An interesting movie with a good story plot. This is a story about a man who comes home and is deeply set in depression. He meets a single mother who enables him to think of the positive side of things, despite his unwillingness to do so. As he is distraught over the turmoil of his family, he realizes there is much more to stability and family than what appears to be so. Above all, his disassociation is measured in terms of his favorite authors and thus sees his efforts as failures and broken dreams. Great cast- Casey Affleck, Liv Tyler, Kevin Corrigan, and Mary Kay Place. Definitely worthy.
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 how 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.
Not for everyone. The realism is of the minimalist variety. Perhaps you could blame the minimalism as a result of its mundane nature and script, but this worked for me. Very few people can stand looking at realism stripped down any further, but I suppose life isn't always the greatest subject to imitate.
Strangely odd little movie, a depressing comedy drama, lol. But enlightening !. Shoulda been titled "Depressing Jim"...Yikes ! Feed this boy some Prozac. ;-)
A nice feel good comedy movie with good performances by Casey Affleck and Liv Tyler. All the characters portrayed in this movie are very realistic and likable. A must watch if you like movies which are realistic with a touch of humor in them.
"O solitário Jim" Direção do Steve Buscemi! Um filme sobre um cara com quase 30 anos que até tentou fazer algo da vida, mas não deu certo. Aí ele não realizou nada legal no passado, não tem ânimo pra fazer nada no presente e nem planeja em fazer nada. Desiste de tudo até aparecer algo, mas como não se esforça pra algo aparecer, ele fica inerte. Ele acha que mudar de cidade é a solução de todos seus problemas, mas o que mudar de cidade proporciona mesmo é ficar longe de sua família, não que ele deteste sua família, mas o simples convívio é insuportável. Todos heróis dele ou se suicidaram ou beberam até morrer, ele se identifica com esse descontentamento com a vida que eles tinham. As outras pessoas o consideram pessimista, mas ele se acha pé no chão -- e por vezes até se acha otimista -- porque sabe que é tudo uma merda mas mesmo assim dá pra piorar. Ele sempre fala honestamente, e vive falando mal da vida -- própria e da vida dos outros. Mas não é se fazer de vítima ou self-pitty ou pra atormentar os outros, é porque ele acredita mesmo que a vida (dele e dos outros) é uma merda, está apenas sendo sincero. Aí as pessoas não gostam do que ele fala, ou levam pro lado errado, que não era a intenção dele quando o disse, pois estava apenas falando o que pensava. Resumindo, não assista, a Liv Tyler caga tudo.
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 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.
Was stunned to see that so few people have seen this movie and how low the overall grade is. It's a depressing, but very funny, movie and if you look deeper it has a very good message. Casey Affleck and Liv Tyler performs very well and has the chemistry. Highly recommended!
i really love a film where the main character isn't necesarily a hero, because Jim actually isn't all that nice of a person because of his depression and i loved it. Casey was genius in the role esp. because he has that sort of melancholic face that was exactly like Jim's personality. The story is very very real, with real character that people can truly realte too esp. melanchilic people will find something loveable about Jim. The fact that it was all filmed with a minidv camera is super rad, i think Steve Buscemi did a great job directing
Not the sort of movie i enjoy! Too slow! Although I enjoyed some of the dark humour in this movie!
The story of a loser who doesn't know what to do with his life, to a loser who knows what to do with his life!
But WHY does she choose him? Hes not cute, not good in bed, not humourus, not intelligent...why why why?
The only redeeming part of this film was when Jim gave the speech to the girls team at the end that it does not matter how many consecutive losses they've had, that this is a new game...
This is a quite tragic story with plenty of underlying comedy... That the line between tragic and comedy is very thin is very well displayed here. Likeable characters and a slow but sweet storyline...
This movie was a lot like Garden State, but cooler because Steve Buscemi directed it. I think Casey Affleck is a great actor to play Jim. Casey always brings humor to every movie he is in.
una pelicula que se siente un poco lenta y que le sobran unos 10 minutos pero que sin duda es palpable el corazon de la cinta y se siente en la forma en que los personajes se mueven.
It kinda gave me the same feeling Garden State did... It wasn't nearly as good as Garden State but it was really well done. I got this kind of depressed feeling while watching it, but it's funny too. I enjoyed it.
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.
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 at ?Trees Lounge?.
Great film that you'll love if you don't mind bleak reality style films. You aren't gonna get any crazy action or ridiculous comedic situations... just a slice of life into a dysfunctional family and primarily into the life of a 28 year old depressed and unmoved dude. I found it funny at times, extremely sad, and in the end uplifting in a very relatable way. There is just something rewarding about watching a film that is grounded in "everyday-ness" so much. Buscemi really did a good job directing... and Casey Affleck is great as the monotone Jim. Worth a rental.
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 then this.
I liked this because the main character has a mindset that resembles mine. What I don't like are all the characters that are depressed just because they think they should be. It's not bad writing or anything, it just personally annoys me. Affleck is perfect for that type of role, though, as he has that constant mopey voice. I was also interested in this because it takes place and was filmed in Indiana, which makes me a little depressed when it's shown in a certain light. Mark Boone Junior is very funny in this as a stoner.
spends an awful lot of time fulfilling film festival stereotypes before being surprisingly emotional and rewarding. rewarding is a stereotypical film critic word.
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