Jamesy Boy

Plot synopsis:
James Burns (Spencer Lofranco) 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 due to his past in juvenile detention. One night, James meets Crystal (Rosa Salazar) and Drew (Keon Clayton) after they steal from a convenience store, and befriends them. Crystal tells James about Roc (Michael Trotter), a guy they do illegal odd jobs for and offers him a chance to get in on it. James' mother finds out and reminds him that they are close to his legal appeal, but he defies his incarceration by cutting off his ankle bracelet.
James goes to Roc's house asking how he can make money. Roc propositions James to be his getaway driver, then offers a chance to work for him full-time. Later, 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 does not want 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. Afterward, James runs into Roc, who orders him to fix the situation.
Meanwhile, James befriends Sarah and begins a relationship with her. He then tries to leave Roc's crew, but Roc 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 he stole, but the police arrive. James escapes to Sarah's house and tells her to pack so they can leave town together. She refuses, leaving him to face his crimes.
In the present day, James makes an enemy in Guillermo (Taboo), who picks on a new inmate, Chris Cesario (Ben Rosenfield). Later, Guillermo's gang attempts to stab James in the shower; during the fight, Chris is mortally wounded instead. James has nightmares from the incident, and takes up poetry 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 tries to start a fight, but James refuses to join in. Weeks later, Chris hangs himself in the hallway after getting another six years on his sentence. Out of anger, James beats up Guillermo. Later, James starts a fight in the yard, but fellow inmate Conrad (Ving Rhames) 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 his past decisions; he is subsequently released from prison and gets a job as a janitor. One night, an old acquaintance comes by and offers him some work, but he turns it down. Arriving at Sarah's convenience store, he finds it boarded up. He goes to Sarah's house, but her father says she has moved out. He finds her at a new house that she shares with her fiancé. The two talk about their lives, and James says he may move to New York City. At Sarah's request, he recites some of his poetry for her.

Tags: violence, murder, flashback

Review:
This isn't a perfect movie but I do recommend this & was surprised by how good it was.
I think I let them down by convincing myself I never had a choice to begin with." James (Lofranco) has been in and out of correction facilities his entire life since he was 8.
While not nearly as powerful the movie did remind me a little of American History X in the the way that a person can live his life one way without apologizing but when removed from that life he realizes the error in his ways and tries everything he can to change.
There are some pretty big names in this movie but the kid that plays James is a perfect choice and really carries as well as outshines everyone else.
While this is in no way a perfect movie I do recommend this and was surprised by how good it was.
Any film starring or co-starring James Woods deserves some attention.Cast and crew all do their part to make this a really well told story and of cause it is going through some formula depiction of crime does not pay.But I was well entertained through the entire length of the film.For a movie with this plot everything when right and for a defined budget you get exactly what the media can materialize.Well done and good job.
Jamesy boy does a great job at the parrell story , but at the end of the movie you kind of knew what he was going to do.
The characters interacting made the movie better and better as the story goes on.
Also Taissa Farmiga who he meets and starts to like throughout the movie.
I like how James finally decides to eventually find work and save money and not try to take the easy way and try to move to NY and pursue a better life for himself..
It's more of a modern day teenage gangster movie which depicts the reality of a 14 year old violent, drug dealing, stick up kid, hard ass who weaves his way in and out of jail.
I rated this movie 8 stars due to the fact that I had expected very little from this film, and yet it delivered a true, gritty, grimy, feel of the life of a teenage gangster.
Based on ex-convict James Burns's early life, 'Jamesy Boy' makes an earnest attempt to portray a true-story, with honesty.
'Jamesy Boy' Synopsis: A young gang member turns his life around in prison, thanks to the friendship he forms with a convicted murderer who becomes his mentor.'Jamesy Boy' aces in one department & that being its performances.
James Woods is unbelievably powerful in his portrayal of a warden, who knows the difference between a true criminal & a man thrown into crime.
He delivers a worthy performance as James Burns/Jamesy Boy. Trevor White's Writing could've been tighter for sure, but he still manages to tell a story that has merit.
But what I was left with was just a horrid film with terrible performances and a laughable plot line that we've seen done a thousand times over and done way better in films like Midnight Express and American History X.
The supporting actors make Lofranco look like a fish out of water as he tries to navigate the film and keep his head above float when acting with veteran actors such as James Woods and Ving Rhames.
The story of the little prison boy going straight wears out its welcome after the first five minutes as it dabs into every cliché in the metaphoric book, from befriending the friendly rapist killer in Ving Rhames to going head to head with the "evil" warden in James Woods.
I didn't know whether this film was a satire on prison movie clichés or the script was really just that bad.
Overall, Jamesy Boy is one bad film from top to bottom and the only reason why this film is remotely watchable is because of Taissa Farmiga...and even she can't save this film from itself..
