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Alfie

Alfie is what every man thinks he wants to be -- a suave, lady-killer who cherishes his unattached lifestyle and lives for late-night romps with delicious women.

Alfie is so confident with women, in fact, that attracting them seems effortless. They flock to him like sailors to sirens. As he says in the film, he hardly ever sleeps in his own bed. Sometimes, he even sleeps with two or three women in one night.

By itself, this character would not make a movie, even when Alfie is played by Jude Law. But, the film goes deeper. Why does Alfie choose this lifestyle? Alfie himself answers the question matter-of-factly. It’s a way of distancing himself from people and keeping his emotions at bay.

But, try as he may to keep them on the surface, some of the women get to him, and it surprises even Alfie. He comes to care about a single parent (Marisa Tomei) and her son, as well as an older woman named Liz (Susan Sarandon), who knows the true Alfie in a way that his younger playmates never could. Through these relationships, and others, he comes to realize that intimacy has an upside, that it offers him benefits he never considered. Unfortunately, just when he realizes he wants more, the women in his life have either figured out his bachelor routine and grown tired of it, or like Alfie just as he is.

Now, the question is, what will Alfie do with his newfound change of heart? Not even he knows. But, we hope he’ll use it wisely.

This film, which is a remake of a classic 1966 film by the same name starring Michael Caine, is refreshing because, like its predecessor, it takes risks. The film’s take on the main character, for instance, addresses the topic of bachelorhood with open honesty. Writer/director Charles Shyer, and writer Elaine Pope do an excellent job of updating the story and characters from the previous film, and infusing the story with current topics, current people and a modern look. They also succeed in making a rare film about romance which is devoid of sappiness, infused with charm and with something poignant to say.

Another way this film breaks from the norm is in the way the main character interacts with moviegoers. Jude acts as the narrator, breaking the fourth wall and talking with the audience throughout the film, both when things are going well and when he is trying to figure out why they’re not. It makes us feel closer to him, almost as though he were sharing his diary with us. With another actor, this might not have worked as well as it does, but Jude has an allure about him that makes us interested in what he has to say.

In this way, Jude is perfectly cast in the lead role, not only because his charm and good looks fit the part, but because he brings a depth to the character that makes him seem human, vulnerable and likeable even when his character’s cavalier attitudes toward sex and dating could be deemed less than savory.

There are a plethora of special features on the DVD as well, including a fascinating segment called The Women of Alfie. In this portion, the writers take each female role from the original film and show how they updated her character’s story to fit today’s stronger, more independent women.

Written by: Keli Ayr Brooks

Reviewers Rating: 8.5
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