Trees Lounge (1996)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Spencer S

  
  An independent powerhouse from the man who most exemplifies character actor, Steve Buscemi made a film that is patiently paced, full of pure character driven scenes and examples of tragedy meeting the human spirit. The story centers on the human wretch known as Tommy, a barfly who is… More
  An independent powerhouse from the man who most exemplifies character actor, Steve Buscemi made a film that is patiently paced, full of pure character driven scenes and examples of tragedy meeting the human spirit. The story centers on the human wretch known as Tommy, a barfly who is always fighting with himself, other bar patrons, and the people of his past who detest him for his awkward clinginess yet abandoned him in the first place. Tommy has always had his faults, but with the breakup of a long term relationship and her getting pregnant by a former friend, Tommy turns into a delinquent alcoholic with a penchant for dropping in on people who don't want his greasy company. There are many supporting characters either connected to the skeevy man himself or are on the fringes of his universe, controlled by his disgusting actions. In the course of the film Tommy eliminates anyone who could have gotten close to him or helped him by making the worst of choices, never apologizing for his past actions or the present, and repeatedly mocking the people who are trying to help him change. The reason the film is heart warming and yet deplorably altruistic is that Tommy's actions are always with the explicit need to not be found out. He tries to deflect all blame from himself by lying and dodging the truth with the utmost of ease. Other characters include a misguided and philandering husband who only wants to reconcile with his wife, a bevy of other bar oriented folk who chain smoke and play forties' standards on the juke box, a tired waitress, and the family of his ex-girlfriend, including a teenage daughter (Sevigny) who is confused and naive about his motivations. The film flows well, and bridges the gap between drama and light comedy by ingratiating us to the characters and entertaining with the ensemble effect of a movie of this kind. If anyone believed Buscemi was just a pretty face that is easily reconciled with his sturdy direction and immaculate writing, all of which play into this semi-quirky but highly realistic film about being lost and how unsure one can be in those circumstances. The meaning is that being an awful person doesn't always mean someone should have to be shunned since that leads to more pain and resentment from everyone else. It's a strikingly brilliant film and one that showcases the real talent of Steve Buscemi.

• Melvin W

  
  Marie: You don't go to work every day. You go to a bar every day.  "A story about one man's search... for who knows what" Trees Lounge is the name of the bar where Tommy can be found just about 24/7. He's an alcoholic, and this movie is one of the best… More
  Marie: You don't go to work every day. You go to a bar every day.  "A story about one man's search... for who knows what" Trees Lounge is the name of the bar where Tommy can be found just about 24/7. He's an alcoholic, and this movie is one of the best representations of alcoholism I have seen. It's not overblown like in most movies, where the alcoholic is beating the shit out of people, throwing up everywhere, and crying every twenty minutes. Every alcoholic I've ever met is much more like this character. They are constantly making excuses about why they drink, and if something in their life could turn around they would easily be able to stop. Most of the time that something never happens though, and they are in an endless cycle of booze and excuses. Tommy has many reasons to drink. He's an unemployed mechanic, who was fired from his last job for stealing money. So he isn't exactly getting rave recommendations from that boss, when he applies at other places. To compound that, his boss that fired him also stole his girlfriend of eight years, and she's pregnant. If he could find a job, he could stop drinking. If he could get her back, he could stop drinking. But most of the time, instead of changing his life, he just continues drinking.  The film is very low key which is one of the reasons I really enjoyed it. I love that it doesn't go over the top to make a point. It is slow and patient work from Steve Buscemi, who stars in, wrote, and directs this character driven film. This is the first Buscemi directed film I have seen, and I have to say, I am extremely impressed by it. I was already a big fan of Buscemi's, what with his work in such movies as, Fargo and The Big Lebowski. Trees Lounge just gave me a whole new respect for the guy.  Trees Lounge is intelligent filmmaking. It may not be exciting, but for what it wanted to be it was damn near flawless. You really have to be into these type of slow moving movies, where nothing much happens, in order to enjoy this. It has a true indie feel, which makes it much more enjoyable. It's just a good all around movie.

• Anthony L

  
  I've waited 16 years to see this, I'm glad to report that it is as good as I'd hoped. I've always been a big fan of Steve Buscemi, who isn't?, and I enjoyed Animal Factory and Interview too. If you're not a fan of his however, you need not trouble… More
  I've waited 16 years to see this, I'm glad to report that it is as good as I'd hoped. I've always been a big fan of Steve Buscemi, who isn't?, and I enjoyed Animal Factory and Interview too. If you're not a fan of his however, you need not trouble yourself. I found the pace and irrelevance of the story to be quite refreshing, until I remembered that the last great golden age of cinema was USA 93-96 and so I became nostalgic. Then I laughed at Chloë Sevigny's haircut. I loved the 90's.

