So I was watching the movie and saw a lot of little inconsistencies that would've made Hank turn in his grave. The first inconstancy was the actor himself. He reminded me almost nothing of Charles. He's too young, too tall, too confident with his appearance -- always groomed and resembled no stress or anything that would indicate he's Charles. Hell, if you didn't tell me this movie was based on Factotum, I would've believed it was some sort of Actor going through a rough patch. The people at the race track cheered for Hank and his friend, the "old man" at the race track who took their seats died. I can go on all day. It's kind of sad that they went ahead and threw their stupid spins on it. If you're gonna do it, do it right. Don't FKING add your stupid BS Hollywood spins onto it and think it's Good.

Charles Bukowski's essence was found in this movie, by the director, by the whole production and by last, but not least, Matt Dillon (Henry Chinaski is Charles Bukowski). Finally a film that nailed Bukowski's essence dead on! I was very impressed. A very beautiful and funny film. It's funnier in the beginning and starts losing steam towards the end, but still, all around a great film. The final voice over monologue will leave you with chills going up your spine by how spot on Chinaski is about life. Some beautiful moments in the film are moments where they just are, you just observe the characters. Eckhart Tolle fans will appreciate this movie, this is the stuff Eckhart is talking about, these moments that are shown in this film. A movie that was not going to make money, but that was true to the master, the genius in Charles Bukowski. Very well done. Matt Dillon is excellent. Lili Taylor is superb. She is one of the most underrated actresses of our time. Check this film out. Bukowski lovers will love it, and if you don't know who Bukowski is and you love this film, do yourself a favor and go buy one of his books right away. You are in for a big treat, one that will leave you wanting to read more and more of this brilliant man's work.

doesn't mean this movie is good. i was really frustrated by it on many levels. it's kind of the tip of the hat to bukowski. hey, i've read that guy in college--let's see what matt dillon does with him. and i like matt dillon. i thought he came close to looking a little like hank, but mostly just the ruddy cheeks. i have to care about a character, though, and there just wasn't much here to care about. i think time might be cruel to bukowski, and that bothers me a lot, because the writing was solid in a sort of post counter culture time. hard to sit through, scenes that went nowhere, and a soundtrack that made me want to vomit. i ask for very little, got less.

It's possible that people who enjoyed this movie, did so because they had previous knowledge of the writer this movie is loosely based upon, Charles Bukowski. I have never heard of this author going into the movie, and I'm not sure it would have mattered that this fictional story is based upon what life as Charles Bukowski is romanticized to be. The fact that I like Matt Dillon in most of his films, didn't make me like his character Henry any better.Parts of the film include voice over of Henry speaking. In most films they use this as a narration tool to let us know things the movie otherwise can't reveal in the scenes. In "Factotum" I am afraid the dialogue was the text in the written submissions Henry was making to a publisher. I hope I am wrong. It was mind-numbing drivel, like a diary of how one behaves like a loser, but with no skills in telling it even in an entertaining fashion. Henry's voice is just a simple narrator to his mundane life of getting fired and getting drunk, it suggests nothing poetic or redeeming at all.I'm not opposed to enjoying movies which show the alcoholic spiraling out of control, even if it has a totally unsatisfying ending. I really enjoyed "Leaving Las Vegas" with Nicolas Cage and Elisabeth Shue as Ben and Sera. Here a guy commits suicide by drinking himself to death, but he convinces you to like him in spite of his terrible character flaws and bad behavior. "Factotum" just can not accomplish this for me.