My wife and I watched factotum tonight. Her friends didn't think much of it. and they were buk fans. i don't think they've had enough exposure to his material. i find it amusing when someone criticizes his work. most of the time they haven't read much of what has been written, and if they have, then how pompous does one have to be to think their opinion counts for much to begin with. i didn't expect matt dillon to be chinaski anymore than mickey rourke was. but the few seemed to like the sensationalizing of barfly, while factotum was far more subdued. i had to tell my wife when there were actual parts drawn from the book and explain why it didn't take place in the forties. after we watched it, i pulled up the bukowski tapes and let her watch several chapters of that. and i dig hearing him spout. but the writing is what has always struck a chord with me. i don't care about the hype or groupies or critics. i like the words