Factotum (2005)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Bent Hamer

Writers:

Charles Bukowski (novel)
Bent Hamer (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 April 2005 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

What matters most is how you well you walk through the fire.

Plot:

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. |

Plot Keywords:

Gauze | Building On Fire | Strangulation | Drunkenness | Addiction

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Matt Dillon	...	Hank Chinaski
Lili Taylor	...	Jan
Marisa Tomei	...	Laura
Fisher Stevens	...	Manny
Didier Flamand	...	Pierre
Adrienne Shelly	...	Jerry
Karen Young	...	Grace
Thomas Lyons	...	Tony Endicott (as Tom Lyons)
Dean Brewington	...	Old Black Man
James Cada	...	Bald Man
James Michael Detmar	...	Smithson
Kurt Schweickhardt	...	Ice Plant Supervisor
Dee Noah	...	Hank's Mother
James Noah	...	Hank's Father
Michael Egan	...	Taxi Office Clerk
Terry Hempleman	...	Superintendant Barnes
Emily Hynnek	...	Stripper (as Emily 'Sophia Simone' Hynnek)
Wayne Morton	...	Mantz
Tony Papenfuss	...	John Handler
Lana Schwab	...	Mrs. Adams
Sally Wingert	...	Payroll Lady
Robert Downing Davis	...	George Henley
Bryan J. Walker	...	Pharmacist
Dan Lee Jr.	...	Elf
Peter Moore	...	Editor
Bruce Bohne	...	Auto Parts Manager
Larry Roupe	...	Pete
Chris Carlson	...	Liquor Store Clerk
Stephen D'Ambrose	...	Mailman
Emil Herrera	...	Mendoza
Michelle Hutchison	...	Young Lady
Andy Hubbell	...	Employment Office Man
Martin Marinaro	...	Bartender
Raye Birk	...	Heathercliff
Stephen Pelinski	...	Mr. Hansen
Stanley Kipper	...	Spencer
Brent Doyle	...	McBride
John Paul Gamoke	...	Peters
Jim Lichtscheidl	...	Calloway (as James Lichtscheidl)
Jay Gjernes	...	Truck Driver
Clyde Lund	...	Employment Office Clerk
Debbie DeLisi	...	Bartender
George McGuire	...	Carson Gentry
Brad Madson	...	Tailor
Gary Tournier	...	Bar Patron
Esera Tuaolo	...	Laura's Bar Bartender
John Nadeau	...	Sleeping Man
Cathi Cooper	...	Bar Patron
Carole Samuelson	...	Bar Patron
Suzanne Williams
Bill Borea		(as William Borea)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Matthew Feeney	...	Harry Berglund (scenes deleted)
Stephanie Allensworth	...	Woman on the street and patron at the race track (uncredited)
Jim Brockhohn	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Jimmy Brockhohn	...	Gambler (uncredited)
Clint Clark	...	Horse Race Fan (uncredited)
Joseph Courtemanche	...	Bouncer in bar scene (uncredited)
Frank Crandell	...	Man Drinking Beer Next To Ms. Tomei (uncredited)
Christopher Day	...	2nd Man Placing Bet (uncredited)
Diane Kelson	...	Woman on fire escape (uncredited)
Nels Lennes	...	Man going to work (uncredited)
Shawn McNulty	...	Bike shop worker (uncredited)
Doua Moua	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Lisa Pechmiller	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Geoff Schilz	...	Man placing bet (uncredited)
Christina Sedlacek	...	Spectator (uncredited)
Ken Vierling	...	Extra (uncredited)
Annie Wallick	...	Woman on Street (uncredited)
Jim Westcott	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Donny West	...	Taxi Class Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Bent Hamer

Writing credits
Charles Bukowski		(novel)
Bent Hamer		(written by) and
Jim Stark		(written by)

Produced by
Karl Baumgartner	....	associate producer
Reinhold Elschot	....	associate producer
Bent Hamer	....	producer
Rainer Mockert	....	associate producer
Peter Nadermann	....	associate producer
Jim Stark	....	producer
Christine K. Walker	....	executive producer (as Christine Kunewa Walker)
Meinolf Zurhorst	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Kristin Asbjørnsen

