Actuakers
One of my all time favorites.
Listonixio
Fresh and Exciting
Zandra
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
dougdoepke
Though the 1966 film has a moral point, the repetitive story line seems a little too flat for the two-hour runtime. After all, how many hook-ups with girls does it take to show that lover-boy Alfie only cares about himself. In fact he brags about it to the audience. Surprisingly for the period, Caine's character keeps up a running commentary on his actions the entire runtime. It's that breaking down of the so-called 'fourth wall' by addressing the camera directly that really distinguishes the film. Alfie's a working class bloke who's main activity whether on the job or not, amounts to seducing young women. Because of his good looks and confident manner, he has little trouble. Among his conquests are a delectable Jane Asher (Paul McCartney's real life sweetie), an aging Shelley Winters (a perfect cynical match for Alfie), and a pathetic Vivien Merchant (her plight confuses the overconfident seducer). Moreover, as Alfie's conquests mount so do the human consequences-- abortion, abandonment, etc. So the audience gets to compare at the same time the cad's selfish carelessness with its human cost to others. This, I gather, is the movie's main point. Looks to me as though the flick's an extension of the British cinema's 'kitchen sink' period when working class themes came to predominate. Certainly, Alfie's bad grammar and Cockney accent reflect such background. Anyway, Caine's perfect in the role, which he has to carry through in most every scene. Unsurprisingly, his career got a big boost as a result. I saw the film on first release when it got a lot of bally-hoo, and liked it. Now, I'm not so much engaged probably because the many aspects are no longer cutting edge, leaving the repetitive theme foremost. Also, the dumb barroom brawl now appears a clumsy contrivance aimed at working some action into an otherwise talky narrative.Anyway, the movie's moral may remain a perennial one; but, unfortunately, the narrative has lost much cutting edge over time.
SnoopyStyle
Alfie Elkins (Michael Caine) is an irresponsible womanizer. He gets Gilda pregnant but even the birth of his son can't straighten him out. He complains constantly. Gilda decides to marry a bus driver for stability and keeps her son from Alfie. A health checkup finds two shadows on his lungs. He breaks down and spends time in a recovery home. He sleeps with the nurses and befriends his neighbor Harry who misses terribly his wife Lily. Harry sleeps with Lily getting her pregnant and is horrified by the abortion. He continues with various women but he wonders "What's it all about? You know what I mean." This takes London's swinging 60s to a darker place. It's not free love. In fact, Alfie is selfish and the women are often left in the dust. Breaking down the 4th wall is important because it allows the audience into Alfie's mind. He's not mean-spirited but he is self-obsessed. He excuses his antics with no malice. This is one of Michael Caine's great early performances. The abortion scene is shocking and there's no way modern mainstream movies would ever do that today.
kennethcarino
Only a handful of movies left a warm feeling on me after viewing, such as The Pianist, Forrest Gump and 500 Days of Summer; and I'm glad to include Alfie as one of those movies that left the same impression on me. Alfie is a British comedy drama released in 1966 with the main star Michael Caine as the titular playboy who has a libertine philosophy and readily disposes any woman he meets as just another 'bird'. The plot revolves around Alfie's relationship with these women and the consequences of each and each relationship have a character of their own as Alfie manipulates the girls to satiate himself, and to cower away from responsibilities. Essentially, the story is Alfie's adventures and shenanigans with laugh out loud jokes and innuendos.The film Alfie is a stunningly beautiful and well crafted film with a narrative characteristic of other good contemporary films at that time (such as The Godfather)- subtle and lets the audience read the situation for themselves. This type of narrative was used effectively in the movie especially in some scenes bringing a very edgy and powerful emotion for the audience and this is very true near the end of the movie which I wouldn't spoil. Another aspect special in the narrative is breaking the fourth wall. Alfie talks to the audience directly for hilarious effect. The cinematography is also excellent that complements well with the script and so every scene in the movie feels like they have their own life. Every place seen in the movie feels unique from the countryside, the apartment, the convalescent home, the pier everything has been filmed beautifully.In relations to acting, I have not seen the 2004 remake with Jude Law to compare with bur Michael Caine is absolutely excellent and he, only him, could play the role of Alfie and no one else. Michael Caine's English accent coupled with the English charm gives an impeccable performance making Alfie as a character very unique. The other casts as well have given excellent performance on the same level of Caine. Julie Foster as the timid and clingy Gilda, Vivien Merchant as the Lilly who is a shy and submissive wife of Alfie's friend Harry and Shelley Winters who plays as Ruby, the promiscuous American female counterpart of Alfie. The actresses have given excellent performances and like the character of Alfie, the female characters that the women have unique and interesting personalities that interact with Alfie. Personalities that fit to Alfie's As previously mentioned, the story is essentially Alfie's adventures and shenanigans but beneath the layer is Alfie's own personal development. As the story progresses, it becomes more and more mature and dark leading to the infamous gut-wrenching scene which I wouldn't spoil to some but to note, the scene I refer to is intricately crafted as we see a close-up look of Alfie's face turn from curiosity to disgust. That scene punched right in to the gut and left me speechless. At the end, Alfie's closing monologue have made him, and us, ponder about life when he asked us: What is it all about? Indeed what is it all about? His closing monologue certainly rings true but sad as Alfie outlines the advantage of being a care-free playboy but at the same time, miserable for being incapable to commit. The thought-provoking ending makes you and I think of the nature of life but specifically relationships, similar to the movie Annie Hall by Woody Allen. In the end, what is it all about?
Thomas Drufke
Alfie is one of Michael Caine's first starring roles and one of the films that really broke him into Hollywood's finest. It tells the story of a womanizer who does everything for himself and nothing for others. He doesn't really love anything besides women in general, as he constantly breaks the fourth wall and tells the audience. He lives a care free life that seems to be unbreakable, that is until some of his not-so-smart actions come back to bite him.If there's ever a movie that reassures me that true love is the only way you will never feel lonely in this world, it's this one. Alfie spends years cheating on every woman he's with, even having a child along the way. He never gives the audience true emotion until his mistakes of the past present new problems for his future. It is then and only then that we as the audience feel any sympathy towards the character. I think the film lacks the depth behind his character enough for the audience to truly care and root for him. He is quite often obnoxious and treats women as objects rather than beautiful human beings.Michael Caine gives a brilliant performance that catapulted his career to new levels and even earned him an Oscar nomination. But even his charm couldn't get me to love this movie. It's an enjoyable film that at times can be a bit uncomfortable but Caine makes it watchable.+Caine's breakthrough role +Ending song +4th wall breaking -Unlikable and uncomfortable characters -Lacks emotion 7.5/10
