Bukowski was asked to write a screenplay about his life. Reluctantly, he entered his writing room, sat down, turned on the radio to his favorite classical station, popped a bottle of wine and began typing. Though he had never penned a screenplay before, the process soon became effortless, and soon later. Barfly came into in to being in the weird and chaotic world of Hollywood. The novel is an exploration of the poet/writer/alcoholic's life as a young man living in tinsel town. Bukowski takes the reader on a roller coaster ride, the wins and disappointments of producing the film from finished screenplay to the movie's premier in 1987.
As a reader of Bukowski, the film’s content had indeed reflected his life as a one-time bum, fledging writer and poet, and incessant drinker. As to be expected, his work is not everybody's cup of tea. In fact, as the writer once expressed, his readership has a love hate relationship for the work. This made him notoriously popular, his novels and poetry continuing to be infamous and consistently selling well.
What is interesting and entertaining about the novel, is Bukowski’s references to the famous people in the industry. The lead actor in the film is Jack Bledsoe, that is Micky Rourke. In a noted comeback at the time, Faye Dunaway plays the female lead, Francine Bowers. Bukowski ended really liking the two leads, especially Dunaway, who came across in the text as a serious actor and a charming woman.
It was particularly interesting to see Bukowski meet one of America’s literary giants, Norman Mailer. Both seemed to like one another, and Mailer was impressed that Bukowski never asked him about his writing. When they meet, Bukowski says, shaking his hand, something to the effect of “The Barfly meets the Champ.” Mailer appeared to like this comparison.
A major complaint in Hollywood from its beginnings is the writer is paid significantly less than other members of the project, specifically the actors. There are at least three instances where the author has a little whine about this reality. That said, many literary giants who moved to the screenplay in Hollywood, had the same complaint. F. Scott Fitzgerald and William Falkner both had negative sentiments about writers working in movie town.
The novel is written deceptively simple with Bukowski’s no-nonsense prose. The dialogue is superb, and that signature ability to move from describing a down and out scene to musing about the philosophical, the human condition and our ability to carry on despite the vagaries of life.
This novel is the first in a long while where I am a bit sad reading the last page.
“What are you going to do now?’ Sarah asked.
“About what?”
“I mean, the movie is really over.”
“Oh yes.”
“What will you do?”
“There are the horses.”
“Besides the horses.”
“Oh, hell, I’II write a novel about writing the screenplay and making the movie.”
“Sure, I guess you can do that.”
“I can, I think.”
“What are you going to call it?”
“Hollywood.”
“Hollywood?”
“Yes...”
And this is it. (p.262-263.)
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