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Lonesome Jim
User Score
7.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 1 out of 9

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  1. ChadShiira
    Oct 26, 2006
    8
    [***SPOILERS***] Signposts of a dysfunctional family point to Sally(Mary Kay Place) in the opening faux-happy scenes of "Lonesome Jim". When Jim (Casey Affleck) returns to the fold after an apparently long hiatus, she repeatedly refers to herself in the third person, as both a grandmother and mother. The latter sounds a little creepy because her sons (& Tim) are fully grown men, but her maternal overkill enacts as a sort of wish-fulfillment, an extension of her do-over, that she and her husband (Seymour Cassel) enjoy with their two grandchildren. At the outset of "Lonesome Jim", we hear her yearning for redemption in sentences that begin, "Let mother..." Obviously something went hideously wrong, because her two boys are back home; both depressed, both leeched of any optimism that something good will happen in their lives. Yes, "Lonesome Jim" is a blame-mom-and-dad-for-all-your-bull**** sort of film. And miraculously, it's not at all exasperating, thanks to the intervention of a dry, but uncannily plausible array of humorous situations. "Lonesome Jim" delivers some big laughs from the most subdued line deliveries. It has a very shrewd screenplay. "Lonesome Jim" is at its most brilliant when somebody finally tells Jim to shut up, which doesn't only address the situation at hand, but also for the unforgivable thing he says to Sally (mom) earlier in the film.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. NostrilR.
    May 27, 2006
    10
    funny poignant excellent Affleck is superb Buscemi does an excellent job as director.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JulioP.
    Apr 22, 2006
    5
    This was a thoroughly mediocre film (was it even a "film"? it all looked very digital-born and the titles were hideously pixelated) and Mr. Buscemi's eye for comedy does not add to this show. It's tragic, plays out that way, and may be insulting to anyone who considers themselves ordinary. If the characters don't inspire tears of despair they are certainly yawn-worthy and the plot is thoroughly insipid. This production should have spent more time in editing, hopefully removing the rueful "details of everyday life."… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  4. RonO.
    Apr 25, 2006
    9
    To anyone who has really struggled with depression, this film softly resonates. To all others, the film will return proportionally to the viewer's willingness to invest. Those who pan the film are likely unaware of the pervasivenss and depth of depression in modern society. And that is sad for them . This film, in it's simple way, is simply true to life, and well worth the time.
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
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Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
54 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Don R. Lewis
    70
    Affleck is dead on as the hapless Jim but the film is nearly stolen from him by Mark Boone Jr. who plays Jim's drug induced Uncle Evil. Kevin Corrigan is also great as Jim's brother Tim.
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  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Duane Byrge
    70
    Under Buscemi's overall smart direction, the acting is terrific.
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  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Dennis Harvey
    60
    There's a slightness to the mildly eccentric material here that leaves the whole enterprise in danger of fluttering away.
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