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Factotum

Factotum

Drama · 2005

This drama centers on Hank Chinaski, the fictional alter-ego of "Factotum" author Charles Bukowski, who wanders around Los Angeles, CA trying to live off jobs which don't interfere with his primary interest, which is writing. Along the way, he fends off the distractions offered by women, drinking and gambling.

Movie details

Factotum

“What matters most is how well you walk through the fire”

2005 Drama 1h 34m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.1 / 10

Community rating

This drama centers on Hank Chinaski, the fictional alter-ego of "Factotum" author Charles Bukowski, who wanders around Los Angeles, CA trying to live off jobs which don't interfere with his primary interest, which is writing. Along the way, he fends off the distractions offered by women, drinking and gambling.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Factotum?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Bent Hamer

Written by

Jim Stark · Bent Hamer

Matt Dillon

Matt Dillon

Henry Chinaski

Lili Taylor

Lili Taylor

Jan

Marisa Tomei

Marisa Tomei

Laura

Fisher Stevens

Fisher Stevens

Manny

D

Didier Flamand

Pierre

Adrienne Shelly

Adrienne Shelly

Jerry

Karen Young

Karen Young

Grace

Court is in session

Put Factotum on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.