“Alfie” Directed By Charles Shyer Paramount
Pictures
Charles Shyer’s remake of the 1966 classic
“Alfie,” starring Michael Caine, relocates the action
from swinging 1960s London to modern-day Manhattan and chronicles
the escapades of a cheeky cockney heartbreaker. Perhaps because the
’60s was marked by its mood of sexual liberation, the
original fared well with audiences, but the remake does not prove
to be anything new for the sexually charged times of 2004. Alfie
Elkins (Jude Law) works as a limousine driver who doubles as
Manhattan’s biggest playboy. He develops relationships with
certain people, but only for as long as they are convenient for
him. Even Alfie’s self-proclaimed best friend, Marlon (Omar
Epps) is kept at an arms length. He decides to take in live-in
girlfriend Nikki (Sienna Miller) to make it through the romantic
saturated holidays, but soon finds that the fun is over once New
Year’s rolls around. Julie (Marisa Tomei), who provides Alfie
with stability and a family environment, and Liz (Susan Sarandon),
who provides him with business advice and a boost to his ego, are
just a few examples of Alfie’s half-hearted attempts at
attachment. Although each of these women provides something
beneficial to Alfie, there is never the promise of monogamy. But
Alfie soon learns that having the sexiest come-hither stare cannot
stop reality from disrupting his quasi-perfect existence. His
string of comeuppances begins with dreadful temporary impotence and
only grows worse from there: He gets his best friend’s
girlfriend pregnant. On top of this trauma, Alfie suffers from
pangs of guilt and loneliness. The main problem with the film is
not the performances. Law, similar to many of his previous roles,
oozes with charm, and the ensemble of eclectic actresses cast to
play Alfie’s women proves to be a delight. But Alfie is a
playboy not worth feeling sympathy for, and his charm soon turns
into shallow egotism as he continuously ruins one good thing after
another. Additionally, the downfall of a playboy just does not feel
significant enough for a movie in this modern era. The cultural
perspective that made the original work in the 1960s is lost now.
With the prevalence of shows like “Sex and the City,” a
film about a sexually free gigolo is nothing noteworthy. The film
also manages to play it safe by glossing over anything even
remotely controversial. The issues of promiscuous sex and abortion
are vaguely hinted at. “Alfie” is basically a remake
that did not need to be remade. -Laurie Lo