Alfie
Director: Charles Shyer. Screenwriters: Elaine Pope, Charles Shyer. Based on the original screenplay by: Bill Naughton. Cast: Jude Law, Marisa Tomei, Omar Epps, Nia Long, Jane Krakowski, Sienna Miller, Susan Sarandon. Running time: 105 minutes. MPAA Rating: R, for sexual content, some language and drug use. A Paramount Pictures release.
Jude Law is hot and he inspires the beer-drinking, basketball fanatic in me to wear pink. I mean, come on, he’s incredibly dashing and charismatic. And yes, the last time I checked, I like women.
Anyways, back to my man-crush. The problem with Law is that he hasn’t had a role tailor-made for his movie star looks and charm since 1999’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Yes, there was “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” but it seemed that no one I knew liked it. And he’s had some decent roles in “Road to Perdition” and the snooze-fest that is “Cold Mountain,” but he needs to strike while the iron’s hot.
So it made sense that the 31-year-old actor decided to remake “Alfie,” which was Michael Caine’s breakthrough role. Not only did the lead role require someone who could be a believable ladies man, but he needed to handle the complexities of the character. Alfie is pretty much a jerk who cares only for himself, thinks marriage is a dreadful idea and once he’s conquered his latest catch, he goes off and looks for more beauties to seduce. The remake basically lives or dies on Law’s performance and it’s safe to say that he knocks it out of the park.
Switching the scenery from swinging London to happening New York, Alfie is the kind of guy who, according to himself, subscribes towards the European philosophy of life. “My priorities leaning towards wine, women and... well that's about it,” he says with that sly devil grin that you instantly become accustomed to. Law portrays Alfie as that really shallow guy that you always see at the bars constantly hitting on the ladies. But the thing about it is that once you see Law showing off the surprising sides of Alfie, you begin to think that you can understand where he’s coming from.
Thankfully, director Charles Shyer doesn’t try to make “Alfie” some feel-good schmaltz to cater to the romantic comedy set. He lets the audience revel in Alfie’s swinging lifestyle and at the same time has us watch him suffer through his consequences. He somehow ruins the lives of others and that grin that gets him out of trouble disappears.
However, this remake won’t overshadow the original “Alfie” anytime soon. Even during its darkest moments, this modern take on being a swinging bachelor is a little too p.c. It also feels a little drawn out near the end despite the fact that I was happy about how its conclusion. And maybe it’s just me, but I found the Mick Jagger/David Stewart music annoying.
“Alfie” has a capable cast even though they’re all playing second fiddle to Law. Susan Sarandon breaths life into the second half of the film as the older and female version of Alfie. Marisa Tomei makes an impression with her blur of a role and Omar Epps makes the most out of his role as Alfie’s best friend. And I fully welcome a Nia Long (“Love Jones”) comeback anytime as she sizzles up the screen in a well-filmed love scene with Law.
I don’t think “Alfie” was supposed to carry some important message (besides the fact that the bachelor life is not immortal) and in some ways feels like some celebration to metrosexuals. What the film is supposed to do and succeeds with is give Jude Law the proper star vehicle that he has needed for a while.
Overall score: @@@ (out of five)
Jude Law is hot and he inspires the beer-drinking, basketball fanatic in me to wear pink. I mean, come on, he’s incredibly dashing and charismatic. And yes, the last time I checked, I like women.
Anyways, back to my man-crush. The problem with Law is that he hasn’t had a role tailor-made for his movie star looks and charm since 1999’s “The Talented Mr. Ripley.” Yes, there was “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow” but it seemed that no one I knew liked it. And he’s had some decent roles in “Road to Perdition” and the snooze-fest that is “Cold Mountain,” but he needs to strike while the iron’s hot.
So it made sense that the 31-year-old actor decided to remake “Alfie,” which was Michael Caine’s breakthrough role. Not only did the lead role require someone who could be a believable ladies man, but he needed to handle the complexities of the character. Alfie is pretty much a jerk who cares only for himself, thinks marriage is a dreadful idea and once he’s conquered his latest catch, he goes off and looks for more beauties to seduce. The remake basically lives or dies on Law’s performance and it’s safe to say that he knocks it out of the park.
Switching the scenery from swinging London to happening New York, Alfie is the kind of guy who, according to himself, subscribes towards the European philosophy of life. “My priorities leaning towards wine, women and... well that's about it,” he says with that sly devil grin that you instantly become accustomed to. Law portrays Alfie as that really shallow guy that you always see at the bars constantly hitting on the ladies. But the thing about it is that once you see Law showing off the surprising sides of Alfie, you begin to think that you can understand where he’s coming from.
Thankfully, director Charles Shyer doesn’t try to make “Alfie” some feel-good schmaltz to cater to the romantic comedy set. He lets the audience revel in Alfie’s swinging lifestyle and at the same time has us watch him suffer through his consequences. He somehow ruins the lives of others and that grin that gets him out of trouble disappears.
However, this remake won’t overshadow the original “Alfie” anytime soon. Even during its darkest moments, this modern take on being a swinging bachelor is a little too p.c. It also feels a little drawn out near the end despite the fact that I was happy about how its conclusion. And maybe it’s just me, but I found the Mick Jagger/David Stewart music annoying.
“Alfie” has a capable cast even though they’re all playing second fiddle to Law. Susan Sarandon breaths life into the second half of the film as the older and female version of Alfie. Marisa Tomei makes an impression with her blur of a role and Omar Epps makes the most out of his role as Alfie’s best friend. And I fully welcome a Nia Long (“Love Jones”) comeback anytime as she sizzles up the screen in a well-filmed love scene with Law.
I don’t think “Alfie” was supposed to carry some important message (besides the fact that the bachelor life is not immortal) and in some ways feels like some celebration to metrosexuals. What the film is supposed to do and succeeds with is give Jude Law the proper star vehicle that he has needed for a while.
Overall score: @@@ (out of five)