Film:  Delirious
Studio:    Thema Production; Peace Arch Entertainment
Director:  Tom DiCillo
Principal Actors:  Steve Buscemi, Michael Pitt, Alison Lohman
Release:  2006; On DVD release March 2008
Film length: 102 minutes
Rating: unrated

4 Stars

Reviewer:  Deborah Ground Buckner

Delirious is a fun, character-driven story of Les, a small-time celebrity photographer (Steve Buscemi) and Toby, the kid he inadvertently helps make it big (Michael Pitt).  The film has won honors at the 2007 Istanbul International Film Festival; the 2006 San Sebastian International Film Festival; and the 2007 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival.

Toby is a homeless, street-smart wannabe actor.  Finding a line of paparazzi waiting to get a shot of pop diva K'Harma Leeds and her boyfriend, Toby jumps into the line and volunteers to make a coffee run for them.  As he returns, he sees the beautiful pop princess trying to make a getaway, and signals her the moment when the photographers are looking in a different direction.  He not only ruins the paparazzi moment, but also spills the coffee as he is caught in the stampede of photographers pursuing their prey.

Undaunted, the gutsy Toby approaches one of the cameramen, Les, that night and asks for a place to stay.  Thus begins one of the oddest couple living arrangements seen on the screen.  Les takes Toby on as an unpaid assistant, showing him the exciting world of waiting to take "the shot heard 'round the world."  Les, in his own world, is far more street-wise than Toby, surviving on the free buffets and goodie bags handed out at celebrity-studded gatherings.  Les shares his wisdom with Toby, identifying a "Rule Number One" for all occasions.

The association takes a turn when Toby is surprisingly, yet, believably, pulled into the world of K'Harma, the quintessential poor little rich girl whose parents are currently suing her for seven million dollars for their costs in raising her.  When Toby invites Les into this new world, the big talker ("They're just people-no different from you and me.") becomes tongue-tied, barely able to speak when face-to-face with Elvis Costello (himself). 

Les continues a downward spiral as Toby's career as an actor begins to soar.  There are several exciting twists and turns leading to the end of the film, making the characters very real and providing some interesting thoughts on the industry of celebrity.

Writer-director Tom DiCillo has too many clever turns of phrase to do justice to here, but it might be a good idea to have pen and paper ready as Les spouts all of his "Rule Number One" philosophies.  Perhaps the point of the role of paparazzi is driven too solidly home with a long close-up of a housefly, though the image of people armed with cameras ready to feed on someone else's garbage is a good one.  Les, of course, would not number himself among them:  "I'm not a paparazzi.  I'm a licensed professional.  Magazines get rich.  Stars get famous.  All because I got a shot."