I've seen Barfly 3 times, but I finally saw a good clean copy and it made 900 million worlds of difference. It's rather ridiculously difficult to find due to North American licensing.
For the first time, I was able to appreciate Robby Mueller's cinematography (that was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award). His work is all but lost on ancient VHS rips; you miss all the drunken swooping and swaying.
Meanwhile, Schroeder is an interesting director who's made some very impressive documentary films including one on Koko the gorilla, and one on Idi Amin. He also made Single White Female...
In terms of performances, WOW. Mickey Rourke at the height of his career--not long after Rumble Fish--and Faye Dunway at the moment her career is beginning to wane--this is many moons after Chinatown and Bonnie and Clyde. She was nominated for a Golden Globe. Rourke fully inhabits the slithery salty Henry with such zeal.
But, don't get me started on Bukowski (the key figure in a documentary also by Schroeder), I find him problematic at best.
5/5