Buscemi makes star appearance
By Cydney Cappello, BTS Editor
February 14, 2007 | 3:38 p.m.
Lonesome Jim follows the life of Jim (Casey Affleck) as he comes home from a failed attempt to "make it" as a dog-walker in New York City. Casey makes Jim come alive on screen, portraying the luckless man as embarrassed and slightly resentful. Jim isn't over the top, and he could be someone we all know.
The most entertaining character comes from Mary Kay Place, who plays Jim's overly enthusiastic mother. The most memorable scene from the movie, which Buscemi later said almost didn't happen because the actors could not stop laughing, is when Jim is sitting in the bathtub. His mother comes in with towels and stoops down beside the tub to have a conversation with her son, who is squirming in the water trying to remain "under cover." Place brings out the hidden pains mothers experience as they try to save face for their children and keep a smile on. And in this case, it's a tough act to keep up when she's been arrested and her husband forgot to bail her out.
Buscemi's directing seems effortless. All of the acting appears natural and undaunted, as if the viewer is just a fly on the wall during a family dinner. Buscemi explained later that he allowed the actors in most scenes to block out their personal scenes themselves, and then he went in with the camera crew and worked around them.
Besides excellent directing, Buscemi's use of colors helped bring the film alive, and set the mood. Indiana was the setting for the 17-day shoot, and throughout the film there never seemed to be a bright, sunny day.
This was the perfect backdrop for Lonesome Jim, because he was never a bright and sunny character. The dull colors and the gray skies perfectly accented his ever-furrowing brow.
After the movie, Buscemi re-emerged to interact with the audience in a question-and-answer session. Most of the questions ranged from "Can I give you a hug?" to "What was your most difficult role?" Buscemi remained poised and attentive, even making jokes when the unusual question involving hugs arose.
Buscemi also gave the audience advice on getting into show business. "Just keep doing it," he said. "If you like to write, write; if you like to make films, make films." He also said that he thinks actors should delve into directing and writing, too.
Buscemi stuck around after all the questions had been asked to sign a few autographs and give some audience members more hugs. The Athens Film Festival finished its 2005 run several days later on May 5.