Trees Lounge (1996)
Steve Buscemi's semi-autobiographical debut feature is a quietly devastating comedy-drama about a self-destructive drifter drowning in dead-end days at a Long Island dive bar.
Trees Lounge - Movie Information
- Original Title: Trees Lounge
- Release Year: 1996
- Directed by: Steve Buscemi
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, Comedy
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: Italian, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): May 11, 1996 (France), October 11, 1996 (United States - R), January 22, 1997 (Germany - 12), December 8, 1998 (Brazil - 12)
- Alternative Titles: Mosche da bar (IT), Happy Hour (FR), Una última copa (AR)
- Production Companies: Live Entertainment, Addis-Wechsler Productions, Muse Productions, Brad Wyman Productions, Seneca Falls Picture Company
- Production Countries: United States of America
Trees Lounge - Plot
Tommy has lost his job, his love and his life. He lives in a small apartment above the Trees Lounge, a bar which he frequents along with a few other regulars without lives. He gets a job driving an ice cream truck and ends up getting involved with the seventeen-year-old niece of his ex-girlfriend. This gets him into serious trouble with her father.
Trees Lounge - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a feel for the film's wry, melancholy atmosphere:
A story about one man's search... for who knows what
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Trees Lounge - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Steve Buscemi
Main Cast
- Steve Buscemi
- Chloë Sevigny
- Carol Kane
- Mark Boone Junior
- Bronson Dudley
- Anthony LaPaglia
- Michael Buscemi
- Elizabeth Bracco
- Rockets Redglare
- Samuel L. Jackson
Writers
- Steve Buscemi
Producers
- Chris Hanley
- Brad Wyman
Trees Lounge - FAQs
Where can you stream Trees Lounge (1996)?
Trees Lounge is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi TV, Kanopy, Plex, and Fawesome at no cost. It can also be rented or purchased through Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. Check JustWatch for current availability in your region.
Is Trees Lounge based on a true story?
Trees Lounge is largely autobiographical. Steve Buscemi drew heavily from his own experiences growing up in Valley Stream, Long Island, and his years working dead-end jobs before breaking into acting. The bar setting and the drifting, self-destructive protagonist reflect real aspects of his early life.
Who are the main actors in Trees Lounge?
Steve Buscemi leads the cast as Tommy, alongside Chloë Sevigny as Debbie, Carol Kane as Connie, Anthony LaPaglia as Rob, Mark Boone Junior as Mike, Samuel L. Jackson as Wendell, Elizabeth Bracco as Theresa, Rockets Redglare as Stan, Michael Buscemi as Raymond, and Bronson Dudley as Bill.
Was Trees Lounge Steve Buscemi's directorial debut?
Yes, Trees Lounge marked Steve Buscemi's feature directorial debut. He also wrote the screenplay and starred in the lead role, making it a deeply personal triple-threat project. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1996 and earned strong critical praise for its understated authenticity.
What is Trees Lounge about?
Trees Lounge follows Tommy, a directionless Long Island mechanic who loses his job and girlfriend and retreats into alcoholism at a local dive bar. After taking a job driving an ice cream truck, he becomes dangerously entangled with the teenage niece of his ex-girlfriend, pushing his already unraveling life further toward crisis.
What is the age rating for Trees Lounge?
Trees Lounge is rated R in the United States. The rating reflects the film's frank depictions of alcoholism, adult language, and a storyline involving an inappropriate relationship between an adult man and a seventeen-year-old. It is intended for mature audiences.
How long is Trees Lounge?
Trees Lounge has a runtime of 95 minutes, or approximately one hour and thirty-five minutes. Its compact length suits the film's unhurried, slice-of-life rhythm, allowing the story to breathe without overstaying its welcome.
How was Trees Lounge received by critics?
Trees Lounge earned strong critical acclaim upon release. Critics praised Steve Buscemi's assured direction and deeply felt performance, noting the film's honest, unsentimental look at working-class stagnation. It holds a certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is widely regarded as one of the finest American independent films of the 1990s.
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