Jimmy and Judy

One of the best aspects of the independent film is how it allows the cast and crew to experiment. As with any attempts off the established, beaten path some of these experiments will work, many will fail. In the case of ‘Jimmy and Judy’ from writer-directors Randall Rubin and Jon Schroder the overall result is positive. They take a few hackneyed movie staples and combine them in a novel fashion. The result is a film that most likely appeals more for the teen viewers but is at least interesting for all types of audiences. One thing here about the teen slant to the demographic; ‘Jimmy and Judy’ is rated ‘R’ which technically preclude such an audience. As we all know giving a film a restricted rating is not a deterrent to a teen audience and typically increases the number of 14 to 17 year olds in the theater. This film has a style and energy that may not translate to older viewers. Considering the themes explored this is not only acceptable it goes a long way to this movie working on the level that it does. Many people my age seem to feel that this flick is a disaster but I sincerely feel that they might not be looking at this movie from the correct viewpoint. It does have many flaws but remember this is an experiment in cinema. It is about the disenfranchised youth not well established adults. This would mean that trying to fit ‘Jimmy and Judy’ into a preconceived niche in film will not work. One clue to this division by age group is to take a look at the awards this film has won which includes the MySpace.com award for Best Feature at the 2006 Newport Beach Film Festival.

A popular variation of the buddy flick is the romantic crime spree move. Of course a film like ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ or ‘Natural Born Killers’ has a firm grasp at the top of the genre. A film like the 1993 sinker, ‘Teenage Bonnie and Klepto Cylde’ is a good place to define the bottom. ‘Jimmy and Judy’ has the same basic theme of love gone homicidal but the twist is in the presentation. The movie is done entirely from the point of view of Jimmy’s ever present camera. This will make you think of ‘the Blair Witch Project’ but the cinematography is much clearer perhaps too much so in some scenes. This works better to present a Cinéma vérité style than adding a third person documentary maker into the mix. Jimmy and Judy are simply chronically their own lives from the most personal viewpoint possible. This may be one reason for the teen slant in the demographic. Out of control young people bent of a life of sex and crime doesn’t exactly appeal to those of us with children this age. Now that video diaries are all the rage this film can be said to be in that style. With digital cameras so affordable and able to provide incredible performance a lot of young people are documenting their own lives. Instead of looking at this film as a stylistic rip off of Blair Witch it is more accurate to say it is done is the video diary style. This may be a small distinction but may be important to the target audience.

Jimmy (Edward Furlong) has always had a fascination with film making. He wants to become a famous director and in order to sharpen his skills he brings his trusty camcorder everywhere with him and records the smallest details of his life. He films his mother (Gay Storm) on the phone or dad (James Eckhouse) relaxing after work with a beer and his hand down his paints. He starts to go more on the edge when he hires a black prostitute just to record her reaction to him calling her the ‘N’ word. Jimmy wants to do more than just film life around him, he needs to provoke situations. One student catches his eye, Judy (Rachael Bella). While he is recording her from a distance he sees a group of girls grab Judy’s book bag tormenting her with the old school favorite, keep away. It ends when one girl slams the bag into Judy’s face knocking her to the pavement. He sees Judy again at an anniversary party for his parents. Judy is out by the pool disgusted with everything including Jimmy and his camera. He shows her some of his latest work which consists of taking revenge to the students that bully her. Billy Rensing (Denver Jade) dumped a coke on Judy’s head so Jimmy put an ounce of pot in his locker and called the police. Megan Cleary (Crystal Wilson) who started the keep away prank is shown being wheeled into an ambulance. Judy is initially upset that he would her others on her behave. A little later Judy comes to Jimmy upset with her life telling him she needs to leave. They start spending increasing amounts of time together. They begin with increasingly personal conversations about the disappointments in their lives. They quickly move on to Jimmy getting Judy to showing her breasts on camera then making out and ultimately to firing guns in a deserted field. Maybe guns are the new third base, I hope not. Judy rapidly and deeply falls in love with Jimmy wanting only to please him. Out in the car one afternoon they decide to have Judy loose her conformist, crimeless virginity by robbing a store while Jimmy records the crime. The shoplifting goes wrong when the store manager prevents her from leaving the store. He was stopping them because of the camera not the shoplifting. The want to go to Uncle Rodney (William Sadler) commune up north so they can basically get wasted and have sex all day long. It is nice to know that these young people are goal oriented. This is the beginning of their road trip of crime, guns, alcohol and sex.

This is the freshmen effort as director and writer for both Randall Rubin and Jon Schroder. I would imagine that this was more difficult than it looks. For one thing you don’t have the professional cameramen a film would normally have. This was mostly filmed directly by the stars and at times it does show. There is an intentional inclusion of amateur mistakes like pointing the camera to the floor or strange angles but that only adds to the style. The story is contrived. We have seen it before but at least it was consistent with the theme of two kids on the run. If this film was slicker and more professional in appearance it would not have worked on any level.

A lot of the movie depends on the chemistry between Edward Furlong and Rachael Bella. There is a natural feel to the couple as they develop their relationship. There is a great reason for this. They became a real life couple during the filming of this flick even letting life inmate art with an impulsive wedding. In real life they did have a happier ending including a baby together. Furlong has a chubbier look than he sported in the film that made him, Terminator 2. It does make him seem older than the part would call for. In another case of reality and cinema clashing Furlong was arrested during the filming when he ‘liberated’ a tank of lobsters from a restaurant. He does give one of his best performances to date and that is what ultimately matters. Another great performance is given by Ms. Bella. She has a great range to her emotional displays from sullen to manic. She is also beautiful in a natural way. This film would have truly tanked if they cast some perfect little princess type. Bella is natural and makes the film.

The DVD release of this film is just another example of Starz / Anchor Bay bringing out little Indy gems to the public. They bring the art house right to your living room and that is greatly appreciated. The film was done in 1.78:1 widescreen with a Dolby 5.1 audio. The full surround sound is not really needed here but it does provide a realistic ambience. There is a commentary featuring writer/director Randall Rubin and Jon Schroder and cinematographer Ben Kufrin. It is interesting to hear how this experimental film was developed and executed. There are some deleted and extended scenes to round things off. If you enjoy something different that the usual portray of the lovers and the run tale than this is something to check out.

Posted 12/23/07