Lonesome Jim

Steve Buscemi ("Animal Factory") brings his unique dry wit to bear on a pedestrian story by James C. Strouse about Jim (Casey Affleck – "Ocean’s Twelve"), a 27-year-old melancholy loser who returns from trying to make it as a writer in Manhattan to his parent’s home in Indiana. Jim strikes up a wobbly romantic relationship with local nurse Anika (Liv Tyler) while his brother Tim (Kevin Corrigan) recoups from a near-fatal car accident. "Lonesome Jim" is an earnest and modest ‘little independent’ movie that charms by way of its understated underachieving characters. Mary Kay Place is quietly sympathetic as Jim’s put upon mother.

Rated R. 91 mins. (B-) (Three Stars)