Jamesy Boy
| Jamesy Boy | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Trevor White |
| Screenplay by | Trevor White Lane Shadgett |
| Produced by | Scott Mednick Maria Norman Wayne Rogers Steven P. Saeta Galen Walker Tim White |
| Starring | Mary-Louise Parker Ving Rhames Spencer Lofranco Taissa Farmiga James Woods |
| Cinematography | Robert Lam |
| Edited by | Josh Noyes |
| Music by | Jermaine Stegall |
| Distributed by | Phase 4 Films XLrator Media |
Release date |
|
Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $5 million[1] |
Jamesy Boy is a 2014 American crime drama film directed by Trevor White and written by White and Lane Shadgett.[2] The film stars Spencer Lofranco, Mary-Louise Parker, Taissa Farmiga and James Woods. It tells the true story of ex-convict James Burns. The film was released on January 3, 2014, via Video on Demand, and in select theaters on January 17, 2014.
Synopsis
The true story of James Burns who, as a teenager goes from the suburban street gangs of Denver to a maximum-security prison cell surrounded by hardened criminals. In this unlikely setting, will James emerge with hope and a brighter future?[3][4]
Cast
- Spencer Lofranco as James
- Mary-Louise Parker as Tracy
- Taissa Farmiga as Sarah
- James Woods as Lt Falton
- Ving Rhames as Conrad
- Rosa Salazar as Crystal
- Michael Trotter as Roc
- Ben Rosenfield as Chris
- Taboo as Guillermo
- Keon Clayton as Drew
Plot
James Burns (Spencer Lofranco), a young gang member is in prison for selling guns, drug possession and illegal possession of a firearm. Some years earlier, his mother Tracy (Mary-Louise Parker) attempts to enroll him in school, but is turned away because of James' history of violent behavior. One night, James meets Crystal (Rosa Salazar) and Drew (Keon Clayton) after they steal from a convenience store he's in and befriends them. Crystal tells James about Roc (Michael Trotter), a guy they do odd jobs for and offers him a chance to get in on it. James' mother reads his diary and finds out what he's been doing. She reminds him that they are close to his legal appeal, but he defies his domestic incarceration by cutting off his ankle bracelet. James arrives at Roc's house asking how he can make money. Roc asks James to be the getaway driver when he and his crew break into a rival drug dealers house. Sitting behind the wheel, James sees the homeowner sneak in the front door and goes to intervene.
Back at the car, Roc tells James that he has earned his respect, and offers a chance to work for him full-time. James accepts. Later on, James and Crystal are horsing around in a convenience store; when James tries to buy cigarettes and liquor, the cashier, Sarah (Taissa Farmiga), tells him to take it as she doesn't want any trouble. Drew and James go to a strip club and Drew points out a man who owes Roc money. Bursting into the man's office, James pulls a gun on him but his thugs break in and beat him up. In the parking lot, James busts the windows out of the man's car and finds a bag of guns. Back at the house, Crystal warns James about his actions. He goes back to the convenience store where he meets Sarah again. He befriends her and the two share a smoke. Afterwards, James runs into Roc who is angry with him over the bag of guns. He orders James to fix the situation. James returns to the convenience store to find Sarah. They go for a walk and get to know one another; he sees in Sarah the potential for a normal life, and begins a relationship with her. James then tries to leave Roc's crew, but Roc is offended that he is trying to walk away. He tells James that there is a deal going down that night and guilt trips him into going. James and Drew show up to sell the guns, but a shoot out breaks out. The cops show up but James escapes. He runs to Sarah's house and tells her to pack so they can leave town together. She refuses and leaves him to face his crimes.
In the present day, James makes an enemy in fellow prisoner Guillermo (Taboo) who is picking on new inmate, Chris (Ben Rosenfield). Later, Guillermo's gang attempts to kill James in the shower; during the fight, Chris is stabbed in the stomach. Days after the attack, James has nightmares from the incident. One night, he wakes up and asks the inmate in the next cell, Conrad (Ving Rhames), for something to read, but the man says he doesn't want to talk to him. He tries a few more times over the few days, but is rebuffed each time. The man finally breaks his silence when James admits that he wants revenge for the guys who stabbed Chris. Conrad informs him that he is no different than any inmate. At night, James starts writing poetry and uses it to strike up a conversation with Conrad. Conrad encourages him to write in order to block out prison. Worried about Chris, James goes to Lt Falton (James Woods) to request that Chris be taken out of the yard until his hearing, but Falton refuses.
