Trees Lounge **** (1996, Steve Buscemi, Anthony LaPaglia, Carol Kane, Mark Boone Jr, Chloë Sevigny) – Classic Movie Review 6157

For his impressive, laid-back 1996 writer-director debut, the ever-quirky actor Steve Buscemi gives himself the fat star role as Tommy Basilio, a washed-up, unemployed car mechanic, one of a bunch of the low-lives hanging out at the small town Trees Lounge bar of the title.

He’s a loser. He loses his pregnant girlfriend to his buddy and ex-boss Rob (Anthony LaPaglia), then finds more trouble with 17-year-old sex siren Debbie (Chloë Sevigny), whose dad is hopping mad when he finds out that they are an item. Can driving an ice-cream van get car mechanic Tommy’s life back on the road?

Buscemi delivers with loving care a bleak comedy drama combined with in-depth character study in a witty, cleverly constructed instant cult hit from the American independent cinema.

Packed with a lot of sadness, wisdom, funny lines and crazy people, this is an extremely likeable, laid-back experience. It is life, but not as we know it, Steve.

Also in the cast are Mark Boone Jr, Elizabeth Bracco, Michael Buscemi, Carol Kane, Steven Randazzo, Debi Mazar, Eszter Balint, John Venitimiglia, Seymour Cassel, Michael Imperioli, Samuel L Jackson, Daniel Baldwin, Mimi Rogers, Lucian Buscemi, Annette Arnold, Marilyn Chris and Victor Arnold.

It is shot by Lisa Rinzler, produced by Julie Silverman, Nick Wechsler, Brad Wyman, Chris Hanley, Kelley Forsyth and Sarah Vogel, scored by Evan Lurie and designed by Steve Rosenzweig.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6157

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