FADE TO BLACK (1980)

  IMDB lists this film, about a lonely movie nerd who ends up killing people, as a comedy/crime/horror. While it obviously does have some horror elements those other two seem way off and I think this one squarely fits into that "thriller" category. The main character we follow here is such an unlikable dweeb that it's hard to get too involved in this one. Mickey Rourke is pretty cool though but unfortunately only has a small role as a bully. Overall this one had an interesting premise but not the greatest execution of it.

 Is the message of this movie that if I watch too many films I will turn into a raging homicidal maniac? Maybe if our boy Brinford(Dennis Christopher) only watched some Bower Boys instead of those depressing film noirs he woulda lightened up a little. 

 

 At least we got this classic Metallica tune which was clearly inspired from this film: 

BARFLY (1987)

"Your mother's cunt... STINKS like carpet cleaner!"

Having been a huge fan of Charles Bukowsi's writings since I was a stupid teen this movie has been one that I've probably re-watched more than any other in the drama category.  It's a movie that I love for it's depiction of a mostly crazy yet completely individualistic person.  This person is, of course, just a thinly veiled personification of  Mr. Bukowski himself.  It's this personal touch that gives the movie such a strong resonance and deep feeling and also moments of complete absurdity.  If there's any negative aspect to this film it would probably be the all too Hollywood feeling that many of the scenes fall into.  The fight scenes are the most unrealistically staged looking things that you would expect to see in your typical American action film and some of the characters and their actions seem very cartoonish but regardless of this the movie never fails to entertain me in the many viewings I've given it.  The main credit has to go to Mickey Rourke who shows his acting abilities that place him up there with actors like DeNiro and Pacino in portraying a person most people would call a loser but I think in many ways he's better than most of the plastic people we worship in this sick society.  It's too bad Mr. Rourke wasn't born a decade earlier when there were more quality films being made that he would've fit right into.  Rourke would go on to win awards for his starring role in THE WRESTLER, which I think is a great film also, but he really should have won something for this also. It's also a great film to watch while drinking excessively.  There was a sorta-remake made of this in 2005 with Matt Dillon called FACTOTUM but you're better off sticking with the original.