Although convincingly bleak from start to finish, Factotum is effortlessly funny thanks in large part due to Dillon's deadpan delivery. Although the story meanders like you'd expect from a story based on life, the film is surprisingly much like reading a book, and makes for an attractive and thoughtful package.

Great to see low scores abound. Just like the book Chinaski was writing, everybody's in it. Magnificent.

Matt Dillon carries this meandering seedy character study.

Factotum - noun - a jack of all trades. Charles Bukowski may well have been a ''jack of all trades'' but he was a master of one (writing). Well, two (Drinking). Factotum (2005) expertly tracks the troubled life of Bukowski's alter-ego Henry Chinaski, as he is employed in various uninspiring jobs (while drinking), has casual sex (while drinking), and generally irritates people (while drinking). In fact, it could be said that the only consistent thing in the world of Bukowski-Chinaski is drinking. But he can also write, when the mood takes him. Based on more than one of Bukowski's novels - including Factotum and The Post Office - the film stars veteran actor Matt Dillon as the drinker-writer who aspires to one day make a living from his craft. Through sheer hard work - and a lot of self-inflicted personal pain - he eventually attains his wish. Henry Chinaski is not a particularly pleasant person; however, it is difficult to dislike him. He is an angry and nihilistic oddball who can also be charming and satirically witty. He is often lazy, an alcoholic and a womanizer; and yet, he never loses sight of the importance of his writing. Matt Dillon offers a convincing performance and a different - more accurate - take on Chinaski-Bukowski than Mickey Rourke in Barfly (1987), which was equally convincing, if somewhat overexaggerated.

Matt Dillon in his prime. He truly captures Charles detachment from the 9-5, his romanticized numbness and distain for the normal. This is a lesion in what Hollywood SHOULD be doing.

This film could of been distilled into a 20 minute short. The worst aspect wasn't the writing but the sound and cinematography. This was a poorly mapped out film. The writing was at times inspiring. But in it's entirety the film's purpose is overstated and confusing. I wasn't enjoying the film as much as was questioning current objectives or motives. This is a watch once and never forget film. Don't follow it's poor structure and visual/audio shortcomings.

This is director Bent Hamer's attempt to bring a version of Bukowski's novel to the screen. This isn't the first time the controversial figure's work has formed the basis of a film. Most memorably, Bukowski scripted 1987's Barfly, which featured Mickey Roarke in the role of Henry Chinaski, Bukowski's fictional alter-ego. 18 years later, Matt Dillon steps into that role for Factotum. It's a simple enough story, as befits something from the pen of a man who never cared much about plot. Chinaski is at odds with the world. He drifts through life in an alcoholic haze, never caring about much beyond his writing. His life consists of a string of short-term jobs, most of which he loses because he skips work or is too drunk to function. His love life isn't much better. He moves from one relationship to another based on circumstances. First, he's with Jan, whose apartment becomes his refuge when he's evicted from his own. After he grows tired of spending time with her, he moves on to Laura,who keeps company with an eccentric millionaire. A slow burner of a film. (Only for Bukowski fans).

A misunderstand but terrific existentialistic movie. Most people want to see Hollywood formula movies and existentialism is a foreign concept to most Americans but this movie does it well. If you are looking for a movie with a hero and a villian and a big fight climax scene, this won't be for you.

Not as good as Barfly or Tales of Ordinary Madness, but still a worthy Bukowski adaptation. Dillon gives a low-key performance as an alcoholic womanizer who longs to be a published writer. Funny and true to life.

A pretty good Matt Damon flick about a slacker/writer, who cannot hold a job, and just goes about his opportunistic life not really giving a damn about anything. Why it's intriguing I am not sure, but Dillon has some acting chops that make you intrigued by it. He is so mellow, chill, ignorant, and honestly doesn't give a damn about life or anything in it. The movie has some pretty slow pacing, but we watch as Matt Dillon just gets by in life. He is somewhat of a talented writer, but seems to be opportunistic if he will ever make it or not. If he does he does, if he doesn't he doesn't. Dillon was perfect for this role, and his charisma and charm allows us to enjoy this film. Don't expect a lot, but expect to get back more.

Matt Dillon is good as the degenerate who wants to be a writer but not that good to really make this a good movie. The story is not interesting really after you get the idea of what it is saying it doesn't really go anywhere after the first act. There are a few humorous moments, but all these elements make for a mediocre movie.

What an excruciating film to watch! We are supposed to buy into the premise that the main character is some type of hero, enduring the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune as he simply just wants to be a good writer. In fact, the movie shoves that premise down our throats. The problem is that what we see on screen is a soulless, empty alcoholic with no empathy for anyone outside of himself. He refuses to commit to any job or any woman who comes his way, purposefully (we assume) choosing awful jobs and trampy women who echo that non-attachment. Maybe that would be OK if the 'literature' he produces had merit, but if the samples he rambles on with in voice over are his best work, he should have been a farmer. They sound like a self-important college freshman's first efforts in Writing 101. Those voice overs, meanwhile, are delivered ala Matthew McCougheny's loathsome, satire producing Lincoln commercials, a low mumbling sans inflections. Watching this made me feel as though I was a poor guardian angel who had screwed up in the past and was condemned to have to watch over this man and see if I could get him to become a human being! The closing soliliquoy is insulting to any real artist, as he lays claim to having reached the only real freedom of living available to a sincere artist. Get me the puke bag, please.

I may have given it an extra star just because it's the only Bukowski novel we'll ever see on film.

This is a piece of crap, everything is bad. Nothing related to the book.

Dull, boring and uninspired. Its very plodding and uninvolved. Watch Barfly.

Adapted from a 1975 novel of the same name by Charles Bukowsi, it is a gritty arthouse moodpiece about the author's alter ego and his decadent existence before he finds fame.

Factotum- These are they Days of our Lives.....the semi functional alcoholic episodes

Quite dull, truth be told.

atmospheric. the cinematography was beautiful. it fills one with sorrow and i finished the film with a heavy heart. it's not for everyone but i liked it.

A pretty funny movie. i can totally relate to the main character. Im practically him.