"Alfie" is the film that made Michael Caine a star some 44 years ago. Here he plays a working-class lothario whose relationships with women are typified by selfishness and a lack of scruples.
Being a film from the swinging sixties I half-expected a badly dated affair. Luckily, that expectation proved to be unfounded, though there seem to be quite a few who hold that opinion. As I see it, Alfie finds a ready counterpart in the self-styled 'player' of today.
Michael Caine pulls off the difficult title role with ease. Alfie is a fairly loathsome character but his candour makes him appealing as a sort of anti-hero. The various women that cross his path are all convincingly portrayed, including Academy Award nominee Vivien Merchant.
The film's presentation is attractive and Lewis Gilbert's direction handles Alfie's many asides with fluidity. The score by jazzman Sonny Rollins is a nice change of pace as well. And, of course, let's not forget the Oscar-nominated theme song by Burt Bacharach & Hal David.
In my opinion, the one thing that drags the film down slightly is that the plot seems a bit aimless for much of the film. This isn't particularly surprising since the film is really more of a character study. As far as that goes, it's a rewarding viewing experience.
Being a film from the swinging sixties I half-expected a badly dated affair. Luckily, that expectation proved to be unfounded, though there seem to be quite a few who hold that opinion. As I see it, Alfie finds a ready counterpart in the self-styled 'player' of today.
Michael Caine pulls off the difficult title role with ease. Alfie is a fairly loathsome character but his candour makes him appealing as a sort of anti-hero. The various women that cross his path are all convincingly portrayed, including Academy Award nominee Vivien Merchant.
The film's presentation is attractive and Lewis Gilbert's direction handles Alfie's many asides with fluidity. The score by jazzman Sonny Rollins is a nice change of pace as well. And, of course, let's not forget the Oscar-nominated theme song by Burt Bacharach & Hal David.
In my opinion, the one thing that drags the film down slightly is that the plot seems a bit aimless for much of the film. This isn't particularly surprising since the film is really more of a character study. As far as that goes, it's a rewarding viewing experience.