The next day, Guillermo tells James that he knows he's been talking to Falton and threatens him. He tries to start a fight, but James walks away. Several weeks later, Chris hangs himself in the hallway after getting another 6 years. Out of anger, James beats up Guillermo. Later, James starts a fight in the yard, but Conrad breaks it up by telling James that he needs to keep to himself because of his upcoming hearing. At his hearing, James admits regret over Chris' death and the decisions he has made in his life, and is released from prison. Out of jail, he gets a job as a janitor. One night, a old friend comes by and offers him some work, but he turns it down. Arriving back at Sarah's father's store, he finds that it is now closed and boarded up. He goes to her house but her father says that she doesn't live there anymore. He finds her at her new house, where she informs him she got engaged to someone else. They talk, and he recites some of his poetry for her. The film ends with a montage of the things he is currently doing to set himself straight, including getting an apartment.
Production
The film was produced by production companies Star Thrower Entertainment, Synergics Films and Gama Entertainment Partners. Principal photography for the film took place in Baltimore, Maryland on an estimated budget of $5 million. Production began in March 2012 and lasted approximately five weeks.[1] Distribution of the film was by Phase 4 Films and XLrator Media in the USA and Canada.[5] The film received a limited release in North America on January 17, 2014. It was released via Video on Demand on January 3, 2014.
Reception
Critical reception
The film received generally negative reviews from film critics. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 26% rating based on 19 reviews.[6] Martin Tsai of The Los Angeles Times wrote: "The core of Jamesy Boy – a juvenile delinquent's inside-the-pen coming of age – follows a too-familiar trajectory: Due to the toxic mix of broken family and corruptive friends, James Burns (Spencer Lofranco) has already earned a tracking device on his ankle and an impressive rap sheet boasting robbery, vandalism, assault and firearm possession."[7]
David Hiltbrand of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote: "For an independent film, Jamesy Boy has a distinguished cast, including Ving Rhames, Mary-Louise Parker, and James Woods. But it's an unknown, Spencer Lofranco, who makes this gritty chronicle, based on a true story, so memorable... For such a seriously street film, Jamesy Boy has some surprisingly sappy moments. But the redemptive ending, while thin, is genuinely gratifying."[8] The Hollywood Reporter critic, John DeFore wrote: "A true story of a young con who turned his life around, Trevor White's Jamesy Boy wants very much to be inspirational. But nothing the first-time helmer tries – not casting big names in small parts, not scrambling the timeline, not casting a newcomer (Spencer Lofranco) whose swept-back coif recalls James Dean (even if nothing else about him does) – can keep the tale from feeling like one cribbed from a score of other second-chance films. Commercial prospects are dim despite the marquee-worthy supporting cast."[9]
Box office
No details have been released about the film's takings in the U.S. or internationally as of August 15, 2014.
Home media
The film was released on Blu-ray in the United States on March 11, 2014, and on DVD on March 18, 2014.[10] The film has made $32,539 through DVD sales, and $8,012 through Blu-ray sales for a combined total of $40,551.
References
- ^ a b "Independent Film "Jamesy Boy" to Shoot in Maryland". ChooseMaryland.org. February 24, 2012.
- ^ "Jamesy Boy". The New York Times. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Jamesy Boy Film - Official Facebook Page". Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Jamesy Boy - Trailer - Cast - Plot - swikat.com". Retrieved 19 January 2014.
- ^ Jamesy Boy at IMDb
- ^ "Jamesy Boy (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "Review: 'Jamesy Boy,' an inside-the-pen drama, a bit too predictable". Los Angeles Times. January 16, 2014.
- ^ "'Jamesy Boy': True story of a troubled kid and his mentors". Philly.com. January 17, 2014.
- ^ "Jamesy Boy: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. January 16, 2014.
- ^ "Jamesy Boy (2014)". DVDreleasedates.com.