2007 #84
Lewis Gilbert | 109 mins | DVD | 15 / PG
Lewis Gilbert | 109 mins | DVD | 15 / PG
Michael Caine stars as the eponymous London lothario in this ’60s sex-based comedy/drama, which helped bring about a change in British abortion law thanks to its chilling final act.
If you’re only familiar with the Jude Law-starring remake, most of the original might come as a shock to you — whereas the 2004 version was pretty light and amusing, this is actually a more serious affair. There is humour, but it’s tinged with a sad awareness of how deluded and misogynistic Alfie is; horribly so now, but bad even for his time.
This one may be more complex and worthy but, sacrilegious as it may be, I’d rather watch the remake.
