Trees Lounge (1996)

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".

Director:

Steve Buscemi

Writer:

Steve Buscemi

Stars:

Carol Kane, Mark Boone Junior, Steve Buscemi

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Carol Kane	...	Connie
Mark Boone Junior	...	Mike
Steve Buscemi	...	Tommy
Bronson Dudley	...	Bill
Anthony LaPaglia	...	Rob (as Anthony Lapaglia)
Michael Buscemi	...	Raymond
Elizabeth Bracco	...	Theresa
John Ventimiglia	...	Johnny
Steven Randazzo	...	Vic
Suzanne Shepherd	...	Jackie
Rockets Redglare	...	Stan
Joe Lisi	...	Harry
Debi Mazar	...	Crystal
Eszter Balint	...	Marie
Richard Boes	...	Freddie

Storyline

Things aren't going so well for Tommy Basilio. He lost his job because he "borrowed" money from the register, his girlfriend left him for his boss and is now pregnant, and he can't find work because of the incident. His life revolves around the Trees Lounge, a neighborhood bar over which he lives, full of the colorful eccentrics one finds in such places, like the estranged husband, or the old boozer drinking himself to death. He drunkenly wanders through his life, still in love with his ex, desperate for some sort of meaning beyond the bar, some sort of meaning to his life.

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Plot Keywords:

bar | ice cream truck | ex girlfriend | cocaine | sequel | 

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Taglines:

A story about one man's search... for who knows what

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for plentiful strong language and some drug content

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bizim kafe

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$39,830 (USA) (11 October 1996)

Gross:

$673,269 (USA) (13 December 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Addis Wechsler Pictures, Live Entertainment, Muse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

After the original Trees Lounge shut down, Steve Buscemi bought the sign and restored it to use for him movie, although he was not able to use it. He then gave it to a woman who worked at Trees Lounge for 40 years.

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Goofs

During 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 passing of time at Trees Lounge.

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Quotes

Tommy: No, Jerry is allright. Saved my life once.
Debbie: What, he was gonna kill you but he changed his mind?

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Connections

References Mister Magoo (1960)

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Soundtracks

"LIGHT THE FUSE"
Written and Performed by John Mayall
Published by Sticky Chicken Music/
Administered by Zomba Songs Inc.
Courtesy of Silvertone Records

User Reviews

I wouldn't associate with any of these folks

Excellent film dealing with a group of unhappy people who drown their sorrows in booze, powder, and sex. The chief sorrowmeister, Tommy, was a pathetic loser who spent inordinate amounts of time swilling beer and shots in a shabby bar which boasted a temperamental barkeep, a postage stamp sized men's room, and one table. When not turning his liver into plywood Tommy halfheartedly attempts to find work as a mechanic but winds up driving his uncle's ice cream wagon and getting in over his head with a troubled teen on the verge of bolting from daddy's violent household. A sad picture for sure, but I couldn't help laughing out loud at some of these characters' antics. A very fine movie depicting a realistic looking slice of the ugly side of our human existence.