Cinematography by
John Christian Rosenlund		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pål Gengenbach

Production Design by
Eve Cauley		(as Eve Cauley Turner)

Set Decoration by
Sarah Kruchowski		(as Sarah Jean Kruckowski)
Kate Sheeley

Costume Design by
Tere Duncan

Makeup Department
Natalie A. Hale	....	additional makeup artist (as Natalie Hale)
Sherry Heart	....	key hair stylist
Patricia Regan	....	makeup designer
Tara Smith	....	hair stylist: Marisa Tomei

Production Management
Devorah DeVries	....	production manager
Jason Cooper Hall	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jason Cooper Hall	....	second assistant director: dayplayer
Matt Holz	....	second second assistant director
Eric D. Howell	....	second assistant director (as Eric Howell)
Paul B. Johnson	....	first assistant director
Atsuko Sato	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Cheri Anderson	....	set dresser
Paul Berglund	....	assistant property master
Jennie Bond	....	graphic designer
Kelsey Cramer	....	production assistant: props
Mindy Harris	....	property master
Oceana Lawler Larsen	....	set dresser
Evan Morris	....	construction foreman
Savannah Rhomberg-Reich	....	head painter
Paul Rothmeier	....	carpenter
Andrew Shea	....	draftsperson
Mark Steven Turner	....	art department associate
Dave Underhill	....	lead person

Sound Department
Petter Fladeby	....	sound re-recording mixer
Cully Gallagher	....	boom operator
Christopher Riley	....	production assistant: sound department
John Sims	....	production sound mixer (as John L. Sims Jr.)
John Sims	....	sound recordist (as John L. Sims Jr.)
Richard Sveen	....	sound editor
Erik S. Watland	....	foley artist

Stunts
Rose M. Frazier	....	stunts
Eric D. Howell	....	stunt coordinator (as Eric Howell)
Peter Moore	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Tristan Allen	....	camera production assistant: video
Sebastián Almeida	....	first assistant camera
Ray Attridge	....	electrician
Eddie Cohen	....	lighting technician
Edward Cohen	....	gaffer (as Eddie Cohen)
Joseph Gallup	....	key grip
Fernando Gayesky	....	camera operator
Fernando Gayesky	....	director of photography: second unit
Tony Hanson	....	grip
Mark Higashino	....	still photographer
Travis Hottinger	....	electrician
Marty Jurek	....	camera production assistant (as Martin Jurek)
Kevin Karpinski	....	best boy grip
Yoshiji D. Katagiri	....	electrician
Damian Kussian	....	grip
Michael Lindquist	....	second assistant camera (as Michael V. Lindquist)
Chris Malone	....	best boy electric
Lucas McCarter	....	grip
David S. Pope	....	dolly grip (as David Pope)
Shannon Schaefer	....	grip
Randall Smith	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Michael Winn	....	electrician
Dean Woytcke	....	grip

Casting Department
Lynn Blumenthal	....	casting director: Minneapolis
Marisa Collins	....	extras casting assistant
Debbie DeLisi	....	extras casting
Carolyn Deters	....	extras casting intern
Matthew Feeney	....	extras casting associate
Kaari Moen	....	extras casting intern
Amber Lee Olivier	....	extras casting assistant (as Amber Lee Olson)
Jay Runquist	....	extras casting intern
Lisa Stearns	....	extras casting intern

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Deborah Fiscus	....	wardrobe supervisor
Amy Pickering	....	costume design assistant: New York City
Hannah Walker	....	wardrobe assistant
Hannah Walter	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Darren Roark	....	digital color corrector (uncredited)

Music Department
Trygve Brøske	....	composer: organ music

Transportation Department
Michael Kennedy	....	transportation captain (as Mike Kennedy)
Brenton McCracken	....	transportation coordinator
Rajiv Sarin	....	driver
Leo Skudlarek	....	driver

