Casey Affleck, Jack Rovello, Jake La Botz

Jim begrudgingly returns to his hometown in rural Indiana after failing to make it on his own in New York. He soon remembers why he left: a doting but overbearing mother, a distant father, and a depre...( read more  read more... )ssed older brother whose "accidents" seem suspect at best. Jim is soon forced to take on his brother's duties -- working at his parent's factory and helping out with his two rambunctious nieces. Crippled by obligations and anxieties, Jim trudges on though every day monotones and the family's collapse after mom is mistakenly taken for a suburban drug smuggler. Almost miraculously, hope springs from his developing relationship with a local nurse and her young son, and Jim slowly learns to move forward without leaving anyone behind.

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40% liked it

20,916 ratings

Critics

59% liked it

87 critics

R, 1 hr. 31 min.

Directed by: Steve Buscemi

Release Date: March 24, 2006

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DVD Release Date: August 9, 2006

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Flixster Reviews (756)


  • August 14, 2008
    With it's tragic mess of a title character living in a town filled with losers and weirdos, "Lonesome Jim" certainly sounds like it'll be another one of your run-of-the-mill pretentious indie films about depression. The joy of "Lonesome Jim", however, is that it almost explains h...( read more)ow laughably stupid it is to be as depressed as Jim is. For instance, when he goes on tangents explaining his chronic misery, or telling his girlfriend "There's so many fun and cheery people in the world. Don't you think you'd be better off with one of them? Someone more like yourself?", it's almost treated as a gag. The film doesn't exploit Jim for being so miserable and lonely, it simply examines what a joke it is for him to dwell on the bad so much. It's a film that tells you that life can be what you make it as long as be yourself.

    "Lonesome Jim" tells the story of Jim (Casey Affleck), who has recently returned back home to Indiana after an unsuccessful stay as a writer in Manhattan. His jobs as a dog walker and a waiter at Applebee's just couldn't cut it. Just as miserable as him is his brother, Tim (Kevin Corrigan), who is older than Jim is and yet he hasn't left home. Jim makes this abundantly clear when he convinces his brother to attempt suicide by saying "I mean, i'm a f*ck up, but you're a goddamn tragedy." Tim has an unsuccessful suicide attempt, but is left immobile due to his injuries. Jim is left to coach for a basketball team of young girls.

    Tim's nurse, Anika (Liv Tyler), is a girl that Jim had previously had a one night stand with. Anika is fascinated with Jim and doesn't put up with his constant moping around. She's exactly the catalyst he needs to get out of his rut. However, things prove even harder when Evil (Mark Boone Junior) ends up getting Jim's mother, Sally (Mary Kay Place), in jail for his drug dealing. Sally is an upbeat woman who even remains cheerful in prison. Jim loves his family as much as he wants to get away from them.

    "Lonesome Jim" looks and sounds like it'd be nothing but pretentious garbage. However, it's really a pleasant surprise. Jim and Tim are both hopelessly pathetic characters, but the fact that the people around them are so unaffected by their pessimistic behavior makes it enjoyable to watch. Sally and Anika could be considered over-the-top in their optimism, but it's necessary for what are admittedly exaggerated depressed characters.

    The screenplay, written by James C. Strouse, is very quiet. James appreciates the fact that a film isn't it's sum of large happenings and that the most moving sort of film is simply the kind where people just "exist". In both this film and "Grace is Gone", the characters are placed in a situation that sets the wheels of character development rolling and their relationships are forced to strengthen. They're both films of self-discovery.

    My one problem with the film is that although Jim is quite pathetic, he almost seems too outgoing in some ways. For instance, near the beginning of the film he can barely manage to make eye contact with his parents, yet moments later he has no problem picking up an attractive woman like Anika and sleeping with her. If the character is supposed to be a miserable sad sack, it would have been more believable for him to be far more reserved in moments like those. Although, the opposite is much worse - as far too many films portray depressed characters as socially inept and borderline mentally retarded.

