Main Cast: Joe Pesci, Christian Slater, Victoria Abril, Jason Beghe, John Cothran, Jr.
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 109 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Clad in a blonde wig, Joe Pesci stars as the title character, a luckless actor. Unable to make it in the real showbiz world, Jimmy starts fantasizing about fame and fortune. His delusions eventually turn into reality when, through a fluke, Jimmy becomes known to one and all as "Jericho," a Robin Hood-like vigilante. Victoria Abril appears in a supporting role and the film's climax features a number of cameo performances. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
One has to wonder if extremely talented and successful filmmakers often undergo periods where they have to purge themselves of pet ideas and projects, which may look good on paper, but when translated to film come up far short of their original intent. Barry Levinson is a tremendous filmmaker who has made his share of both great films like Diner and Rain Main and clunkers like Toys. Unfortunately for him, Jimmy Hollywood falls into the latter category. On the surface, it's a great idea: a wannabe Hollywood actor, played by Joe Pesci in a horrible blond wig no less, accidentally becomes a community street vigilante. It's sort of amusing watching this talentless bum become a hero by playing the role of his life without even realizing he's doing it. Sadly, that's about the extent of the depth to which the film rises (or sinks). What's most depressing is that pieces of a really funny movie are visible at times, but they disappear rather quickly. Christian Slater is all but useless as a burned-out do-nothing sidekick, which makes one wonder about the reason he is in the film at all except that perhaps the studio execs thought they could con the teen market into showing up for this one. Levinson tries to cram a sightseeing tour of Hollywood landmarks in for good measure and to be fair, there are some humorous gags. However, one can't shake the feeling that Levinson was purifying his system before moving on to Sleepers and Wag the Dog. ~ Dan Friedman, All Movie Guide
Vinny Argiro - People in the Deli; Pat Asanti - Store Owner; Ernie Banks - People in the Street; Andrew Bilgore - People in the Deli; Earl Billings - Police Captain; Helen Brown - Elderly Woman in Deli; Robbi Chong - Casting Secretary; Lou Cutell - Meyerhoff; Jerry Dunphy - Anchorperson; Hal Fishman - Anchorperson; Harrison Ford - Himself; Marcus Giamatti - BMW Preppy; Kathy Hartsell - Beautician; Terri Ivens - Holly; Richard Kind - Angry Driver; Robert La Sardo - ATM Robber; Jodie Markell - Casting Assistant; Richard McGregor - People in the Deli; Chad McQueen - Audition Partner; Audrey Morgan - Newscaster; Cu Ba Nguyen - People in the Street; Lisa Passero - People in the Deli; James Pickens, Jr. - Cook; Adrian Ricard - Receptionist; Thomas Rosales, Jr. - Tough Guy; Blanche Rubin - Autograph Woman; Chris Stacy - Car Radio Thief; Ralph Tabakin - Fan in Hospital; Barry Levinson - Director of Life Story; Cynthia Steele - Waitress in Coffee Shop; Rob Weiss - Himself; Chuck Zito - Tough Guy; Reginald Ballard - People in the Street
Credit
Marie Rowe - Associate Producer, James Flamberg - Associate Producer, Gerrit Van Der Meer - Associate Producer, Louis Di Giaimo - Casting, Kirsten Everberg - Costume Designer, Barry Levinson - Director, Jay Rabinowitz - Editor, Peter Giuliano - Executive Producer, Robbie Robertson - Composer (Music Score), Cheri Minns - Makeup, Kirk R. Gardner - Camera Operator, Linda de Scenna - Production Designer, Peter Sova - Cinematographer, Eric D. Andersen - Cinematographer, Mark Johnson - Producer, Barry Levinson - Producer, Ric Mcelvin - Set Designer, Gene S. Cantamessa - Sound/Sound Designer, Barry Levinson - Screenwriter
This Barry Levinson-directed film came and went so quickly that it would have been easy to miss its soundtrack, which is the work of ex-Band guitarist/songwriter Robbie Robertson. Robertson has constructed several excellent soundtracks in the past (Carney, The Color Of Money). and this is another good one. He himself performs several tunes, and he selects others, including tracks by The Iguanas, Sand Rubies, and Concrete Blonde. A smoky and smokin' set; whatever happened to the movie? ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
