Trees Lounge Review
For an actor who made his name in films by style-over-substance directors (Quentin_Tarantino, Robert_Rodriguez), Steve_Buscemi presents a surprisingly quiet, no-frills character study for his feature directorial debut, Trees Lounge. Also serving as writer and star, Buscemi tones down his own trademark talkiness in the central role of Tommy, a Long Island barfly and out-of-work mechanic who's spinning his wheels only slightly more noticeably than the other sad small-timers around him. It's a portrait of people living with their mistakes and making do in undersized lives, and it's replete with ambiguous morality, messy resolutions, and provocative moments. Because it also keeps a sense of humor, it's a balanced, vivid work. Buscemi gets natural performances from all of his actors, most notably Chloƫ_Sevigny, in one of her earliest roles. As the 17-year-old niece of Tommy's ex-girlfriend, Sevigny is both the catalyst and casualty of the impotent anger and loneliness that burdens the other characters. A memorable outing, Trees Lounge proves Buscemi to be more than just an actor who "really wants to direct." Derek Armstrong, Rovi
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