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Review by Jennifer Pflughaupt

I don’t know about you, but I am someone who likes to go to the movies to escape the burdens of everyday life by watching something creative and interesting. I was expecting that with “Factotum” starring Matt Dillon and Lili Taylor, but instead I was left severely disenchanted. You will find out a couple of things about my opinions of films as you continue to read my reviews. I love it, like it, can appreciate it, or totally and utterly despise it. “Factotum” is in the bottom of the bottom of that range. As I said before, I like to escape when I go to the movies. Independent films do that, but from a different perspective, and that is what I love about them. I like true stories of any kind and I also get tragedy. I see the purpose. But, what I don’t understand is why a person would want to do a movie about a lazy drunk. There is no flashy backdrop, strange love story, or even a catalyst explaining his addiction.

  This was a simple story about Henry “Hank” Chinaski (Matt Dillon), a struggling short story writer who is only a short story writer because his alcoholism crushes any ambition to be a novelist. Hank can’t hold a job because of his alcohol addiction. But, hey, he shacks up with a fellow drunk named Jan (Lili Taylor) and starts gambling. I guess there IS comfort in numbers. (Can you see my eyes rolling to the back of my head yet?) The movie goes on at a depressing rate. Watching one appalling drunk incident after another made sticking red hot pokers in my nostrils seem more appealing than watching this film. For this next portion of the review, please understand I was watching a movie about a drunk, sleeping with another drunk, who liked to go out at night and sleep around with probably more drunks; but, I must give props where props are due.

  There was a scene in the movie that did make me laugh a lot (and snort, a little). It took a work of genius (or drunkenness) to dream up a scene involving two drunks, a job offer, a naked man, crabs, cream, gauze and scotch tape. But, that was the only redeeming moment of the entire movie. If that peeks your interest enough, please, at least wait until it’s on Netflix. There are so many reasons why I cannot suggest this film, but it would take a short story, maybe a novel…mmm…naah, to write that. So, I leave you with these two conjoining thoughts. “Factotum” is a dumbed down version of “Leaving Las Vegas” and should have been called “Why not to be an Alcoholic”. “Factotum” gets 0.5 stars.

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Jennifer is a freelance film critic with an overloaded life. She has a rock star husband, a 2 year old daughter, a military career in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, and she is also a full time student at UNT working towards getting her degree in kicking butt and taking names. Some of her favorite films are “Heart of the Game”, “The Lords of Dogtown”, “American History X”, “The Boondock Saints”, “Miss Congeniality”, “The United States of Leland” , “Return to Me” and “Thank You for Smoking”. You can check out her personal information, plus read her writings and reviews on Myspace .