Post a Comment