Tommy is an unemployed mechanic who spends most of his time in a bar (Trees Lounge) in a small blue collar town. He seems to always be thinking, "If only X then I could stop drinking".Tommy is an unemployed mechanic who spends most of his time in a bar (Trees Lounge) in a small blue collar town. He seems to always be thinking, "If only X then I could stop drinking".Tommy is an unemployed mechanic who spends most of his time in a bar (Trees Lounge) in a small blue collar town. He seems to always be thinking, "If only X then I could stop drinking".
- Awards
- 4 nominations
Anthony LaPaglia
- Rob
- (as Anthony Lapaglia)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSteve Buscemi's brother Michael Buscemi and son Lucian Buscemi appear in the film. Buscemi's father also appears as well, although he is only in the background.
- GoofsDuring the opening credits, an old man at the bar orders a large glass of liquor filled with ice. In the next shot, there's no ice in the glass. However, this is a deliberate technique by the director to indicate the passage of time at Trees Lounge.
- SoundtracksI Understand (Just How You Feel)
Written by Mabel Wayne & Kim Gannon
Performed by The Ink Spots
Published by EMI Waterford Music, Inc., EMI U Catalog Inc. and EMI Feist Catalog Inc.
Courtesy of The Everest Record Group
Featured review
Amusing and low-key debut from indie king Buscemi
Small town deadbeat Tommy, spends the majority of his time drinking at the Trees Lounge and trying to find comfort with anything in a skirt. Meanwhile his ex-best friend is with his ex-girlfriend who may or may not be carrying Tommy's child. Tommy drifts day to day before finding himself a job and a new friend.
This was Buscemi's first attempt as director and is semi-autobiographical in it's plot. Plot, however is a poor way to describe this film's story. Rather it is an amusing character piece, following Tommy through his life. Tommy is likeable but is also selfish, clueless, aimless and friendless. We like him because he has a good loser-quality to him that brings part sympathy and part empathy. During the film he hurts many through his selfish actions and his life is consistently aimless and pointless. However it still manages to be interesting because of Tommy. Even when I didn't care about him the story had enough good support characters and goings on to keep me interested.
Buscemi as actor is just as good doing a weasely version of himself but managing to keep him just likeable enough to get by. It something about the way that Tommy clearly hurts himself all the way that makes it hard to dislike him. The support cast are all very good. Junior, Kane et al do well as the various barflies while LaPaglia, Bracco, Baldwin, Imperioli, Rogers and Jackson all deliver well on their various roles. Sevingy is very good again in another sexually laced child role but I'm glad she's not been typecast too much since Kids.
Overall this is plot light but is still interesting, amusing and enjoyable. Buscemi directs with a light touch and keeps everything light until the sombre final shot.
This was Buscemi's first attempt as director and is semi-autobiographical in it's plot. Plot, however is a poor way to describe this film's story. Rather it is an amusing character piece, following Tommy through his life. Tommy is likeable but is also selfish, clueless, aimless and friendless. We like him because he has a good loser-quality to him that brings part sympathy and part empathy. During the film he hurts many through his selfish actions and his life is consistently aimless and pointless. However it still manages to be interesting because of Tommy. Even when I didn't care about him the story had enough good support characters and goings on to keep me interested.
Buscemi as actor is just as good doing a weasely version of himself but managing to keep him just likeable enough to get by. It something about the way that Tommy clearly hurts himself all the way that makes it hard to dislike him. The support cast are all very good. Junior, Kane et al do well as the various barflies while LaPaglia, Bracco, Baldwin, Imperioli, Rogers and Jackson all deliver well on their various roles. Sevingy is very good again in another sexually laced child role but I'm glad she's not been typecast too much since Kids.
Overall this is plot light but is still interesting, amusing and enjoyable. Buscemi directs with a light touch and keeps everything light until the sombre final shot.
Helpful•245
- bob the moo
- Nov 5, 2002
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Bizim Kafe
- Filming locations
- Assembly Bar, 73-02 Cooper Avenue, Glendale, Queens, New York City, New York, USA(Trees Lounge exterior)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,300,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $749,741
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $39,830
- Oct 13, 1996
- Gross worldwide
- $749,741
- Runtime1 hour 35 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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