Lonesome Jim

Yet another 'guy returns home a failure, meets perfect girl who turns his life around' story, and it may be the best of them. Buscemi's direction makes it feel more real than the rest; even the contrivances feel natural. Anika is not perfect, she doesn't miraculously save Jim ala Garden State. She's a spark that gets the ball rolling, but he has to do the work himself. The humour is very dry, and often very black, and it's not for everyone. But there's a lot to like here, if you can find it.

I immediately enjoyed this films mood, humour, style & pacing from the outset. Casey Affleck remains much more watchable than his brother & I also really liked Liv Tylers performance in this film. It manages to avoid most, but not all of cliches of a 'man returns home a failure & redeems himself' type movie, & Buscemi's direction is raw, but has a nice soft subtlety to it. If I am being picky, and I am, I felt that the relationship between Affleck & Tyler was underdeveloped. Still enjoyable.

This new Paul Giamatti genre of regular yet depressingly nuerotic think-their-better-then-everyone loosers is really getting old. Besides, this film is exellent proof the even "non-mainsteam" movies can be just as a cliche as the mainstream ones.

I tried to enjoy it, but there was just no hook. No enjoyable characters, no interesting situations, I had to quit.

"Another product of the woefully inadequate InDigEnt company, who have almost never turned out an agreeable movie, Lonesome Jim feels as if it's from an earlier time and not in a good way." - Jason Clark

The cast is rich with good character actors, most of whom play the funniest lines with a droll delivery and poker-faced ambivalence, which also lends this independent film a good deal of zany charm.

Depressing, but in a good(?) way.

Yawn

A sappy film that would otherwise be intolerable if it wasn't for the surprisingly topnotch acting.

I would almost call it a film about depression, but not really. It's sweet as hell.

Droll, low-key drama conversely proves itself expert at finding huge belly laughs in the slow-moving train wreck of a dysfunctional family, especially when observed by Affleck's blunt, direct and melancholic lead. A fine supporting cast is also fun to watch, with a nice little showcase for the usually underutilised Boone as Affleck's seedy uncle, and Place as his cheerfully brittle mother.

#06#, reviews, dir Buscemi, Liv T.

This film is a nice little character piece. This is a good film. The slow pace works for the type of characters in this film. I didn't enjoy this film as much as Trees Lounge but I definitely recommend it.

Indie-by-numbers.

Please stay in acting Mr. Buscemi. One of the most boring films ever made. * Casting, Acting : 3 * Script : 3 * Directing, Aura : 3 * Ease of Viewing : 2 * Naked Eye : 3

This would be just a standard indie were it not for the pretty poignant depiction of depression and some surprisingly funny dark humour. Buscemi's direction feels a little unfinished, but this is an enjoyable little film.

One of the bleakest films I have ever seen, and yet so moving. I would consider it an absolute favorite.

Some movies are fucked up but this was just tragic. Naah, seriously, it had some funny moments and a few hilarious characters but I don't really see why this movie was made. t's got nothing new in it and no real message.