Jamesy Boy was one of the best action movies I've ever seen.
On the other side of that, there are other stories, which just aren't that unique or interesting, and in my opinion really don't warrant a full length feature film, Jamesy Boy is an example of this.
Once there, James witnesses a crime, and meets a man who helps him unlock a talent he never knew he had, but will James turn to the straight and narrow or will his friends pull him back into his old life?
This is a true story and newcomer Spencer Lofranco was fantastic, but haven't we seen stories like this done over and over again?
I wanted to see how his life turned out, but either way, we've seen films like this many times before and Jamesy Boy doesn't stand out in any type of significant way.
If you want to do a film that has been done over and over again, true story or not, there has to be something about it that makes it stand out from the pack, and that doesn't happen here.
This movie might not be for everyone, when I read some of the reviews I can understand your point of view when remembering it in hindsight but I must tell you I was unable to notice any of the small mistakes while I was watching.Maybe because I've been in the same situation at the same age, made all the same mistakes with the feeling of it being right at the time, like you had no other choice.If you lived the life of a child believing it was full-grown surrounded by vicious criminals whose "standards and morals" you thought was real and you believed it like this kid did and had to go trough it the hard way to finally realize, or if you can relate to that, then this movie might be for you.Not because it will make you feel good or not because it is portrayed in a way that makes "thug life" seem cool like these movies I grew up with and became classics.In a way that made me feel as the main character went through life making decisions, I could understand and relate to his choices, it wasn't always spelled out why he took upon himself to do some of the things he did.His standards and morals, he stood up for them even though it is a rare thing in that world, a very rare thing I must say knowing what I speak of.
And when he was old enough to realize that he had to pay the price knowing he was trying to hold up this "standard and moral" that does not even exist in that world and the one who payed the price was him.I liked this film and the main character, it made me feel through the whole movie as the decisions was made and I reminisced on my own life from an adults point of view gone through hell and back.Best luck to you James, best luck..
An urban tell of a kid who took the wrong path for a long time, then decides to get his life together..
The first being the story will likely be long so the writers can embellish where they need to, and the second guarantee is that for every interesting moment in the film, you are guaranteed at least 10-20 minutes of boredom.
Jamesy Boy is no different, but unfortunately while other films make up for those 10-20 minutes by using jokes or drama, Jamesy Boy just gives same old same, same old.Characters & StoryThe focus of the film is James (played by Spencer Lofranco) who is a troubled kid.
However, a mother's love sometimes isn't enough, so James goes out into the world and ends up finding Roc (played by Michael Trotter).This leads to James being Roc's errand boy and him hanging with this girl name Crystal (played by Rosa Salazar) who is somewhat the village bicycle, but James' main squeeze.
But, as time goes on, and James realizes he can't keep up with the gangster life, he tries to trade in Crystal for Sarah (played by Taissa Farmiga) and maybe try to live a normal life.
However, with one last deal asked by Roc, everything goes to hell as Crystal snitches on him and then James ends up in prison.From there, James meets Guillermo (played by Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas) who is in a rival gang; Chris (played by Ben Rosenfield) who is the new kid on the block; and most importantly Conrad (played by Ving Rhames) who seemingly acts as some type of father figure to James.
But, with all that has happened, though we see James get out of prison, and are told before the credits what has happened to the real James, you are left wondering if he will stay on the straight and narrow and prevent himself from being a statistic, or lead the life expected?PraiseWhen it comes to the film, certain scenes and elements are worth praising and act as a silver lining to the overall production.
Also, though not always, Lofranco does well in some scenes and does show why he was casted as the lead in the film.CriticismHowever, most of the film feels like a drain on your time in which you could find something better to do.
And this is not said to take anything away from the real James or those who participated in the movie, but between them jumping from before James was locked up, to him when he was; watching him as an errand boy, which may include guns and drugs, but plays out so familiar that even those moments don't wake you up; and then with most of the performances not drawing you into the story nor characters, I do feel that while the story perhaps would be interesting if told by the source, the movie portrays that story with one too many flaws to really get into it.Overall: Skip ItThough it was good to learn at the end of the movie James is doing well in his life, this to me would have been better as a documentary than as a dramatic film.
One of those life in a bottle, kid goes to jail and learns to be a real man movies.
This is a good movie, most of the time, just not when it really should be.
I Enjoyed the movie as it was presented over all, there is a nice transition of the life in side, and the life outside beginning, and ending in parallel with each other, however the movie's film quality is a lot lower than it should be, it feels like art house film, but with great acting.
Justin Beiber gets involved in a life of crime and goes to juvenile hall which in turn is prison with adults, or something like that.
Ving Rhames tells him the correct pronunciation of Rio De Janero and this inspires Justin to turn his life around.
