Excellent, a Must See

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

This movie doesn't as much tell a story as it conveys a feeling, and that feeling is "mind-numbingly depressed". Casey Affleck is wonderful in this movie. He managed to be sad for 90 minutes without ever hamming things up, which makes that one outburst of joy he has very beautiful. Sadly, this film is somewhat held back by one rather typical indie cliché: its lack of pace. We're not just dealing with a slow-moving plot here, because there is no plot. It's just a slow-moving bunch of scenes. Most of the scenes go on for a bit too long, others are just plain unnecessary. Thank God the occasional dark humour can bring something extra, because parts of this movie are really quite boring. Nevertheless, Jim is a compelling character, and Steve Buscemi appears to be quite talented as a director, so this is still worth seeing.

Casey Affleck is really good in this movie. He is a real natural actor. This is a low budget prize of a movie. (Which is why I love it) It is cast well with a myriad of character actors you will all know. I won't tell you about this movie too much, because you just need to see it. It is funny and low-key. The plot & scenes change frequently, so you don't get bored watching this movie. Set in Indiana, the film reeks of middle-America the uglier towns on the country, the dope weather, a world with low ceilings and very few windows. The kind of world a young slacker or aspiring dude would leave because there are no opportunities. The way out is by bus, which Jim is supposed to take but somehow doesn't take at the film's end, for reason I can't remember. But worth watching it again. Peace

Jim (Casey Affleck) is a failed writer near his 30's. He decided to go home to Indiana, because he was simply out of money and he was too ashamed to tell his caring parents (Mary Kay Place and Seymour Cassel). Jim ins't glad living back in his parents place, his older brother Tim (Kevin Corragan) is living there as well. Tim is a divorced man with two daughters (Rachel Strouse and Sarah Strouse), who's just as depressed as his younger brother but for different reasons. Which Tim occasionally coaches a basketball team for girls. When Tim tries to kill himself, Jim replaces his brother place from where he works. Especially since it's owned by his parents. Jim is been getting high, occasionally with his uncle (Mark Boone Junior). Which his uncle calls himself Evil. Jim starts an relationship with a kind, unusual nurse named Anika (Liv Tyler) and which she has a young son as well (Jack Rovello). Things turns upside down, when his mother is accused of selling drugs and as well for shipping drugs. Which of course, his uncle is responsible for the actions. Jim can't help his mother, since he open an account for his devious uncle. His uncle will point fingers if Jim doesn't rat him out. Now his parents business is closed for the moment. Now Anika tries to help Jim out of his depression. While Jim starts to fall in love with her and he cares for her son.Directed by Steve Buscemi (Animal Factory, Intreview, Trees Lounge) made an bittersweet dramatic comedy that many moments of truths and for those who had dreams that never came true. Which most people tried to live out their lives that is a always disappointment and tried to live day by day. Affleck offers an excellent performance as a young man living in despair, who tries to make things works for him. But he's surrounded by a good supporting cast. That their performances are memorable as well. This film has many moments of dark funny moments also.DVD has an good anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) transfer and an decent Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. DVD has an amusing commentary track by the director and screenwriter:James C. Strouse (Grace is Gone). Which Strouse wrote the script loosely based on his life and the house in the film, Where Jim lives is actually the real life house of Strouse's parents. Even Strouse's family members have cameos and including his two nieces have bit parts in the movie. DVD has an promotional featurette with the cast & crew. This picture is probably too depressing for some tastes but it's a good well acted independent movie is that certainly worth a look on DVD and it will probably be a cult favorite on the IFC Channel. (****/*****).

I just picked this off the shelf for the hell of it. Throughout the whole movie I was expecting Jim to say more. Maybe that's his appeal to some viewers, but the kid just needed to spit it (his feelings) out more. Come to think of it, the movie lacked dialogue! His character reminded me much of his character in The Last Kiss. I haven't seen many films with Casey Affleck, but I'd draw parallels to Owen Wilson in that his characters are all very similar, typecast so to speak. Casey Affleck is the melancholy quiet kid who lives in his own head. As I expected more from this film I rated it a 5. The case description is also misleading, he doesn't so much 'stumble into a romance' with Liv Tyler's character as they're getting it on in a hospital bed within hours of their meeting each other. I was expecting something more emotional of their relationship and it was HARDLY that.