Watch Hello Lonesome

Hello Lonesome is a charming indie film from 2010 that tells three separate but interconnected stories about human connection and loneliness in the modern world. Directed and written by Adam Reid, the movie stars Sabrina Lloyd, James Urbaniak, and Lynn Cohen, among others. The first story follows a middle-aged man named Abe Mandell (played by Urbaniak) who becomes increasingly isolated when he loses his job and his wife leaves him. To combat his loneliness, Abe starts making prank phone calls to strangers, including a woman named Georgia (voiced by Lloyd), who starts to develop a connection with him despite the odd circumstances.

The second story follows an elderly woman named Eleanor (played by Cohen) who must come to terms with the death of her husband and her own mortality. Eleanor is aided by her young neighbor, Gary (played by Nate Smith), who helps her navigate the complexities of modern technology as she tries to reconnect with distant family members.

The third story follows an awkward but endearing man named Bill (played by Harry Chase) who moves to a new city and tries to make a connection with his attractive neighbor, who he can only communicate with through their shared apartment walls.

Throughout the movie, the three stories intersect and overlap, creating a sense of interconnectedness and shared humanity. The characters are all flawed and relatable, struggling with loneliness, fear, and the challenges of modern life. The writing is witty and realistic, capturing the idiosyncrasies of human interaction and the ways we try to reach out to each other, however imperfectly.

The acting is also a highlight of Hello Lonesome. Urbaniak gives a nuanced performance as the lonely and somewhat pathetic Abe, while Lloyd's voice acting brings warmth and humanity to her character, despite only being heard over the phone. Cohen is utterly convincing as the aging Eleanor, and Smith brings a youthful energy and kindness to his role as her neighbor Gary. The supporting actors also shine, particularly Chase as the sweet but bumbling Bill, and Kamel Boutros as his eccentric co-worker.

The movie's cinematography is simple and unobtrusive, allowing the characters and dialogue to take center stage. The soundtrack is also notable, featuring atmospheric and evocative original music by composer Andrew Hollander.

Overall, Hello Lonesome is a bittersweet and heartfelt movie that captures the joys and sorrows of human connection in an increasingly isolated world. It's a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even pick up the phone to call someone you love.

Hello Lonesome is a 2011 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5 and a MetaScore of 58.