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Steve Buscemi, Daniel Baldwin, Chloë Sevigny, Seymour Cassel, Anthony LaPaglia ...( see more  see more... ) , Debi Mazar , Samuel L. Jackson , Michael Imperioli , Mark Boone Junior

Steve Buscemi, an icon of the independent film world for years, took the opportunity to write, direct, and star in this wistful low-budget gem. He plays Tommy, a Long Island loser who gets tossed from...( read more  read more... ) his job as a mechanic for questionable financial antics. He spends his days at a local bar, drinking his life away even as he denies that he's doing any such thing. And when he finally works up the gumption to get a job, he winds up driving an ice-cream truck in his old neighborhood--and getting involved in an inappropriate relationship with his teeny-bopper assistant (Chloe Sevigny), earning the violent enmity of her father (Daniel Baldwin). Low-key in its approach, the film has a sad humor that is both knowing and forgiving, as well as offering one of Buscemi's best performances. --Marshall Fine

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80% liked it

5,291 ratings

Critics

80% liked it

25 critics

R, 94 min.

Directed by: Steve Buscemi

Release Date: October 11, 1996

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DVD Release Date: February 9, 1999

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Flixster Reviews (271)

  • her69eyes
    October 3, 2008
    her69eyes
    "Trees Lounge" is just the kind of day-in-the-life film that i've always found so absolutely endearing and enthralling. It's plot is unspecific, and characters seem to come and go throughout the film. There's not much of a center conflict anywhere, nor are there clearly defined l...( read more)ines between good and bad people. "Trees Lounge" is simply about a bar and the people within it - people struggling to get by, some so haunted by their demons that their world is minimalized to the neverchanging bar itself. Take, for example, an old man by the name of Bill, who is one of the more unforgettable characters in the film. Early on, we gaze at him for an uncomfortable amount of time before he finally gestures for another drink. Director and beloved Steve Buscemi doesn't try to hide the fact that this is the future assigned for Tommy.

    Steve Buscemi, the indie darling of films like "Fargo", "Ghost World", and "Reservoir Dogs", wrote and directed this film. He's claimed that it's a semi-autobiographical tale - a portrait of where he feels his life would be headed had he not become successful in acting. It's because Buscemi is so close to these people and barlife itself that the film works. There's never a misunderstanding or a misrepresentation of the people at the bar, and they're never simply portrayed as little more than "losers". In fact, these may be the most fully functional yet tragic barflys in recent film history.

    Buscemi plays Tommy, who is a 31-year-old unemployed alcoholic. He's just been fired from his job as an auto mechanic, and has also just been dumped by his girlfriend of eight years, Theresa (Elizabeth Bracco), who is now dating his ex-boss (Anthony LaPaglia). Although his trade is surely as an auto mechanic, he can't even afford to fix his broken down car - so broke that we come to wonder how he affords his drinks.

    Throughout the first half of the film, we see Tommy struggle with missing his ex-girlfriend and trying to pick up new women, such as Crystal (Debi Mazar), who ends up passing out in the bar after offering to go home with him. It's a miserable life indeed, and although he previously opposed the idea, he's so desperate that he takes over for an ice cream truck after the previous vender, Uncle Al (Seymour Cassel), died while on duty. On his route, he strikes up a relationship with a 17-year-old girl, Debbie (Chloe Sevigny), who clearly adores him. In an unfortunate night of weakness, they spent the night together and Tommy's life spins even more recklessly out of control. Debbie's lunatic of a father, Jerry (Daniel Baldwin), finds out about the night and forces Tommy to pay repercussions.

    The only thing I can say didn't especially work with "Trees Lounge" was that the material was all a little bit too familiar to fully invest in. I felt as though i'd met most of these characters before, and the hapless schlub has been done in a more memorable fashion. Buscemi is a wonderful actor, but I don't feel his character was nearly close to as compelling as his character of Seymour in "Ghost World". Although the material is done extraordinarily well and it's completely inoffensive in every way, I felt as though it handicapped itself in such familiar territory.

    What really made the film work for me was the relationship between Tommy and Debbie. In a lot of other films with less talented writers and lead actors, this would have been extremely uncomfortable and grotesque to watch. Strangely enough, however, I never looked at Tommy as a bad guy as much as I did a guy who did something stupid. Making you care for a man and keep caring after he sleeps with a minor is something that few directors could pull off - their relationship reminded me of something out of a Todd Solondz film. Buscemi was wonderful as always, and Chloe Sevigny has one of the better performances in the film. Although i've still seen her face around over the past few years, it's stunning that her career hasn't skyrocketed past where it is now.

    "Trees Lounge" is just about as grim as you can get. There's a relentless sense of failure and lack of accomplishment in the air, and we don't necessarily feel that anyone we meet in the film is destined for anything more than spending their life in that same bar. However, it not only works as a dark comedy, but as a tragic and moving character study. Buscemi carefully takes these pathetic drinkers and humanizes them with constant impending loneliness and a ruthless onslaught of conflict. I was disappointed that "Trees Lounge" didn't allow a lot of the characters outside of Tommy room to grow, however it's worth seeing for strong performances and good writing.
  • garyX
    January 4, 2007
    garyX
    Low key character study of a collection of quirky losers centred around a seedy bar. Written and directed as well as starring Steve Buscemi in an intelligent and likeable flex of his credible indie credentials.
  • mjgildea
    November 20, 2006
    mjgildea
    Good movie, but I just felt like I was watching too many people I know in action.
  • Drewbacca
    June 24, 2006
    Drewbacca
    Don't remember much, but I do remember loving this film. Plus it's Steve Buscemi, so really, how can you go wrong?
  • ileo
    December 16, 2007
    ileo
    Great film!
  • myfavchords
    December 2, 2009
    myfavchords
    This is a great independent film. Steve Buscemi gives a great lead performance and does a good job as both writer and director of the film. The entire supporting cast also does a great job. This is a character driven movie, not a lot of plot but it is still really enjoyable.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    October 11, 2009
    FiLmCrAzY
    wot i saw i was bored but i guess im going to haveto sit down and watch this movie properly! i like steve buscemi so i will give this movie a second chance
  • doglover000000
    October 10, 2009
    doglover000000
    I wasn't overly keen on this film. I've heard good things about this film but i was dissappointed! Although it portrays how lives can spiral out of control and how one bad decision can also have an impact on your live and change it for ever.
    Steve Buscemi, for his first film do...( read more)es pull of an alright film, with a great cast and an interesting if not depressing script, although some humourous parts lighten it up.
  • ralch
    January 25, 2009
    ralch
    PAN AND SCAN. Muy bien escrita, dirigida y actuada por Steve Buscemi. Un reparto magnífico. Muy entretenida. / Very well written, directed and acted by Steve Buscemi. A great cast. Very entertaining.
  • douchebagter
    January 10, 2009
    douchebagter
    No thankyou - Not interested.

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  • Which actor has a cameo in Trees Lounge starring Steve Buscemi?  Answer »
  • Which 'Reservoir Dog' directed and starred in 'Trees Lounge'?  Answer »
  • Which actor starred in all of the following:- - Goodfellas - Trees Lounge - The Negotiator - Basic - Freedomland  Answer »
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