Factotum

Norwegian director Bent Hamer ("Kitchen Stories") mines the rich literary soil of poet/novelist Charles Bukowski to issue forth a piquant cinematic showcase for Bukowski’s talent and malaise. Set amongst Minneapolis’ gray streets of factories and warehouses the story attends Matt Dillon as Bukowski-alter-ego Henry Chinaski in his struggles to hold down any kind of job to support his addiction to alcohol and loose women. A "factotum" is a person employed to do all kinds of work or business, and Matt Dillon plays against type opposite a beautifully weathered Lily Taylor. "Factotum" is an understated celebration of Bukowski and America’s working class victims.

Rated R, 94 mins. (B)