Delirious (2007)

Powerful

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Loved it. Bought it at a flea market with no expectations other than liking Steve Buscemi and his choice of rolls, and I wasn't disappointed. I am not a fan of Hollywood, of newer movies (most, and the sea of bad movies is vast), or of hand-held video and scenes of brief duration. This film uses the language of film, film making, and what I can only imagine its inside understanding to tell a story as simple and real as its sometimes homely characters. Somehow, the homelier, regular folk make the beautiful people beautiful, a metaphor for the whole celebrity industry.These stars shine. There is nothing assuming. It is an understated bit of film making that simply uses the medium to tell its tale. If there are movies about movies, ,like "Day for Night" or Fellini's great, "And the Ship Sailed On," this one joins the pantheon. And the story reels you in (film pun intended) and holds you to the end.It is lovely, joyful and refreshing, meaning to be without the heavy hand.Thanks, Steve and thank you whoever left it at the flea market, new and unopened, for me to discover. Great date flick. Loved it.

Recap: Les Galantine is a wannabe photographer that makes do by selling the odd picture as a paparazzi. One day his path crosses the one of Toby Grace, a homeless young man that tries to find his place in the world. Toby becomes Les' unpaid assistant, working for a place to sleep, food and with a dream to become an actor one day. But for now he follows Les around hunting for celebrity photos, and one day his eyes meet the eyes of young pop diva K'Harma. Without meeting they seem to have a connection, one that may put Toby's friendship with Les in jeopardy.Comments: Classified as Comedy/Drama Delirious is more drama than comedy. It's more about trust and friendship than jokes. It is a bit satirical about the paparazzi – celebrity symbiosis and provides a few odd scenes that makes you smile, but most it is almost a sad movie about how people can live in the middle of a great city and be so completely alone. Without any real connections to anybody else, without any real friends.Once again Steve Buscemi gives a stellar performance even if this is not his best. Buscemi is to me one of the most underrated actors out there. However it is a shame that his character in Delirious, Les Galantine, is a pretty sad one. Les is egoistic and has big problems with trusting anyone else and letting someone in close. His character is very much not especially funny. Unfortunately. Buscemi has the talent to give his character a much more comic aspect, but I don't think that that was the idea here.Pitt is also good as the naïve and confirmation seeking Toby. He has dreams but his humble situation makes him thankful for anything that comes his way. His journey is the longest and reaches from almost the deepest low to the highest point on the status ladder, and he has not always an easy time to handle that change. The conflicts that arise between him and Les is interesting.It is a good movie, especially if you don't expect a wacky one from the outset. Good cast and an interesting story. But in my opinion this is one that will soon become lost and forgotten in the sea of movies.6/10

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.

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.