Jimmy
****
A heart-warming story about faith and relationships.
FILM: Based on the book by the same name by Robert Whitlow about two eventful months in the life of a teenage boy growing up in a small town in Georgia, US.
Jimmy (Ian Colletti) is described by the community as being “slow”, but he has been gifted with an astounding memory and ability to see what most others don’t.
Jimmy finds himself the centre of unwanted attention after over-hearing the local sheriff’s corrupt plot and being asked to testify against him. This leads to a great deal of animosity towards Jimmy.
The movie focuses on the close relationships that Jimmy has with his grandfather, James Lee Mitchell (Ted Levine), his district attorney father, Lee Mitchell (Patrick Fabian) and his stepmother, Ellen Mitchell (Kelly Carlson) and his faith in Jesus Christ.
The relationship between Jimmy and his grandfather is beautifully portrayed with many emotional moments between Colletti and Levine as Jimmy is taken under his wing. As much as his grandfather tries to teach Jimmy and help him grow, Jimmy tries to do the same for his grandfather by inviting him to church and looking after him.
Many twists and heart-wrenching moments keep the viewer’s attention while drawing them deeper into the movie with charming character development.
The film is playful but also filled with tension. The roles of Jimmy and James Lee Mitchell are played with care and subtlety. An uplifting film. – Matthew Jordaan