Very Cool!!!

Good movie but grossly overrated

Fantastic!

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

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?

ALFIE is a somewhat dated, but still engaging dramedy, with a star-making performance by Michael Caine. The film is about Alfie, a Cockney ladies' man with commitment issues, and the audience is personally led through his life by him breaking the fourth wall and addressing us directly. This is useful on a couple of levels. First, it is amusing that he can do that without his female companions being any wiser, but it also allows the viewer to connect with him in a much deeper way. As Alfie is a rather unlikeable character, save for a couple scenes where he shows some genuine emotion, the way in which he directly communicates with the audience is key in laying bare the character's motivation, regardless of whether or not you agree with what he does. Early on in the film, there is a sly comedic tone set which carries throughout most of the running time, until it takes a turn for the melodramatic. I didn't particularly like the direction it went, but it did serve a narrative and character-building purpose. I also felt like Alfie's comeuppance was handled rather well. Overall, this was a good movie, though occasionally slightly tedious. Michael Caine's performance is the real draw here. Still, there was a nice soundtrack and closing credits song by Cher. Despite some rather dated morals, I felt that this was a good character study of someone who knows how to make love, but doesn't know how to love.

Michael Caine plays Alfie who is a bed hopping care free Jack the Lad. Alfie basically sees women as tools for his pleasure and they are merely objects that are there to bolster his ego. However, when one of his conquests Gilda (Julia Foster) ends up pregnant and subsequently decides that she's keeping the baby, Alfie finds that, for once, he has some responsibility in his life (which he isn't pleased about). However, the addition of a child in his life doesn't faze him and he continues with his philandering ways ultimately to his own detriment.What I really enjoy about these 'character study' type films is that when they're done right they provide so much thought for the viewer. Michael Caine narrates the films partly in person (in front of the camera) and partly through voice-over. Many films use this approach in order to help viewers to get an understanding of its characters and Alfie is no different. It's quite clear that Alfie likes to be in control - he chooses when to visit his conquests and he also never really gets too close to his conquests and tries not to get emotionally involved with any of them. A possible reason for this is that he probably feels that if he gets too attached to any single woman that he may lose control and will leave himself open to being hurt. There is a scene where Alfie is in hospital and he makes an assumption that one patient's wife is having an affair with another man because she's late visiting her husband - he has no evidence that this occurs and I believe that he makes this assumption based on the fact that he cheats on a lot of husband's wives so therefore they must be doing it to their husbands. In a twist of irony, Alfie does end up having an affair with the very women who he accused of cheating on her husband.I suspect that the premise of this film may have put some people off (particularly women) as on the surface it is about a bed hopping womaniser. It also has an abortion scene later in the film which may upset some people (depending upon what your views are on this subject). However, if you look beyond the obvious this is actually an excellent character study and as we witness Alfie losing everything and everyone it highlights the downside of promiscuity. The mother of his child marries Humphrey who is basically everything that Alfie isn't (loving, loyal, caring). The one women that he actually falls for ends up cheating on him with a much younger man - I think this was the key scene in the film as it finally brought everything home to Alfie and meant that for once in his life he wasn't in control of a relationship which was the one thing that he never thought would happen and therefore, in effect, the 'player' had been 'played'. When you think about it at the start of the film he was 'alone' and at the end of the film he ends up 'alone' - although he's learnt a lot of life lessons between A and B.Michael Caine was superb in the lead role of Alfie and due to the fact that this film acts as a character study it's down to Michael Caine to carry the film which he does with ease. Caine is always watchable, but this is probably the best I've ever seen from him. The supporting cast are all good too, but this really is the Michael Caine show.The only very minor criticism I have with this film was with the bar fight scene which just went on for far too long and seemed out of place in a character studying drama - it would have been fine in a Western, but in a serious drama it just cheapened the film a little bit (although I'll admit it was quite fun to watch).Alfie is a wonderful film and is also an excellent character study (probably one of the best I've seen). The film acts as a cautionary tale more than anything else. Alfie is film making at its absolute best. Superb!

I am very glad I finally got around to seeing "Alfie". For years I incorrectly assumed two things--that it was a smutty little film and that it was a comedy. While the film does have a very strong message about sex and the title character seems to be sexually addicted, it is far, far deeper. And, while the film appears to be a comedy, as the film progresses it becomes more and more serious. All in all, I was very impressed by this film--it had far more depth than I'd assumed.The film begins with Alfie (Michael Caine) making it with a married lady in a car. You don't see any of it but hear them as he tries to convince her to go all the way. Now here is where it gets weird--Alfie gets out of the car and then begins addressing the audience. In fact, throughout the film he stops to talk to the audience--to discuss his philosophy about women, marriage and relationships. Now MOST of what he says is pure drivel--a guy coming up with 1001 reasons why it was okay to use women and why emotionally connecting with any of them was a BIG mistake. However, as the story unfolds, Alfie discovers that staying that emotionally distant is very difficult. I could easily say more--but don't want to give away the plot twists.I really loved this film. Michael Caine was at his best as a lovable but emotionally stunted rogue. But what really impressed me was the writing. This film would be WONDERFUL to show to young men--especially since there are so many 'Alfies' out there and seeing how lonely this sort of life could be is a great lesson for young folks. See this film--it's so much more than I'd expected and had amazing depth.