Other crew
Shelli Ainsworth	....	location manager
Topper Anton	....	set production assistant
Robert Becka	....	production intern
Andrew Burton	....	key set production assistant
Joe Dressel	....	production intern
Jesse Ehman	....	production assistant
Robin Garland	....	location coordinator
Kurt W. Gensmer	....	set medic
Molly Getty	....	assistant to producers
Arzu Gokcen	....	assistant: Matt Dillon
Graham Gremore	....	clearance coordinator
Mike Griesser	....	production intern
David Hansen	....	assistant: Matt Dillon (as Dave Hansen)
Mark Har	....	location scout
Christianne Hedtke	....	production assistant
Todd B. Johnson	....	production office intern
Vanessa Miles	....	production assistant
Mary Moga	....	production secretary (as Mary Louise Moga)
Jamie Molever	....	assistant: Ms. Tomei
Thomas G. Page	....	assistant production coordinator
Aaron Pikala	....	production office assistant
Laurie Pyle	....	set medic
Darren Roark	....	computer and technical support
Stephen Root	....	production intern
Benjamin Rosenbaum	....	assistant: Lilli Taylor
Jason P. Schumacher	....	strike crew
Seth Shapiro	....	set production assistant
Lisa Stearns	....	production intern
Bridget Striker	....	production intern
Jill Sweiven	....	product placement
Jill Sweiven	....	public relations
Julie Swenson	....	set publicist
Dylan Thies	....	production intern
C. Elizabeth Trumble	....	production accountant
Sidney Walker	....	location assistant
Lynn Younglove	....	script supervisor
Rachel Grubb	....	stand-in: Lily (uncredited)

Thanks
Linda Saetre	....	thanks
Ruth Waldburger	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Arte
• Bulbul Films
• Canal+
• Celluloid Dreams
• MBP (Germany)
• Mikado Films
• Network Movie Film-und Fernsehproduktion
• Norsk Filmfond
• Norsk Filmstudio
• Norwegian Film Institute
• Pandora Filmproduktion
• SF Norge A/S
• StarkSales Inc.
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF)
• ZDF/Arte

Distributors

• Al!ve AG (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Cinemien (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2005-2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Homescreen (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• ID Distribution (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• IFC Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Longride (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Picturehouse Entertainment (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Video Audio Project (VAP) (2008) (Japan) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Gamma & Density  on-set color correction (as Gamma and Density's 3CP system)
• Props On Wheels  picture vehicles/insert vehicle driver

Also Known As:

Factotum (France)
Factotum: A Man Who Performs Many Jobs (USA) (long title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

France | Germany | Sweden | USA | Norway

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Brazil:16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Germany:12 | Singapore:M18 | Netherlands:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | USA:R (MPAA rating) | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Finland:K-15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Canterbury Park Racetrack - 1100 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, Minnesota, USA

Company:

Arte

Trivia:

'Sean Penn' was the first choice for the role of Henry Chinaski.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the scene where Lili Taylor's character changes out of her high heel shoes the reflection of the dolly tracks is visible in the polished stone of the building.

Quotes:

Henry Chinaski: I lost a woman.
Old Black Man: Yeah, well, you'll have others. You'll lose them, too.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-09-02)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Dreamland II

Not for everyone; I loved it

A few of the most beautiful movies have the same theme in common: the main-character living a life of seemingly insignificance and emptiness. I consider Factotum as one of those movies that elevate this subject to a higher level ( together with American Beauty, Lost in Translation, The Big Lebowski, etc ).

In Factotum we see the fictional alter-ego of writer Charles Bukowski living a nihilistic life of booze and bad relationships. Nothing really happens in the storyline, besides the story protagonist being fired, fighting at the racetracks, trying to collect the check for the one day he worked at a company, and a lot of times drinking or having sex. This complete nothingness the story deals with is tough. Sometimes I literary craved for something to happen, just anything. But I also felt mesmerized and impressed by the way this movie really does capture the essence of Bukowski's psyche by telling the story as a kind of follow-up of humorous scenes, without a grand comprehensive plot line. Luckily, the dark humor remains consistently good until the end, and that certainly keeps the attention.

Although I'm not a huge fan of Matt Dillon, I do consider him perfect for this role. He's playing this extremely sarcastic man with an air of arrogance and cynicism. I didn't know he had that side in him, but in Factotum he certainly is proving that he has. I do hope that he'll accept similar roles in the near-future and thus is able to elevate his status of ''pretty boy'' to ''serious actor''.