Rating of
4/4
Only the lonely
Bribaba - wrote on 05/03/11
The eponymous Jim is a man plagued by ‘chronic despair’, while his brother is a failed suicide. This isn't much of a pitch but far from being a misery fest this is a very funny film indeed; its relentlessly downbeat humour maintains the tradition formed by directors like Jonathan Demme and Bob Rafelson.
Like any character driven piece this relies heavily on the cast and script. In the title role, Casey Affleck with his hangdog expression is just perfect, while Mary Kay Place as his confused mum and Liv Tyler playing his on/off girlfriend are both well up to snuff. The script along with the sense of place, is sharp as a pin probably helped by the fact that the film was shot not just in the writer’s town, but in his house.
This is an indie film only in the most literal sense as its characters are far removed from the insular mumblers normally associated with the genre. This is easily Buscemi’s best work yet, his assured direction provides a professional sheen without compromising the story’s gritty yet humorous nature.
