Delirious

Saw this on the big screen at this year's Ebertfest and the entire audience was unexpectedly touched by its skillfully rendered vision of a kinder, gentler Hollywood, one we probably only half know. The movie revolves around the two main leads, Steve Buscemi as the paparazzi Les Galantine, and Michael Pitt as the homeless innocent, Toby Grace. Probably the more impressive performance is Buscemi's who you can believe might have wanted to pass on this low budget indie. That would have been a great error as, for my money, this is his most memorable role by far.

Mr Buscemi easily captures your attention and holds it throughout the film, not that Les is the most admirable of people. He's often barely tolerable and unduly self-absorbed at the most inopportune moments in complete contrast to his wannabe assistant, Toby. Michael Pitt plays Toby with affection as though he wishes his real-life counterparts well. And then there's Alison Lohman as the rising young fan magnet, K'Harma Leeds, and Gina Gershon as the publicist and agent, Dana. All the leads are played extremely well and are peculiarly memorable. But it took a little bit of magic to have brought all these players together with an entertaining script and actually pull it off. And the credit has to go to Tom DiCillo who obviously has the knack. Here's hoping he make's more films along this line.

Delirious was excellent! I had the opportunity to catch the last showing at the Sundance Film Festival. The show was completely captivating. The storyline was very entertaining and the cast was completely lovable. Alison Lohman was brilliant. I highly recommend this movie if you enjoy character based comedies or if you have ever had an obsession. Character development is what makes this film so great. Tom DiCillo does an incredible job of thrusting you into these character's lives. Opinions of the characters change periodically throughout the show as you get to know them. When the plot begins to unfold, the story seems to be very predictable. However, you will be pleasantly surprised with a handful of unexpected circumstances. This film is easily one of the most entertaining at Sundance this year. I can't wait to add it to my personal collection.

I would have rated "Delirious" with 4 stars if this movie would have had another 2 leading actors because the plot of the movie is terrible.

The performances of Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt save the movie. The performances of these actors turn what could have been a boring movie in an entertaining one despite its extremely unreal and naive plot.

The plot is about how a paparazzi (Steve Buscemi) and a young bum (Michael Pitt) become friends where the bum works for free for the paparazzi and in return he can sleep at the paparazzi's department, but things are going to change when the bum gets involve with a young woman pop star.

Tom DiCillo is a cool New York-based independent filmmaker, and he's made some good stuff in the past (most notably as DP for Jim Jarmusch, and as the director of sleepers like the great Living in Oblivion), and I wish him the best of luck on anything he does. But on Delirious, he only gets it right some of the time. He's out to, at first it seems, make a satire on media hype and celebrity and the inanities of shallow attention given to people who don't do much to deserve it (if you need proof of that, watch the Soup on E!).

But then it goes a little in a different direction, which I respected and wanted to go along with, as a fable/fairy-tale where Toby (Michael Pitt) is just about the nicest, most generous and fish-out-of-dumpster homeless kid who somehow becomes an 'assistant' to fledgling photographer Les (Steve Buscemi), who shows him the ropes and introduces him to a casting director (Gina Gershon), and eventually- accidentally of course- falls into the company of a pop star (Alison Lohman) as the two all but fall in love on first sight.

Good premise, and scenes between Buscemi and Pitt most often work the best, and funniest, as one sees subtle layers peeled by Les's pathetic paparazzi who just doesn't admit he's not ambitious enough to be marginalized as a photographer. There's even some good comedy thrown around, the kind that is that strange absurdity that we also saw in 'Oblivion'. But, somehow, it just didn't all click for me after a while.

There's a very bitter pill being sent out in, often, very corny and ill-shot scenes (the latter of which I could accept, but for one brief instant, as Toby walks back to Les's place the morning after he's had that whirlwind night with Lohman, I was shocked at how cheesy a scene it turned into). The problem, also, is that it's difficult to mix such a delicate romantic/fable angle while also working in some mockery at the entertainment business. It's all in good amusement to see the "reality serial-killer" show being directed for "realism", but it all doesn't lead up to anything significant to say past some shallow messages.

Maybe I didn't see what others have been; it's become a minor little hit with most, and I'm sure if you have any desire to see actors like Buscemi and Pitt and Lohman (who is also very good) and Gershon (and hey, there's even a really hip and hilarious cameo from Elvis Costello) you'll seek it out anyway. However, it's not the best, or least obvious, game in town despite its solid indie cred.

Les (Steve Buscemi) is an amateur celebrity photographer who longs to get better shots that are worth more money. Yet, time and again, clubs and venues where stars may be eating or partying have bouncers. Bouncers that tell Les to get lost. One day, by chance, Les and a crowd of shutterbugs like him make an attempt to photograph a hot young singing star, K'Harma (Alison Lohman). No one gets much but Les meets an affable guy, Toby (Michael Pitt). Turns out Toby is homeless and has a vague inclination to be a movie star. On a whim, Les offers Toby a chance to bunk with him for the night. Once back at Les' small apartment, Toby starts cleaning up a few things, hoping to help Les for his graciousness. Les is a bit annoyed at that. But, the older man loves having the idea of an underling to lecture. Soon, every other phrase out of Les' mouth is "rule number one", as he gives Toby pointers about photography and life. One night turns into days and the two men hang out, even snagging a photo that sells on the Internet for $700! After this, Les drags Toby over to his aging parents house but its not clear why. The older folks are not impressed with Les' news of the 700 bucks and they are categorically critical and unpleasant. The two leave soon. Not long after, Toby actually MEETS K'Harma and she likes his looks. Soon they are hanging out. But, will Toby let Les capitalize on this great chance to photograph K'Harma and those around her? If he doesn't, how grateful is that? This film has truly great cast members who elevate the material. Buscemi is a stitch as his mantra of "rule number one" becomes an infinite number of rules. Pitt is adorable as the erstwhile actor while Lohman is comical, also, as the insecure star who wants "her own fragrance" and demands many things of her staff. All other matters are fine, costumes, sets, script and direction, but nothing out of the ordinary. Therefore, if you like Buscemi or any other cast member, do find it.