It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

After a coffee run, homeless hunk Michael Pitt (as Toby Grace) asks to crash with seedy celebrity photographer Steve Buscemi (as Les Galantine). After being assured the handsome blond youth is not gay, Mr. Buscemi allows him to move in, and fixes a bed for Mr. Pitt in the closet. Buscemi develops a big brother relationship with Pitt, who wants to be an actor. Pitt is attracted to scantily-clad pop star Alison Lohman (as K'Harma Leeds) and heats up casting director Gina Gershon (as Dana). "Maybe I can get you into something," she tells Pitt. When he gets his shot at fame, Pitt's relationship with Buscemi becomes strained...This starts out like it might be a modern "Midnight Cowboy" (1969), then wanders into "Star 80" (1983) territory. "Delirious" ends up being closer to a satire on celebrity. The thesis is never quite fronted, although director Tom DiCillo certainly does it with style. Buscemi contributes an engaging, manic characterization, suggestively managing to make the story seem like something greater. Everyone else is fine, with foul-mouthed parents Doris Belack (as Lois) and Tom Aldredge (as Carl) providing a veteran treat. The song selection and soundtrack are very strong. Stay tuned for a coda, appearing after the end credits.****** Delirious (9/26/06) Tom DiCillo ~ Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Alison Lohman, Gina Gershon

Calling all Steve Buscemi fans! I started watching this movie on cable quite by accident. In the opening scene I thought I recognized a friend of mine in a minor role and while waiting for him to reappear and see if it was in fact him I found myself captivated with this brilliant little indie until the end. Steve Buscemi is one of the best, and most interesting, American actors today. (Check him out in his early role as Nick in "Parting Glances" from 1985.) He elevates the level of every movie he does. Although, this film doesn't need any help from him. It's good. REALLY good. It is a character study. And as with most character studies the characters studied are somewhat unpleasant and maybe not very sympathetic. But in this movie they are well worth taking a closer look at.Les Galantine (Steve Buscemi) is the dregs of the paparazzi. He lives in a crap hole apartment in a bad neighborhood and the only thing worse than the neighborhood he lives in is the inside of his apartment. He has horrible parents whom he still visits and has attachments to. And when we see the three of them together it is very sad. A homeless guy named Toby (Michael Pitt) weasels his way into Les's life, and his crap hole apartment, and is eventually promoted from non-rent-paying roommate who sleeps in the closet to paparazzi's assistant. Had enough yet? There's more. Wait until K'Harma Leeds, pop diva, shows up with her entourage. At one point we see her sitting before a Magnus Chord Organ, (like the one I got for Christmas in 1974), composing her next hit. When we later see her perform it at a music awards show we realize what a joke it was that she agonized over whether to use the word "searching" or "looking" because her ONLY talent is that she lip syncs and dances like a stripper, i.e. a pop diva. The relationship between Les Galantine and Toby is the centerpiece of the story. Les is needy and repulsive all at the same time. He perspires desperation and fear of abandonment. Toby, goes with the flow. And the flow eventually takes him from homeless guy, to pop diva hanger oner, to star of his own really really bad TV show called "Toby" where he plays a homeless serial killer, named Toby. And just a quick reminder here, his name in real life is Toby. This show is so bad they couldn't even be bothered to imagine a different name for the main character so they just used the name of it's "star". His rise to stardom, his romantic intrigues, and his "go with the flow" style of living, are all expertly written as commentary on the vapid lives and personalities of people who are famous for being famous. The writing and directing, by Tom Dicillo, is witty, poignant, and surgical in it's precision. There is not a wasted word or moment anywhere.Steve Buscemi is great in everything he does. He is brilliant in "Delirious" . Michael Pitt plays Toby with a warmth and sympathy that makes the process of getting a closer look at those around him tolerable. Honestly, I don't think I'm in the "Michael Pitt demographic", and I've never really gotten him as an actor, until this film. He expertly ties all the disparate elements of these characters, Les Galantine, the talentless pop diva (Allison Lohman), the casting agent (Gina Gershon) and their stories, together in a very compelling performance. I have way big respect for him now...It is not explicitly spelled out but I would like to go on record here to say that I think Les Galantine is gay and in love with Toby. And although that's not central to the story line it does inform us, somewhat, about this sad injured creature. Steve Buscemi, as Les Galantine, is hard to watch and hard to pull away from from beginning to end. That's talent. Equal credit has to go to the writer/director Tom Dicillo. The story, sometimes mocking, sometimes tender, is written and executed perfectly. The pace is perfect. When it's done you don't even know where the time went. If you like well made, interesting movies, with gobs of talent from beginning to end, watch this one. The ending will surprise you, and the journey is well worth it no matter what. By the way, my friend was not in this movie, and the character I thought he was playing never showed up again...

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.

Written and Directed by Tom DiCillo comes an Independent off beat Drama-Comedy, Delirious, which will premiere in theatres in mid-August in New York, followed by Chicago and LA. The plot follows a minor celebrity photographer Les Galantine (Steve Buscemi) has big dreams, but he can't quite talk himself into the right parties to get that one great exclusive photo. He meets Toby Grace (Michael Pitt), a homeless kid who is drawn to the bright lights of New York City with a desire to one day achieve stardom himself, and hires him as his assistant. Alison Lohman also stars as Toby's love interest as a pop musician, K'Harma Leeds, alongside a guest appearance by Gina Gershon.The last we saw of Tom DiCillo (Double Whammy, Living in Oblivion) and Steve Buscemi (Armageddon, Con air) was on the set of Double Whammy (2001) when they collaborated to form a rather mediocre film along with the infamous Dennis Leary. This time around, with the introduction of Michael Pitt (Bully, The Dreamers) and Alison Lohman (White Oleander, Matchstick Men) along with a cameo by Elvis Costello (Cold Mountain, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me), who also provides some of the music for the soundtrack, DiCillo, a former Sundance winner, is surely here to make his mark. Delirious has already won awards at the San Sebastián International Film Festival for Best Director and Best Screenplay and is currently sweeping audiences of their feet at The Sundance Film Festival.Delirious explores the theme of dating/exploring the celebrity lifestyle, which has been around in Hollywood for a while, from movies like, Paparazzi (1998/I) to Being John Malkovich (1999) and Almost Famous (2000) among many others. This film promises to deliver the glamour of the shallow celebrity lifestyle in contrast with another prominent theme of the irony that separates appearance vs. reality in Hollywood. The soundtrack shows potential with most of the music delivered by Elvis Costello himself.In conclusion, be stoked for delirious because it promises to be hilarious but with a little twist! I recommend you check this movie out as soon as it hits theatres near you in New York City (August 15th, 2007), Los Angeles (August 17th, 2007) and Chicago (August 31st, 2007) just to name a few. Some promotional videos/website should keep you Delirious for a while.The official Delirious website: www.deliriousthemovie.comNEW* official trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYxHfD77kTsMyspace page: http://www.myspace.com/deliriousthemovie Runtime:107 MinsReviewed by: Kunal Gulati (kgulati@uwo.ca)