The Jimmy Show (2001)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Director:

Frank Whaley

Writers:

Jonathan Marc Sherman (play)
Frank Whaley (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A failed New Jersey inventor embarks on a career as a standup comic, turns to drink, and labors to keep his family together.

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Frank Whaley	...	Jimmy O'Brien
Carla Gugino	...	Annie
Ethan Hawke	...	Ray
Lynn Cohen	...	Ruth
Jillian Stacom	...	Wendy
Spelman M. Beaubrun	...	Claude
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mark Birch	...	Track Coach
Jefferson Breland	...	Man in Club
Heather Bucha	...	Hostess
Seth Buchwald	...	Hippie
Frankie Dellarosa	...	Jersey Guy
George Demas	...	Man in Club
John Elsen	...	Tony
Mitchell Greenberg	...	Dr. Schull
Laura Jordan	...	Jersey Girl
Ruth Kulerman	...	Keema Woman
Matthew Lawler	...	Dr. Burke
Bunny Levine	...	Fireplace Woman
Joanna Merlin	...	Emily
Edgar Oliver	...	Mulligatawny Man
William Peden	...	Man in Club
Lynn Pesce	...	Jersey Girl
Bill Rowley	...	Fireplace Man
Raynor Scheine	...	Pharmacist
Rachel Stern	...	Nurse Allen
Sam Oz Stone	...	Jimmy at 5 (as Sam Stone)
Jeff Wells	...	Jersey Guy
Robert Whaley	...	Mr. Slocum

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

96 min | Canada:99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Spain:13 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Next Wednesday Productions

Quotes:

Jimmy: Why do I talk about it, why don't I do it?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004) (TV)

A brilliant tragedy

In my opinion Frank did a brilliant job of writing, acting and directing this tragic story of Jimmy, who, but for the grace of the universe, could have been any of us. The very ordinariness of much of the details of the story and of the characters juxtaposed against Jimmy's awesome courage in telling it in all its misery from the stage of the comedy club night after night was a stroke of genius.

I think it perfectly set up for a sequel which could either give us one of those happy Hollywood endings, or take Jimmy's life to even further tragic ends. I'm hoping to see that sequel, although I feel it could stop where it did and leave the rest to our imaginations as it has done. The death of his grandmother, and the leaving of his wife and daughter make him free at last to go anywhere and do anything. Sometimes I think he'll find himself and build a good life, with at least weekends with Wendy, and other times I see him digging other deep, dark holes for himself. I think that was Mr. Whaley's objective: to make us wonder about this character, and if so, he has succeeded beyond his dreams.