‘Alfie’ comes up short of more than depression
Reel Reflections
Alfie is a womanizer — the type of guy who always claims he is on
the brink of something big, yet never makes it past that claim.
The movie opens with Alfie (Jude Law, "I Y Huckabees"), inviting
the audience to take a look into his life. Alfie lives in a trashy, unkempt
apartment and works for a limo service, informing the people he is trying
to impress — mainly women — that these both are temporary until
he has enough money to put together his own limousine company. The audience
learns that Alfie has no real intention of putting together a company
— he is too concerned with women and spending money on designer clothes
to impress them.
The audience also discovers how Alfie uses the women in his life. He
sweet-talks them into doing things for him, or just using them for sex.
Yet the tables turn on Alfie as his reckless escapades cause him to lose
a friendship and a relationship he had taken for granted. He has a mid-life
crisis and somewhat attempts to turn his life around, only to find Liz,
played by Susan Sarandon ("Shall We Dance?"), only is using
him for sex.
This remake of the 1966 film — originally starring Michael Caine
— opens carefreely, but gets more depressing and dark. As Alfie sinks
into a depression, so does the film, as well as the audience.
The film features some heavy Hollywood players, including Marisa Tomei
("Anger Management"), who plays Julie, Alfie’s current
and former girlfriend. Omar Epps ("Against the Ropes") plays
Marlon, Alfie’s best friend and Sarandon plays the woman who broke
Alfie’s heart. Unfortunately, even their acting abilities could not
make this film — dealing with subjects such as alcoholism and abortion
— less depressing. Overall, the film lacked any real depth and leaves
the viewer hanging.
On a lighter note, the film’s soundtrack, which mainly features
songs by Mick Jagger, is very mellow and worth a listen.
"Alfie"
Starring: Jude Law, Susan Sarandon, Omar Epps
Running time: 100 mins
Rated: R
2 paws of 5
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