Caine specifically reminds me of my middle school years. I was surprised to find his experiences similar to mine.
I worked on a year long movie project with my class and I was the director. And I was determined to finish it successfully. I worked day and night on the script, camera work, etc...
But doing so I kept on ignoring my classmates' complains and suggestion. Making them feel useless and offending them. I didn't listen to them because I wanted to do it "my" way.
When the project was almost over, I let my classmates finish it themselves because I was upset about my efforts being unappreciated.
But their work turned out to be much better than mine and it made me horrified. There I realized I was talentless at movie directing.
Later on when they held a vote on who contributed the most(basically a popularity vote) and I didn't get a single vote. I had a crashout when I got home.
Back then, I genuinely didn't understand what I was doing wrong. I ignored them not out of malice but from the wish to prove my competence as a director.
I thought I knew better and that they'll appreciate me if the result's good. And at the end of the year I remained a jerk.
I found caine's behavior similar to mine and I think that's part of the reason I like him. I also was hard working, yet selfish, and had hurt others without acknowledging.