From the moment I saw the adverts start for this on tv, I KNEW I had to watch it. Why? Well, mainly because Jude Law looked just so damned gorgeous. Nothing to do with his acting as, although I know I've seen a couple of films that he has been in in the past, I couldn't for the life of me remember how his acting was!
And I didn't really know what the story of "Alfie" was either. I knew it was a remake of a film starring Michael Caine in the title role, but that is all I could have told you. I KNEW Alfie was a womaniser, but I thought perhaps it was that he womanised until he met Sienna Miller's character and then changed in order to to win her affections. I think I, along with possibly other members of the public who hadn't seen the original, were probably led to believe this because of Jude and Sienna's high profile romance after meeting on the set of this film. Sometimes reality and fiction can blur like that, eh?
Anyway, Jude plays the role of Alfie, a bit of a cad who works as a chauffeur and spends his playtime (and some of his work time) seducing women. The film begins with him introducing himself and going through his grooming rituals of a morning, explaining that if you are a man who oozes masculinity, you have no reason to fear pink, and charming his landlady into cleaning
his flat for him. This is just an initial look at the charming front that Alfie presents to the world.
Then we get to meet some of his women. There's Dorrie (Jane Krakowski - otherwise known as Elaine from Ally McBeal), married but getting no loving from her husband. And Julie (Marisa Tomei), the sweet and pretty one that Alfie really should be with except, in the nicest possible way, he doesn't think she is good enough to be on his arm. (Which is ridiculous, because she looks absolutely gorgeous in this film!) This proves once again just how shallow he is.
However, he remains loveable to us even at this stage because, in spite of his faults, he is fairly lovable and a good friend to his co-worker Marlon, providing support when he and his girlfriend break up. But then he does something which, while perhaps we can see coming, is pretty unforgivable and shows that REALLY he doesn't really care about people's feelings apart from his own.
Then a couple of potentially life-changing incidents conspire to make him think about changing the way he lives. Firstly, he gets massive dose of impotence, then he discovers he has a lump on his, er, private bits. This makes him realise he doesn't really want to be alone anymore and, when he meets Nikki (Miller) it seems like fate has thrown his perfect woman right into his lap (no pun intended!).
However, Nikki is extremely screwed up under her perfect exterior and Alfie's resolve towards fidelity and monogamny quickly begins to weaken. His attention begins to wonder, towards a potential relationship with older woman Liz (Susan Sarandon).
Will Alfie actually ever be able to change his life and become a better person? Does he even want to? And, if he does, will anyone even care anymore?
This film confused me in a way because I couldn't quite decide what genre it was meant to fit in. Was it comedy, romance, drama, or a combination of all three? At the start of the film, it seemed very "Bridget Jones" like, with all his grooming tips and quips aimed at the camera. Then, although he talks to the camera often throughout the film, it seemed to become a lot more serious. There were still a number of funny lines and incidents, but it didn't seem quite as shallow. Perhaps this went along with Alfie's own self-realisation and his development as a character throughout the film.
The only thing I will say to attack this film (apart from my comments about Susan Sarandon, which I will address in a minute or two) is that the ending seemed to drag a little. The film wasn't particularly long (it lasted a little under two hours) but the last 20 minutes or so the action just seemed to move along really slowly. I could have done with a quicker conclusion but maybe they thought it would be too short then and that Jude's character wouldn't have developed fully.
I have heard people say Jude Law can't do the womaniser thing properly because he is too pretty, and that Michael Caine's portayal was far better because he REALLY treated the women in his life like crap. But I LIKED the way Jude played the role because he was a very LIKEABLE cad, in spite of his obvious shallow attitude to life and women. He was very good in this role and LOOKED very good, which isn't quite as important as the acting, but it helps to have something nice to look at.
And speaking of nice things to look at - well, you guys will have several nice things to look at, most obviously Sienna Miller. She really proves in this film that she can act, although she isn't in it as much as I expected her to be. I was so jealous of her as well, not because she is going out with Jude Law (well not much!) - but because she is so gorgeous and she is three years YOUNGER than me. AND she can act. Isn't life unfair?
Tomei and Krakowski also put in good performances, as well as Omar Epps as the betrayed friend Marlon. I could have done without Susan Sarandon however - she is undoubtedly a good actress but her face just annoys me. I would have preferred they'd cast a different "older woman" actress - maybe Geena Davis or Sigourney Weaver? Still that's my personal opinion and I'm sure there are a lot of people out there who think Susan Sarandon was perfect for the role!
I would definitely recommend this film. It is a very entertaining watch and is worth a look just for the quality of the acting. I will definitely be watching it again once it comes out on dvd!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Drama - Director: Bill Hays - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Denholm Elliott, Barry Foster, Nigel Stock, Garrick Hagon
Production Year: 1989 - Drama - Director: Ken Cameron - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Nicole Kidman, Denholm Elliott, Hugo Weaving, Joy Smithers, Norman Kaye, Jerome Ehlers, Judy Morris
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
is it just me or that you've reviewed the wrong movie. this dvd is the original with michael caine in it. and everyone's reviewing it as if it's the jude law remake. please leave a note in the guestbook so that i may re-rate if i got it wrong.
Lucie_S1984 23.03.2005 13:00
Really want to see this, missed it while it was out at the cinema but will probably have time to rent it this holiday at least! Lucie xxx
missixty 16.01.2005 12:43
Not seen this film, I'm not really into Jude Law lookswise though, not that he's ugly I just don't think he's particularly stunning. As for his acting, he was very good in Love, Honour and Obey. Great op x
"What's it all about, Alfie?" asked the hit Burt Bacharach/Hal David title song, to which ... more
the less philosophical answer might be: an amoral young man comically seducing a succession of beautiful women in swinging-sixties London. Michael Caine was the t...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Alfie is not really a bad sort. Its just that he has this overwhelming desire for the ... more
opposite sex. You might say that 'birds' are irresistable to him, sort of second nature.With Michael Caine in the title role, Alfie is a ribald and wild comedy, fille...
"What's it all about, Alfie?" asked the hit Burt Bacharach/Hal David title song, to which ... more
the less philosophical answer might be: an amoral young man comically seducing a succession of beautiful women in swinging-sixties London. Michael Caine was the t...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Michael Caine stars as Alfie a Cockney Casanova in this outstanding example of 1960s ... more
British filmmaking. Alfie is a good-looking charmer who finds that the Swinging Sixties are a great time to be around in. He's always able to sweet-talk women into...
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Advantages: Jude Law is fantastic as the loveable rogue. A great cast and excellent screenplay, fantastic soundtrack Disadvantages: A little slow in places but more than made up for by everything else
Andy.mack 28.02.2005 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Alfie (DVD)
![Alfie [DVD] [1965]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78549467.jpg "Alfie [DVD] [1965]")
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