    There's a lot in the film that does work, and only a few things that don't. The basketball subplot was cute, but at the same time the loser sports team is far too recycled. While it fits the tone of the plot, I again felt that a depressed character wouldn't show up or even try to attempt to motivate these children. I understand that the point is that he DOES have a lot going for him that he neglects to address, however I would've preferred more subtle achievements and motivations. That being said, I think this is a very interesting film and one that didn't overstay it's welcome. The directorial work from Steve Buscemi is very good, and Casey Affleck has a wonderful starring performance. Liv Tyler, who I normally hate, is surprisingly pretty good in this as well. I really enjoyed this.
  • April 4, 2008
    The movie is chock full of tiny lines of great dialogue. Most are not crafted jokes but simply hilarious circumstantially, as when the protagonist comments on the strength of the stoner's weed and - in a casual aside - the stoner says, "Yeah, I put some crack in". Also, our hero ...( read more)so deftly manages to unintentionally insult everyone and everything while spilling his guts; e.g., believing he's offering profound insight into life but instead degrading the existence of his listeners. These asides and conversations, like much of the dialogue, are not stand alone funny but fit in so well to the mood and of the setting. The setting and circumstances - failed dreams in the Heartland - could be milked for much melodramatic value but is well treated here in a matter-of-fact manner. This movie is true farce. I hate to use clichés but Lonesome Jim is the perfect example of "What you say (and hear) is exactly what you get. Casey Affleck does a good job becoming the unlovable loser that you're actually interested in watching in this film. Buscemi accomplished something quite well - he made the entire film feel like the inside of Jim's head.
  • August 11, 2007
    Started out really slow, but gets better as you follow the characters and their deveopment. Totally love Casey Affleck and you can't help but root for Jim, and I enjoyed the dry humour and sweet moments.
  • July 15, 2007
    Casey Affleck and Liv Tyler are both likeable and give good performances. Which makes it better then other indie flicks that try to pass as oringinal (Eagle Vs. Shark). It's just hard to enjoy a film that takes so much from better flicks. Knowing Steve Buscemi is a lot smarter ...( read more)then this.
  • May 16, 2007
    Way to go Steve Buscemi, this was a decent film... not exactly my type but Casey Affleck is believable in this character. 3 stars for effort and creativity.
  • November 18, 2009
    I felt like the experimental film style is what made this movie good. The script is so-so, it got a little predictable and became sort of like Garden State. The acting was mediocre, a lot of the characters were played lazy and bitter rather than depressed. I think the overall mea...( read more)ning of the movie is non-existent, it doesn't say anything or mean anything. It seems like they just got a bunch of weird situations thrown together.
  • November 14, 2009
    Vista la locandina bellissima mi aspettavo un film altrettanto bello (si, brava, ragionamento sensato e maturo, applausi grazie!), e invece niente di che, deprimente e noioso, Casey Affleck moscissimo.
    Mai più.
  • November 5, 2009
    Crises of confidence
  • October 16, 2009
    GREAT movie with a GREAT ending
  • July 24, 2009
    It was a really good independent movie. The story was great it was slow very realistic and enough drama to make this movie great. I think that Steve Buscemi is much better as director than actor.

Critic Reviews


May 19, 2006
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

It all feels very slight. full review

May 5, 2006
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

The problem is that a little of this minimalist kitchen-sink farce goes a very long way, and after a while Lonesome Jim starts to dry up. full review

April 13, 2006
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

It is packed with delightfully silly vignettes that had me squirming in my seat with laughter. full review

March 31, 2006
Kurt Loder, MTV

A wonderful little movie directed by Steve Buscemi ... [Hi]is humor
flickers through the story like fairy lights on a gray and unpromising
day. full review

March 30, 2006
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

[Strouse] has written a forlorn and poetic story, and Buscemi has made it into a movie about taking a deep breath and deciding to stop being a mope. full review

March 24, 2006
Kyle Smith, New York Post

One of those indie excursions to Loserville that lasts an hour and a half but feels longer than Roots. full review

March 24, 2006
Marcy Dermansky, About.com

Steve Buscemi paints an honest picture of working class suburbia, where living rooms are covered with shag carpets and Applebees is the best restaurant in town. full review

March 21, 2006
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

I can't recall having a better time at a movie about depression. full review

View more Lonesome Jim reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • perfectgentlemn
    July 20, 2008
    Strangely odd little movie, a depressing comedy drama, lol. But enlightening !. Shoulda been titled "Depressing Jim"...Yikes ! Feed this boy some Prozac. ;-)
  • clindenaar
    November 13, 2006
    this movie.. was SOOOO slow

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Lonesome Jim Trivia


  • In the film "Lonesome Jim," what does Jim bring for his brother, Tim, when he's in the hospital?  Answer »
  • 'Lonesome Jim' is a Casey Affleck movie.  Answer »

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