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Alfie

What's Jude Law All About?

What's it all about? How do we come to terms with our own peace of mind? Alfie (Jude Law) raises those same questions. While the film Alfie is actually a remake of the original version with Michael Caine made in 1966 with the same title, I personally enjoyed the remake for two reasons. The first reason was that I could relate to Jude Law's portrayal of Alfie as a contemporary day Englishman as opposed to Michael Caine's portrayal of Alfie as life was in the 60's. The second reason was due to Jude Law's ability to literally charm his way off-screen into my heart. Actually to be honest, the entire film is focused on Alfie who actually speaks to the audience as we automatically become a part of Alfie's life. As his confidante, we as the audience listen in to his thoughts as he goes on the much awaited road to self-discovery.

In the provocative tale of the philosophical womanizer, Alfie is a confused playboy who wants to help those around him, but instead hurts the one he loves most. "You never know how much you love someone until you lose them." Underneath all that bravado, Alfie genuinely is a sweet guy who just needs to find his place. One of the most challenging roles to play in any film is a character who is in every scene. Jude Law makes it seem so easy to act. He is an outstanding actor who is going to be, not only a Hollywood star, but a classic, legend.

Initially, Alfie steps all over women thinking that his goal in life is to sleep with as many beautiful women in the city that has the most attractive women, New York. We encounter many "birds" that Alfie has shagged over the years, but none of them have the qualities that he thinks he's looking for. Throughout the film, we see big displays on billboards of single words that basically break up the story into sections. The very first word PURSUE introduces the idea that Alfie is constantly on the lookout to pursue new women. The next, ZERO, lets us speculate whether or not Alfie has hit an all-time low in the world of understanding women and their needs. DESIRE is the chapter in Alfie's life when he realizes that he can't have everything he longs for. REGRET leads Alfie into a world of misunderstanding and loneliness, while SEARCH finally gives Alfie the chance to think through his own thoughts.

While this film is obviously focused on Alfie, with an emphasis on an egotistical male point-of-view, women can also relate to Alfie.

There are concepts that are featured in the movie that define how unattached individuals are, without forcing the sex to be male. The women in the film are also not only fierce and gorgeous actresses such as Marisa Tomei, Nia Long, Susan Sarandon, Jane Krakowski, and rising star Sienna Miller, they are also independent women that do not depend on Alfie.

All the actresses are fantastic in their roles as birds that Alfie has captured. The actress that stands out is surprisingly not Susan Sarandon, who plays the sexy mistress, but rather an unknown Sienna Miller, who plays Nikki. While Nikki is Alfie's Christmas Miracle, she is actually an unhappy woman who abuses alcohol and wrecks valuables. With no self-control, Nikki is scarred, and Sienna does a great job at portraying an over-the-top girl who seems absolutely perfect, like Aphrodite, until you get too close and see the damage. Marisa Tomei, who plays single mom Julie, was cute and simple. There were no dramatic moments for her character, yet she managed to pull off Alfie's adorable semi-permanent-quasi-sort-of-girlfriend. Jane Krakowski does a superb job as a lonely wife who loves to make love to Alfie. Nia Long, as always, is sexy and amazing as Lonette, Alfie's best friend's girlfriend.

Even though Alfie may have slept around and knows a lot of people, he's doesn't have many close friends that love and respect him. It takes a temporary erectile dysfunction, pregnancy, and multiple rejections to realize that. It isn't until the very last scene of the movie where he finally comes to terms with his own misjudgments that life is nothing without peace of mind.

Movie Grade: B