Cheap Bukowski - Born Into This (DVD) (John Dullaghan (III)) Price

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Customer Reviews of Bukowski - Born Into This

Was my perception of Bukowski wrong or what?!
I am not judging this documentary on the lighting or cinematography whatever (you wouldnt want me to anyways). I gave this documentary 4 stars because of the info relayed and the moments that we saw captured in Bukowski's life. <
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>My negatives about the documentary: I watched this film on a whim and was so engrossed in the info I received, I just couldnt watch the film in an objective way to relay a good mix of negatives. <
>However, I do agree with another commentor how some of the interviews were a bummer. From his last wife, Linda #2, I didnt feel any sincerity or care or emotion coming from her as she stood today. And I feel as if thats an unfair statement to make about the documentary's appeal because I was truly doubtful of Linda's "love" for Bukowski versus being doubtful of the credibility of the documentary. <
>And then some of the other interviews ... like the guy who was Bukowski's first publisher, Bono, etc, I just found them really un-enlightening. <
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>My main love for this documentary comes from my assumptions about Bukowski (through his poetry) being discredited by seeing the real man on this film. I thought Bukowski was just a loud, "dirty old man". And, in some sense, he was - but not in the way I had perceived. <
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>Some of you guys might think Im simple but . . . <
>Good points <
>- I really loved hearing Bukowski's poems being read by Bukowski. He has a scratchy, but somehow gentle voice. <
>- I liked how Bukowski answered questions asked by reporters. They certainly asked him the rollyoureye questions, like "what is love?" but he played along and answered them - in a very poetic way. You could see him give the question considerable thought. Then he'd smirk and say something beautiful. <
>- I liked learning about the major "points" in his life. Learning about his job. His finances. His parents. His acne. The type of women he liked. Nothing too in depth here, but enough. <
>- I dont think I fully understand Bukowski's view on women. Despite the inadequacies in my interpretation, I was still engrossed by his relationship with women. <
>He was a virgin until he turned, what was it? 24? <
>He dated almost plain, sometimes ugly, even fat women sometimes. (which was shocking. i have read some of his short stories - and he did comment on the "ugly" appearance of his women, but i just somehow couldnt believe him bc of the way he talked about beautiful, young women in his poetry. but the documentary relayed that he almost would seek out the women weathered by life, the ugly ones). egs, one of Bukowski's women who was interviewed had long white moustache hairs growning out of her chin. It took me awhile to stop focusing on the hair and start focusing on what she was saying. <
>And THEN there was the 'behind the scenes' taping of Barfly, where Bukowski momentarily turns into the very man he hates, his father, and kicks Linda #2. TOTALLY did not see that one coming. <
>[another reason why I cant give a fair judgement to this doc ... I knew NOTHING about Bukowski but I've always been curious - so his life lived up to my expectations. How can I fairly critique a film that tells me his life in such a way?] <
>Lastly, seeing Bukowski reading a poem about the very gender he "disrespects" ... and then crying. That had to be my favorite part. <
>- Another scene I liked. Regarding Barfly - I cant remember who played him (brando?), but Bukowski mentioned how the lead actor barged into the bar, chest pumped out, and exclaimed to everyone his entrance. I forgot the exact saying, but Bukowski said the actor's line how he [bukowski] would have REALLY said it - subdued, with a sense of sadness. <
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>Yeah. I liked it. Its one of the few documentaries I could watch more than 2 times.

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A Labor of Love And Inspiration. An Essential Document.
Much like Charles Bukowski's writing itself, this outstanding film is both a labor of love and inspiration. With "Born Into This," John Dullaghan has provided us with a delectable and essential document, detailing one of the greatest writers and poets of the 20th Century. Painstakingly interviewing everyone from former postal co-workers, artistic colleagues, biographers, childhood neighbors, and relatives in Germany to the likes of Tom Waits, Sean Penn and Harry Dean Stanton (and yes, Bono), Dullaghan spent years and almost went bankrupt in producing this wonderful work. He even hired PI's to find people and went through Hank's FBI and employment files. <
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>Now, all of this exertion, while heroic in and of itself, could still have resulted in a disjointed, rambling mishmash of a film. After all, culling from so much material and sculpting it down to less than two hours of celluloid is no mean feat. But with a yeoman's effort, Dullaghan has managed to make a compelling and coherent portrait of the artist as both a young and old man, and for this I thank him. <
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>And while this film won't win any awards for sound, cinematography or editing, it is the substance in the subject matter, and the care of the filmmaker in choosing what we see, that makes this such a terrific film. Besides, Dullaghan himself says in the director's commentary that "to make a highly stylistic film would have violated his (Bukowski's) style." <
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>And he's right. So we get grainy black and white footage of Chuck walking through LA, or driving the streets peering out from behind his cracked windshield, or drinking his way through some of his famously contentious poetry readings. But in this film's case (as in Buk's writing) form is overwhelmed by function. Thus, we get to be there when Charles breaks down in tears, later in life, reading a poem about a lost love. We get to see the infamous footage (also found on the Bukowski Tapes) of Charles kicking and berating his wife. <
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>But Dullaghan clearly loves his subject matter, and in presenting the many conflicting aspects of this complicated man, from the harsh to the gentle, Dullaghan does what any good documentarian would do: show every side of the argument and let the audience make up its own mind (and so far the audience has responded enthusiastically, to say the least). <
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>That said, the filmmaker does try to provide a summary of the man himself by including the poem "bluebird" as a sort of soliloquy in the final act. But even this choice is incredibly apt, as Bukowski's words do well to encapsulate the man himself (and who could do better?): "There's a bluebird in my heart that wants to get out, but I'm too clever - I only let him out at night sometimes when everybody's asleep. I say, 'I know you're there, so don't be sad.' Then I put him back. But he's singing a little in there. I haven't quite let him die." <
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>In "Bukowski: Born Into This," we get a laser-focused look at this man who liberated poetry from the academics and gave it back to the people, bluebird and all.

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What is Bono the clown doing here?
I can understand why Tom Waits is here. Bukowski`s influence was present through most of his 70's work and persona. But Bono? How can this so-called artist who has spent millions of dollars on designer clothes and accessories even dares to mention Bukowski`s influence on his disposable pop music. He's gotta be kidding. Mr.Bono should read Hollywood and discover how much they "touched" the old man when they invited him and Linda to one of their mind-numbing concerts. That is, if Mr. Bono has ever actually read any of Bukowski's books.