PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

Janae Milner Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

Stephanie There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

jetcitychris-172-850997 This movie is an insult to film, acting and the legacy of Bukowski. This is the only movie I have ever seen where I stood up in the theater and actually shouted at the characters on screen. That I received a round of applause after my outburst should speak volumes. If you ever see a copy of this on VHS or DVD buy it and burn it as a public service. Go watch Barfly or Factotum.

Scott LeBrun The writings of cult favorite Charles Bukowski are the basis for this deliberately paced journey into the underbelly of L.A. society, as an alcoholic, degenerate poet & lecturer, Charles Serking (Ben Gazzara), muses on the lives that he and his associates lead. He is particularly taken with a very troubled prostitute named Cass (Ornella Muti), and embarks on a sort of relationship with her, even as he continues to indulge in his more debased whims. Meanwhile, it seems as if his career might really be going somewhere, as publishers in NYC come calling.This film is going to be a hard slog for some people. It's an interminable outing that requires its audience to spend time with characters who are off putting to one degree or another. Still, some people should appreciate what could be seen as this films' honesty when it comes to portraying artistic but troubled types. Bukowski certainly was a talent, no doubt about that, and his material is sometimes played with a degree of humor.The actors may not be at their all time best, but they're still somewhat amusing to watch. Gazzara is a hoot as Serking. The very lovely young Muti is touching. Susan Tyrrell has a brief bit as a sexy (!) stranger on a bus whom Serking pursues for the purpose of sexual assault.Languidly paced and very sobering, this does feature a memorable sequence involving Muti and a safety pin, and a fairly devastating scene near the end as a character is overcome by grief.Devotees of Bukowski and the director, Marco Ferreri, will likely rate this much higher.Five out of 10.

christopher-underwood Not the easiest of films to watch but a really decent attempt at portraying Bukowski on film and containing some great scenes and very fine performances.Ben Gazzara, who probably is too good looking but nevertheless most convincing in the lead role is excellent, Ornella Muti is simply wonderful (and probably too good looking as well!) and at her peak of beauty here. Just wish she wouldn't do those things with safety pins!Susan Tyrrel also impresses in key sequences, but it's the whole thing that works so well.With such a difficult subject matter,Ferreri has done a tremendous job.

Didier (Didier-Becu) Everyone will have their opinion about Charles Bukowski but fact is that he's the kind of author who kicks us a conscience or as he say himself "I know a lot of dogs who have more style than humans but then again I don't know that many dogs with style". His books had two main subjects : drinking and sex. So no wonder that Marco Ferreri's adaption of one Bukowski's books are like that as well. We follow the life of an author Serking (who in fact is Bukowski and being excently performed by Ben Gazarra) in where he is looking to freed himself, he finds his escapes in Cazza (Ornella Mutti) a prostitute who is fed up with life and who only likes to humilate her (beautiful) body. Ferreri directed like most of his films are, pretty cold, shocking, alternative but above all watchable, so this is no art-nonsense. How it was possible is beyond me but Ferreri couldn't have found a better actor than Ben Gazarra doing this job, one of his best roles!