"Lonesome Jim" explores the existence of a lost
young man searching for his elusive path, while painting a vivid portrait of
small town life that is at once funny, sad, and true.
Jim (Casey Affleck, "The Last Kiss," "Good Will Hunting")
begrudgingly returns to his hometown in rural Indiana
after failing to make it on his own in New
York. Once back, living in his childhood room, he
soon remembers why he left: a doting but overbearing mother (Mary Kay Place,
"Citizen Ruth"), a distant father (Seymour Cassel, "The Royal
Tenenbaums"), and a depressed older brother (Kevin Corrigan,
"GoodFellas").
Soon after his homecoming, Jim's brother gets in a mysterious car accident, and
Jim is forced to take on his brother's duties -- working at his parent's
factory and helping out with his two nieces. Crippled by these obligations and
his own anxieties, Jim trudges on. A glimmer of hope springs from his
developing relationship with a local nurse (Liv Tyler, "The Lord of the
Rings") and her young son, and Jim slowly learns how to move forward
without leaving everyone behind.
Steve Buscemi's seamless direction combines with James C. Strouse's thoughtful
script, and Casey Affleck and Liv Tyler's moving performances, to paint a
picture of working-class characters filled with the comedy and rich details of
everyday life.
"TWO THUMBS UP! A little masterpiece of mood."
- Roger Ebert, Ebert & Roeper At The Movies
"A DEADPAN DELIGHT! You're in for something special."
- Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