Gritty yet inspiring, based-upon-truth story of an angry young gangster-criminal who gets paroled, faces the hardships of being a parolee, and manages to stay out despite the temptations of going back to his old "friends" and lifestyle.
Yet, the whole point seems to be that even though his writing is nothing exceptional and he doesn't have any big dreams of "making it" as a poet/author, the very act of writing still gives James a means of expression and purpose that saves him in the end.Probably worth seeing if you generally like crime drama with young gangster characters and prison settings..
Very good movie about a difficult subject, a teen going into a life of crime..
Spencer Lofranco, a good-looking kid bearing an uncanny resemblance to a young Matt Damon, is 14-yr-old James.
Somehow he and James began to interact and it was this spark that enabled James to figure out a few things and make use of his parole after 4 years.This is based on a true story, a photo of the real James is shown, at the time 25, had moved to New York and was in the process of getting his life straightened out.
I bet there are more kids like James in this world.
It don't matter about what, it don't even matter if it's good or not.Yet another moralizing "boy-on-bad-path-comes-to-reflection" story.
Despite the fact that this is a story based on true events, it is a film stuffed with cliché elements.
It will be an inspiration for some, but that was the movie "Life of a King" with Cuba Gooding Jr..
Hopefully the air conditioners worked on maximum in the cinema, so that they didn't need to evacuate massively fainted teenage girls.James Burns ( Spencer Lofranco ) is a troubled boy who has spent most of his youth in institutions and already running around with an ankle strap at the age of 14.
Only James feels misunderstood, and he lacks the will to tackle his life in a different way.
Yet James tries to get his life back in order and he meets Sarah (Taissa Farmiga), the daughter of the owner of the local store they have previously robbed.
Eventually it goes wrong anyway and James ends up in jail.
Partly caused by Conrad (Ving Rhames) who's been sentenced to life and tries to convince James not to end up in the same way.Besides the cliché content, also the implausible performance of Lofranco is a setback.
Prison life is of course a battleground with different rival gangs and a rather impressive tough gang leader (Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas) of whom, how is it possible, James isn't impressed.
James played by Spencer Lofranco is a troubled kid in America, who has a single mother Mary played by Mary-Louise Parker, thats about it.
In jail he has about 2 scenes with an old man (Ving Rhames) and James is let out of prison and goes straight.
During the film the do these cut scenes from his prison to his arrest so I'm waiting for this huge turn of events, or something shocking happen, like he kills his mum or his girl.
The bad part is if you read the movie description it says how he is a young boy befriending an older inmate, they hardly have a scene together and when they do its not very good no chemistry or powerful words of wisdom.
Jamesy Boy is one of the best true to life juvenile delinquent/prison films I've seen.
Spencer Lofranco's portrayal for me was like looking back at the guys I hung around.
Everyone in this film brought a realness to their role and didn't just put on a show and that is what makes a really good movie.If you're looking for violence and hard core thugs maybe this isn't for you...but if you have ever had a young loved one do time then find a way to get away from that life style this should be on your must see list.
If you have someone like that around you now this would be good to see together and maybe they'll see there is a way out.
Another excellent movie like this with a little more violence but still a good underlying message is Starred Up with Jack O'Connell who also costars with the star of Jamesy Boy in Unbroken.
Both these actors deliver in their performances in both prison films in different but amazing ways.
If the movie let the environments sink in for longer time, say like twenty five minutes or so before alternating, I think the impact will be far better.
Having Ving Rhames helped a bit in giving depth to this movie..
Its good to see a true life story of a person turning there life around after going through the Correctional System.
Jamesy Boy in my opinion is considered to be a "real movie" involving sex, drugs, and money, it goes to the streets, and shows you what the life of drug dealers is, not only does it show you but this movie isn't biased.
The money, it shows how you can make a lot of movie but also lose it because "dirty money" isn't good money but as they say not all "dirty money" is bad.
He starts a life of crime, gets caught and writes poetry, of which we hear very little.
Yes, licence has been taken when telling a true life story as it should be and
I'm sure that the real "Jamesy Boy"(James Burns, one of the producers), would
This is NOT a true "prison movie" such as the Shawshank Redemption.
and I think it a lot better then some of these films now days I've watched it twice it based on his life it shows what he went through and what choices James burns had to make and what them choices get him through the film is based on the teenagers in the world today that hang in the wrong crowd so stop hate in okay.....
anyways the film amazing I cud watch it like a thousand times it that good it better than green street in ma point of view best film I've ever watched........
the characters play perfect in the scenes and are amazing I love it how James meet the right girl in the end it a love story that don't happen how u would suspect in some films they do now days (girl gets the boy and they live happily ever after etc.
his life in prison explained what he had gone through while he was their though not all of us get it that tough.....he was trying to explain in ma eyes that u do make mistakes and with them mistakes they will have a problem the film is a must see because you would understand it better especially my age....