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.

Just got back from the premiere screening at Sundance for Delirious and after the screening I felt like I'd picked a winner. What you get with this movie is a very solid performance from Michael Pitt who plays Toby a homeless kid in his early 20s that through a chance encounter finds a friend in struggling paparazzi Len played by a on fire Steve Bescumi. The movie follows Toby across a wide range of changes in his life that puts a strain on his relationship with Les and questions how far apart are those in front of the camera from those behind it. Micheal Pitt really breaks out here playing the role of Toby with a very natural wide eyed enthusiasm that wins over the audience from the beginning. Steve Buscemi tears it up in this role, as the edgy Les he perfectly portrays a loner who deeply wants to be something more then the despised paparazzi that he is. Some nice performances from Gina Gershon and Alison Lohman round out the cast.

I felt entertained and satisfied by the end of the movie, however film takes a a misguided turn at one point and I could fell most everyone in the audience thought it was regretful on the directors part and felt out of place in the movie. In the end though the film still works, unfortunate plot twist aside, you've got quality acting, fresh cinema and a excellent soundtrack that adds up to a solid experience.

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.

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.

Delirious is different, genuine, alive, funny and as close to real life miracle as it gets! This movie is so deep (in a very entertaining way), you feel as if you just read a classical novel; instead of the silly flicks we all are so accustomed to see these days. Steve Buscemi's captivating performance, Michael Pitt's innocent yet noble attitude, Gina Gerswin, Allison and Callie's brilliant and lovable performances just drags you into the movie, where you feel a connection with most, if not all of the leads...

It is not a fast paced action movie, it will not make you sit on the edge of your seat throughout, but you will feel enriched when you leave. Tom Dicillo has outdone himself (and certainly many others)! We all need more movies like Delirious.