CS Weekly Archive > DVD of the Day > 03/11/05

What Fourth Wall?

by jason davis

Elaine Pope & Charles Shyer (also directed by)
Based on the film Alfie screenplay by Bill Naughton
Based on the play Alfie by Bill Naughton

A roguish Englishman (Jude Law) living in Manhattan, driving a limo, and driving the ladies mad might sound like a waste of time, but the style and self-awareness (or lack thereof) with which Alfie presents its titular character is worth the price of admission. Like the 1966 film it updates, the new Alfie religiously breaks the fourth wall and allows its titular protagonist to comment on his situation to the audience. A worthwhile and beneficial trope borrowed from the stage production, this technique never becomes as tedious as monotonous voiceovers might but has an ease and elegance that flows with the rest of the narrative without drawing attention to itself. Best of all, the writers know when to dial back Alfie's personable banter when he's been hit hard emotionally or things take a turn for the worse. The film acts as a journal displaying this man, at this time in his life, as he comes to terms with who he is and how he affects others -- and as a character sketch, it's a work of style and subtlety. An informative commentary with the writers examines the alterations made for this modernization, while deleted scenes hint at what might have been. An ample array of production oriented featurettes detail the unexpected story contributions made by departments that rarely get the attention they deserve for their interpretation of the written material (production design, lighting, etc.).

Alfie
Paramount Home Video
Rated R; 103 min.
$29.95

Buy it now for only $20.96 (save 30%)

At the age of 21, Jason Davis was hit in the face with a car. He has since devoted his life to writing. His words have appeared on TBS, MSN.com, and CS Daily, where he serves as DVD Coordinator. He lives in Burbank.

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