Jamesy Boy is a 2014 American biographical crime drama film, directed by Trevor White and written by White and Lane Shadgett. The film stars Spencer Lofranco, Mary-Louise Parker, Taissa Farmiga, Ving Rhames and James Woods. It tells the true story of ex-convict James Burns. The film was released in North America on January 3, 2014 through video on demand, and in select theaters on January 17, 2014.
Cast
- Spencer Lofranco as James Burns
- Mary-Louise Parker as Tracy Burns
- 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 dealer's 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 a 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 on 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, an 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 that 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
Development
The film was directed by Trevor White, who co-wrote the screenplay with Lane Shadgett. The story is based on the real-life journey of James Burns, who turned his life around after being released from prison. Maria Norman, Wayne Rogers, Scott Mendick, Steven P. Saeta, Galen Walker and Tim White produced the film with Star Thrower Entertainment, Synergics Films and Gama Entertainment Partners. The real James Burns also acted as a co-producer for the film. It was distributed by Phase 4 Films and XLrator Media in the United States and Canada.
Casting
In February 2012, it was reported that James Woods, Ving Rhames and Mary-Louise Parker had joined the cast of the film, and that Spencer Lofranco would be taking on the lead role of James Burns. In March 2012, Taissa Farmiga joined the cast in the supporting role of Sarah, James' love interest.
Filming
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. Filming wrapped on April 4, 2012. The film received a limited release in North America on January 17, 2014. It was first released via video on demand on January 3, 2014.
Reception
Critical response
The film received generally negative reviews from film critics. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 26% rating based on 19 reviews. Martin Tsai of The Los Angeles Times wrote: "The core of Jamesy Boy â€" a juvenile delinquent's inside-the-pen coming of age â€" 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."
David Hiltbrand of The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the film 2.5 stars out of 5, writing: "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." 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 â€" 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) â€" 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."
Home media
Jamesy Boy was released on Blu-ray in the United States on March 11, 2014, and on DVD on March 18, 2014. It was also released on Netflix.
References
External links
- Jamesy Boy at the Internet Movie Database
- Jamesy Boy at Rotten Tomatoes
- Jamesy Boy at Swikat
- Jamesy Boy on Facebook
- Jamesy Boy on Twitter