![Tales of Ordinary Madness [VHS]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Z03YWE2RL.jpg)
Product Description Charles Serking, loosely based on the infamous poet Charles Bukowski, rejects a conventional lifestyle to journey through the underbelly of Los Angeles in "Tales of Ordinary Madness." He indulges an insatiable appetite for sex and booze in what the Hollywood Reporter calls "a cinematic walk on the wild side." Directed by Marco Ferreri, this 1981 film won four Italian Academy Awards and the San Sebastian Film Festival Grand Prize. Compelling, sometimes shocking, and explicit. .com "Style is the answer to everything," intones skid row poet Charles Serking, played by the suitably grizzled and worn Ben Gazarra, to his somnambulistic audience. Serking is, of course, a not-at-all veiled stand-in for beat legend Charles Bukowksi, whose autobiographical short stories were the basis for this film. But Serking, in many ways, comes off more like a gin-soaked fantasy of a skid row Hemingway whose sports of choice are alcohol, women, and sex. Behind the salt-and-pepper beard and rummy eyes lies an actor too poised to allow himself to fully sink into the alcoholic sloppiness that Mickey Rourke so easily brought to the screen in the less pretentious and more concise Barfly, which Bukowski himself scripted. But if Italian-born director Marco Ferreri stumbles over the self-conscious dialogue, he's right at home capturing the seedy atmosphere of dim, run-down apartments and underlit bars in the real Hollywood Serking calls home. When Serking's fling with the stunning, self-mutilating Italian hooker Cass (Ornella Muti, who puts her oversized safety pin to some rather startling uses) becomes too emotional, he takes the anonymous safety of the streets--crashing in a flophouse, passing around a bottle with a listless knot of derelicts. Serking melds right in with the littered streets and lost souls, a real man of the people. Suddenly you see it: he's got style. --Sean Axmaker
H**A
Must we - dear friends - die in our sleep ?
Marco Ferreri made a devastatingly lyrical, sinister and cruel portrait about the existence of Charles Bukowski, the poet of hopeless, the excesses, the alcohol; the legitimate sex' sybarite into a crude environment of loneliness and disillusion. Ben Gazzara is fabulous in this role as well the divine: Ornella Muti as Cass.The final sequence in the beach embracing an unknown young girl in a visible childish attitude, dedicating her a free poetry is still haunting even the years, becoming a classic.The poetry is a God that it doesn't go in the body; and that's why it scatter outside from it, and assumes multiple aspects.
D**N
Booze, Dames, & Poetry
Like Barbet Schroeder did with "Barfly" director Marco Ferreri takes the work of renowned poet laureate of the derelicts, Charles Bukowski, and adapts it to a European sensibility. Call it Spaghetti Bukowski if you will. Ferreri trains his camera lens on the filth and decadence of L.A. and reimagines a world we thought we already knew. The squalor of his chosen surroundings inspire the creative juices of Bukowski surrogate Charles Serking(Ben Gazzara) along with the liquor he consumes like mothers milk and the women he beds of all shapes and sizes. I don't think this film would work if Gazzara treated his character with pathos because Serking consciously made his choices and is content to live with the consequences. The focus of the film is a relationship Serking has with a masochistic prostitute, Cass(Ornella Muti) that is touching and poignant and Muti makes her a most compelling figure. The great Susan Tyrell has a good bit as a floozy who turns the tables on Serking. Not a great film but an interesting example of independent filmmaking.
S**)
Style
"Style is the answer to everything...To do a dangerous thing with style is what I call art." ~ Charles BukowskiBukowski had style. Ferreri has style. This film is an achingly human, drunken odessey inspired by the writings of Bukowski. This is not an adaptation, but captures the essence and complements his works. It shares carnality, a gritty realism, the pain and desperation of being human. It's provocative. It's uncomfortable. It's the underbelly and grimness of life that too often goes unrecognized. Or if acknowledged, you numb it with alcohol; you engage in self-destructive behaviours; you mask it with eroticism; you become a whore of an angel; you write. Whether these actions are to escape yourself or to regain feeling, it is human ~ it is pain ~ it's art if done with style ~ and, it's got soul.
J**K
The best Bukowski film adaptation
I love this movie!I happen to think it's very funny , if , perversely so.Ben Gazzara as the Bukowski figure is wonderful.He surpasses Mickey Rourke or Mat Dillon to a degree that puts them to shame.I have no idea why the enjoyable but comparatively schlocky BARFLY is better known.While genuinely funny,the movie has a poignancy to it that makes it oddly moving.You also get a knowing view of low life LA that is quite interesting.I should admit this movie is a bit rough at the edges and might not appeal to those with overly delicate sensibilities.
V**N
SAD, FASCINATING,POETIC,SPELLBINDING
I just first saw 'Tales Of Ordinary Madness' yesterday. I like this film. At times living through the eyes of Charlie seems gluemy and useless, but I'm constantly fascinated and wondering the outcome. I only brought this film because I'm a hugh fan and LOVE Ornella Muti, but I'm glad I've had the chance to see this film. I recommend this film. And not just because Ornella is in it.Although it does't hurt because Ornella is really good in this film. Ornella is just beautiful as always but her acting always leaves me wanting/craving for more. If your a Ornella Muti fan this should definitely be in your collection. But other than that this film is fascinating but if you havn't seen this film don't expect a uplifting, happy film. This film may not be for every one.By Justine Ryan
M**C
Bars, Whores, and More Bars and Some Hillarity
Gazara shows his range in this LA montage of bars, whores, and more bars. I liked the story and its wandering plot. The NY job scene alone is a riot. The ending, though, does not feel very Buk-like.
A**R
Better than "Barfly"
"Tales..." actually makes Bukowski sympathetic as he tries to find love and sex in the L.A. underground. His harrowing adventures are interesting because he brings them all on himself. Some of the scenes get too dark and go too long, but Gazzara is great. "Barfly" was tedious and dull, this is much better.
G**Ð
not a superb film
Actually it's not as good as the other ornella muti's films.But if you like ornella you should check this one.The film includes a little erotism with the amazing beautiy of ornella muti.
S**O
Five Stars
Really sexy movie and quite erotic in parts.
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