Simply Perfect

It is a performances centric movie

Excellent but underrated film

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This movie was, to me, a teen generally interested and amused by movies like "Bill & Ted" and "Waynes World", trying too hard. It's not the fault of the actors and actresses (Victoria Abril was adorable, I got attatched to her character), but more the writers. This was supposed to be a comedy/drama and it turned out to be more of a strained drama with Joe Pesci. His character was loud mouthed, and rude, but sometimes a good, loyal friend would poke through. Like when he interacted with William (Christian Slater), his spaced out friend suffering from head trauma and anxiety due to an accident we never really learn much about.Christian Slater's performance kept me watching the movie - he was very passive in this, and was very unlike his usual roles. I really like his William. He played it very well - I almost forgot I was watching Christian Slater, which is a sign of good acting. I would see this movie if you were a die-hard Christian Slater fan, but otherwise, don't bother.

I admire Barry Levinson's work very much, he's done some great movies and when "Jimmy Hollywood" was airing in my TV, I thought, remembering a complete turkey which was "Bandits" (with Willis and Thornton, directed by Levinson) that this buddy-movie won't be better and I was totally, positively disappointed. Most simple is to say, that it's a one man-show by Joe Pesci, who simply IS Jimmy Alto, a "wanna-be" actor, who continuously looking for his chance in the film capitol of the World-Hollywood. The movie is funny, well-written, good-feeling, has great acting and... cameo of one of the biggest stars of today's cinema at the end. I was very surprised by Christian Slater's role, who always plays dynamic characters, and here it's a complete opposite performance. Also Victoria Abril, known from Almodovar movies, gives here very good acting as Pesci's fiancee. If you saw the poster to this movie, I can only tell that the movie is as COOL as Pesci and Slater cool-looking while sunbathing at the pool. I just can't imagine, how such great movie could earn only $3,6 mlns!!! That's a shame for american audience. I recommend it for everyone who searches for some intelligent entertainment and for all Joe Pesci fans.

Jimmy (Joe Pesci) is an actor in Hollywood, scraping a living from his girlfriend and some casual jobs waiting for his big break. Most of his time is spent with drifter amnesiac William (Slater). When they catches a thief they video him and drop him off at a police station with a note from the SOS. When the SOS is given media coverage as a vigilante group, Jimmy finds himself drawn into the role of the leader of the fictitious gang leader and finds the media recognition he's always craved. However he must continue his role in order to maintain the coverage. However as the police gradually put more resources onto finding the leader of this gang, Jimmy finds himself crossing the line of acting the role and being the role.Levinson wrote and directed this and it is obvious he's trying to say something. It's a satire of something - I'm just not sure what. Is he trying to say that the once-great LA has been ruined by crime and bad acting? Is it a satire on celebrity - where Jimmy becomes successful for bad reasons? Is it at poke a actors who work as waiters and kid themselves that they're getting somewhere? I'm not sure but I think it's a broad satire on celebrity and the nature of LA, and as such it's not great. The main story of Pesci is not clever enough to make as many good points as it could. At times it seem that it only really has a few points to make and paints them on thick.Pesci is good as Jimmy - but it's really the same sort of hyper character he always plays. Slater is good as William and plays the dopey forgetful type well. The problem here is not with the actors or the direction (which is good) but with the script. The film is just not a great satire - it tries to cover similar ground as "The King of Comedy" but is too baggy and unfocused to make it's point well.Joe Pesci is no De Niro, Jimmy is no Pupkin and this is no "King of Comedy". As a film it's entertaining enough but it is a bit laborious towards the end and is not as clever as it thinks it is. Overall an entertaining film that doesn't totally deliver when it comes to putting it's points across.

"Jimmy Hollywood" is an underrated classic, with Joe Pesci as Jimmy Alto, wanna-be movie star and starry-eyed idealist. Its final scenes and Cinderella ending will leave you with the warm fuzzies, and I could recommend it just for that. But it's a unique tale of failure-turned-victory and any student of film will be able to identify with the likable Jimmy and his associates on the mean streets of the film capital. The supporting cast is well-chosen, and the plotline progresses evenly to its satisfying final wrap. If you liked "Ed Wood", "Jimmy Hollywood" could also be your ticket back to the movies as they were seldom seen by the rest of us.