Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- witty
- intimate
- quiet evening
- indie movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film a modest, affecting independent dramedy elevated by Casey Affleck's restrained performance, though its low-key approach divided opinion.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jim returns to his parents' Indiana home because he believes he cannot make it on his own.
Jim is surrounded by strained parent-child and sibling relationships inside his family household.
The film combines melancholy with comedy while observing Jim's stalled life and family tensions.
Anika's son treats Jim as a father figure, helping draw him out of isolation.
Films like Lonesome Jim, and why
The Skeleton Twins
shared melancholic comedy, dysfunctional family dynamics, and emotionally stalled protagonists
Enough Said
shared intimate low-key dramedy, aimless adulthood, and understated romantic connection
The Savages
shared offbeat family dysfunction, deadpan humor, and wounded characters seeking belonging
Movie Details
- Director
- Steve Buscemi
- Release Date
- 2005-11-16
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (104)
Cast
- Casey Affleck
- Kevin Corrigan
- Liv Tyler
- Mary Kay Place
- Seymour Cassel
- Rachel Strouse
- Sarah Strouse
- Rick Duplissie
- Mark Boone Junior
- Jake La Botz
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Lonesome Jim about?
- A melancholy, darkly comic homecoming finds a self-defeated young man slowly reconnecting with love, family, and responsibility in small-town Indiana.
- What is Lonesome Jim like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Lonesome Jim as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Lonesome Jim violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Lonesome Jim.
- What did critics think of Lonesome Jim?
- Critics generally found the film a modest, affecting independent dramedy elevated by Casey Affleck's restrained performance, though its low-key approach divided opinion.
- Which films are like Lonesome Jim?
- Films with a similar feel include The Skeleton Twins, Enough Said, and The Savages.
- How long is Lonesome Jim?
- Lonesome Jim runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Lonesome Jim?
- In United States, Lonesome Jim is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store.
