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

John Costelloe was originally cast as Matthew.

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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 On the Waterfront (1954)

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Soundtracks

"YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET"
Written and Performed by Randy Bachman
Published by Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Courtesy of Sony/ATV Music Publishing

User Reviews

Melancholia in Suburbia

This semi-biographical tale centres around a down on his luck, yet charismatic bar fly, set on his way to self destruction. Buscemi'second self directed/penned feature is slower paced than some might expect. This in no way detracts from the overall brilliance and charm that trees lounge conveys. Tommy's character, while on the surface, demands both pity and sympathy. It's in his anti-heroic attributes ie. selfishness and callousness, that make the film so human and believable. American releases as passionate and warm as Trees Lounge do not come around as often anymore, with only The Station Agent coming close. So enjoy.