There's Only One Jimmy Grimble (2000)

Jimmy Grimble is a shy Manchester school boy. At school he is constantly being bullied by the other kids, and at home he has to face his mother's new boyfriend who he doesn't like. However,... See full summary »

Director:

John Hay

Writers:

Rik Carmichael, John Hay,

Stars:

Lewis McKenzie, Jane Lapotaire, Gina McKee

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lewis McKenzie	...	Jimmy Grimble
Jane Lapotaire	...	Alice Brewer
Gina McKee	...	Donna
Ben Miller	...	Johnny Two Dogs
Wayne Galtrey	...	Walkway Kid
Ciaran Griffiths	...	Psycho
Bobby Power	...	'Gorgeous' Gordon Burley
Robert Carlyle	...	Eric Wirral
Samia Ghadie	...	Sara
Antony Marsh	...	Crane (as Anthony Marsh)
Sean Delaney	...	Brick
Charles Denton	...	The Cat
Azmier Ahmed	...	Elvis
John McArdle	...	Headmaster
Ann Aris	...	Governor 1

Storyline

Jimmy Grimble is a shy Manchester school boy. At school he is constantly being bullied by the other kids, and at home he has to face his mother's new boyfriend who he doesn't like. However, through football, and some special boots, he manages to gain the confidence to succeed and leads his school football team towards the final of the local schools cup.

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Plot Keywords:

school | boy | talking to mirror | kicked in the crotch | harley davidson | 

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Taglines:

and no substitute for life

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Sport

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Details

Country:

UK France

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 2000 (UK)

Also Known As:

Jimmy Grimble

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£101,282 (UK) (25 August 2000)

Gross:

£101,282 (UK) (25 August 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arts Council of England, Canal+, Impact Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min 98 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

'Gorgeous' Gordon Burley: [spits on Jimmy] you little shite, you try anything with that notice again and you
[pause]
'Gorgeous' Gordon Burley: are...
Psycho: Look out. Wirral
'Gorgeous' Gordon Burley: You'll be Dead!
Psycho: [shoves Jimmy] Later Grimble!
Eric Wirral: [shouts in the distance] Alright six-a-side!
Jimmy Grimble: [Jimmy's thought] Six-a-side? I'm on the bloody team. You don't have to be Einstein to work that one out. Well, sub at least. And that's worth getting a faceful of gob any day.

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Connections

References The Terminator (1984)

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Soundtracks

"Nothing Lasts Forever"
Written by Ian McCulloch, Will Sergeant, Les Pattinson
Performed by Echo & The Bunnymen

User Reviews

Do you believe?

There's Only One Jimmy Grimble is a very simple film of whimsy and football, a tale of a young 15 year old Manchester misfit who learns some life lessons when he encounters a strange old homeless dear who gives him a pair of magical old boots. So yes, boys own fanciful stuff for sure, but it has such a warm heart, is loaded with dry Lancastrian wit, and threaded together with such an affection for the sport and teenage growing pains, that's it's impossible to dislike. The cast list is impressive, with Ray Winstone, Robert Carlyle, Gina McKee, Ben Miller and Jane Lapotaire keeping the ball up for the adults, while in the youngsters half we have Lewis McKenzie as Jimmy scoring well by being naturally uneasy in front of the camera, and Samia Smith has the required charm and feistiness to make the tricky "girlfriend" role work very well.

There's good football action for the footie loving fan, with serious tension filled sequences sitting next to some truly funny ones; anyone who played for their school football team will identify with the "different" sort of teams Jimmy and co have to play against, and some of the young characterisations will definitely strike a chord with most British folk who played sport at school. The drama is well played, with director John Hay letting his actors imbue the narrative with the right amount of emotional weight, the soundtrack is contains ideal poundings from bands up North and John De Boorman's cinematography is suitably bleak and beautiful at the requisite junctures.

It has flaws for sure, any film fan could pick holes in this without really trying, and familiarity of the sub-genre undoubtedly stops it blooming with freshness. But why gripe? Film achieves its aims, it wants to leave you with a feel good glow and delivers on that promise. High art it's not, perfect British footie pick me up? Indeed. All together now, "there's only one Jimmy Grimble, one Jimmy Grimble". 7/10