Watch Trees Lounge
- R
- 1996
- 1 hr 35 min
-
7.1 (17,828)
Trees Lounge is a 1996 indie drama directed by Steve Buscemi, who is also the lead actor in the movie. It is his directorial debut and has become a cult classic over the years. The movie follows the life of Tommy, a thirty-something alcoholic who is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. In the opening scene, Tommy loses his job as a mechanic and his girlfriend breaks up with him. From that point on, his life spirals out of control.
The movie takes place in a small town on Long Island, where everyone knows each other. Tommy spends most of his time at a local bar called Trees Lounge, where he drinks too much, flirts with women, and talks to his friends. It is clear from the beginning that Tommy is lost and has no hope for the future. He is a classic anti-hero, with no redeeming qualities except his ability to be self-aware.
As the movie progresses, we see Tommy's relationships with his friends and family deteriorating. He has an on-again, off-again romance with his best friend's 17-year-old niece. She is the only person who shows him any affection, but even that relationship is doomed. Tommy's best friend, a man named Rob, is a drug addict who is always in trouble. Rob's sister, played by Chloë Sevigny, is another character who is close to Tommy, but their friendship is strained because of his drinking.
Carol Kane plays Tommy's uncle's ex-wife, who he starts working for, driving around an ice cream truck. Mark Boone Junior plays another regular at the Trees Lounge who has his own personal problems. There are many other characters in the movie who populate Tommy's world. Each one of them reflects a different aspect of his own life.
One of the things that make Trees Lounge a great movie is the way that Buscemi subverts the audience's expectations. Just when you think the movie is going in one direction, it takes a left turn. There are some genuinely funny moments in the movie, but there are also some heart-wrenching scenes that stay with you long after the film is over.
Another aspect of the movie that stands out is the excellent supporting cast. Buscemi has assembled a group of actors who all deliver believable and nuanced performances. Carol Kane, in particular, is outstanding as Tommy's boss, who is both hilarious and heartbreaking.
The cinematography is also worth mentioning. The movie was shot on a shoestring budget, but Buscemi and his cinematographer, Lisa Rinzler, make great use of the locations. The movie is full of long takes, often from a static camera, which gives the audience a chance to observe the characters and their environment. There are also some clever edits that link scenes together thematically.
At its core, Trees Lounge is a movie about a man who is lost and has no direction. Tommy is a tragic figure, but he is also very human. Buscemi's portrayal of him is both sympathetic and unflinching. He doesn't shy away from Tommy's flaws, but he also shows us his vulnerability.
Overall, Trees Lounge is a must-see movie for anyone who loves indie films. It is a well-written, well-acted, and well-directed movie that deals with complex themes in a subtle and nuanced way. It's a movie that stays with you long after the credits roll.
Trees Lounge is a 1996 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 76.