• Chris W

  
  This is a great movie. I absolutely love it. It is rather slow-paced, which is why I guess some people find it boring, but to me, the slow pace shows the audience just how devastating alcohol can change and screw up a person's life, eating away at them one day at a time. This… More
  This is a great movie. I absolutely love it. It is rather slow-paced, which is why I guess some people find it boring, but to me, the slow pace shows the audience just how devastating alcohol can change and screw up a person's life, eating away at them one day at a time. This is an indie film though, and it's pretty obvious right from the start all the way to the end. I like the ending, but I kind of wished the movie were longer. It would be intersting to see where the characters end up. Maybe they should just make a sequel instead. This is not a movie for all tastes, as it is slow paced, an indie, and very character driven, but the characters are all very colorful and interesting, and anyone who has ever spent more than two minutes in a bar can probably realte to them, and the lifestyle. This is shot and directed pretty well, and, even though I love Buscemi as an actor first and foremost, he's also a pretty good director. He gives an outstanding performance, and so do a lot of the well known cast (including the people making cameos). I've loved this movie ever since I first saw it and became obsessed with Buscemi, and it is one of my all time faves. Hopefully it always will be. I'd hate to think of growing tired of this.

• Film C

  
  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

• Coxxie M

  
  a real genius on and off screen.

• xGary X

  
  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.

• Michael G

  
  Good movie, but I just felt like I was watching too many people I know in action.

• Stephen E

  
  Steve Buscemi's dramedy Trees Lounge is a fine debut; a debut which he wrote, directed, and starred in. It deals with Tommy, a loser that just can't seem to get anything together. He spends most of his time down at the local bar, Trees Lounge, where a select few of people… More
  Steve Buscemi's dramedy Trees Lounge is a fine debut; a debut which he wrote, directed, and starred in. It deals with Tommy, a loser that just can't seem to get anything together. He spends most of his time down at the local bar, Trees Lounge, where a select few of people do the same as him, wasting their entire days at the bar. There's even an alcoholic named Bill who visits the bar so often that he even has his own seat. Basically, Trees Lounge is a showcase for Buscemi. He does a wonderful job as Tommy and the writing is fantastic. Now, that's what really impressed me. The writing is gloriously aware of its subject matter and it treats its character as real people, which they are. There's a group of barflies like this in every bar in every town---- at least, the smaller ones, that is. And on top of all of that, it's very funny. Granted, it does take a more serious turn towards the latter half of it, but for the most part, I was laughing. And out loud, too.

• Stephen E

  
  Steve Buscemi's dramedy Trees Lounge is a fine debut; a debut which he wrote, directed, and starred in. It deals with Tommy, a loser that just can't seem to get anything together. He spends most of his time down at the local bar, Trees Lounge, where a select few of people… More
  Steve Buscemi's dramedy Trees Lounge is a fine debut; a debut which he wrote, directed, and starred in. It deals with Tommy, a loser that just can't seem to get anything together. He spends most of his time down at the local bar, Trees Lounge, where a select few of people do the same as him, wasting their entire days at the bar. There's even an alcoholic named Bill who visits the bar so often that he even has his own seat. Basically, Trees Lounge is a showcase for Buscemi. He does a wonderful job as Tommy and the writing is fantastic. Now, that's what really impressed me. The writing is gloriously aware of its subject matter and it treats its character as real people, which they are. There's a group of barflies like this in every bar in every town---- at least, the smaller ones, that is. And on top of all of that, it's very funny. Granted, it does take a more serious turn towards the latter half of it, but for the most part, I was laughing. And out loud, too.

• Leo L

  
  Great film!

• Ashton R

  
  Damn, this movie is just. . . CHARMING. Everything about it is so endearing and enjoyable, and it moves at a nice relaxed pace (but it's not boring in the least). It has a realistic humour and wit to it that reminds me of my own friends and family, and I found myself laughing out… More
  Damn, this movie is just. . . CHARMING. Everything about it is so endearing and enjoyable, and it moves at a nice relaxed pace (but it's not boring in the least). It has a realistic humour and wit to it that reminds me of my own friends and family, and I found myself laughing out loud on several occassions. The music is also just amazing; soulful blues melodies that really capture the feel of the film and add to every scene. (I also really liked it because I kind of think of it as a unofficial back story for Mr. Pink from Reservoir Dogs, lol)

Read all 12 featured audience ratings