MovieChat Forums > Barfly (1987) Discussion > My problem with an unrealistic scene (fo...

My problem with an unrealistic scene (for a drunk)

posted 12 years ago by Trent-Easton
15 replies | jump to latest

Really like this movie, Rourke's performance is golden, although one scene stands out for me as unrealistic.

The scene that I'm talking about is the scene where Chinaski meets Wanda for the first time in a bar.

My problem with this scene is that Henry doesn't finish his beer. He just leaves without it (~half full). It doesn't fit with the alcoholic that he is. I believe that any true drunk would have finished his beer before leaving.

Any thoughts, script error?

[–] SeanJoyce 12 years ago

He may have been a drunk, but he was a man first, and I'm sure having some of what Dunaway was serving appeared to be a higher priority than half of a cheap beer.

http://jmoneyyourhoney.filmaf.com/owned

[–] ajukoor 12 years ago

There is two options:
1) You have read "Hollywood" and know that Bukowski complained about that take, and you want to get prise like you are the first who noticed tha mistake. Bukowski said exactly the same - no drunk would ever leave a bottle without finishing it.
2) You haven't read "Hollywood".

Please, visit my Hell Hole. Thank you! http://prguauk.myminicity.com/

[–] Trent-Easton 12 years ago

That is essentially right, I've never read Hollywood, and I didn't actually know that The Buk had complained about that take, and I didn't really think I was the first one to notice it, just wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts about it.

[–] ajukoor 11 years ago

You should read Hollywood. It's a good book. Not the best from Bukowski but enjoyable read still.

Please, visit my Hell Hole. Thank you! http://prguauk.myminicity.com/ind

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] cheekyfilm 11 years ago

that kinda annoyed me too, especially because that "draft" looked so tasty

[–] RuthlessGoat 11 years ago

That's always annoying. I remember a very thirsty Clint Eastwood doing that in High Plains Drifter as well.

Goat at Ruthless Reviews

[–] drunken_critic 10 years ago

No actually I totally disagree. There were many many mornings when I woke up and started throwing out my cans of beer to find one half full...and I would think to myself dang, I wasted a half of can of beer....then promptly I would drink it warm and flat anyways. My point is, it is easy to overlook one after drinking many.

[–] Fwank_The_Nutter 10 years ago

It wasn't a big problem for me, but it annoyed me a little that he left it. I haven't read Hollywood either, I just doubted an alcoholic would leave half a fresh beer.

Real life ain't as dope as the movies.

[–] MaximusGrandimus 10 years ago

This is a common complaint I have about many films and TV shows. In many, many instances a character will light a cigarette only to butt it out or toss it away after only 2 puffs, they will start sipping a beer near the end of the scene and exit with it undrunk. They will be served a plate of food at a diner and only have 2 bites before exiting, simply because the scene calls for them to exit.

This is a long-standing thing in Hollywood, and it always annoys me. Look out for this, I promise you, once you start to be aware of this phenomena, much like the teal/orange light balancing that most films and TV shows have taken on recently, you will see it everywhere.

I don't know if you're aware of this but I've already changed things. I killed Ben Linus.
--Sayid

[–] !!!deleted!!! (12526472) 9 years ago

The food thing gets me the most

[–] lalinea97 9 years ago

I unfortunately notice and hate all that. In Barfly it was especially grating, because Rouke could have easily downed it while stading up and following Wanda and it would have been a little funny too. Most characters in such situations couldn't, because they aren't alkies and have way too big a drink left... but I accept no excuses! Rewrite, edit, solve the problem!

[–] bud_bundy44 8 years ago

Like someone mentioned before, Buk talks about this in Hollywood.

He complaints to the director and he replies that they did many takes of that scene and that he'll try to use one where there is the least amount of beer in Rourke's glass, because they couldn't edit or reshoot the scene.