There's Only One Jimmy Grimble
Encyclopedia
There's Only One Jimmy Grimble is a 2000 film set around Oldham
, Greater Manchester
, England
. The film centred on one young boy's dream to play for Manchester City F.C.
, where nothing seems to go his way. Jimmy is constantly threatened by the school bully, "Gorgeous" Gordon (Bobby Power); he is also not sure what to make of Johnny (Ben Miller
), a lost-in-the-ozone biker who is dating Donna (Gina McKee
), Jimmy's mum; and he has a crush on one of his classmates, Sara (Samia Smith
), who seems to like him, but his powers of speech invariably fail him when he tries to talk to her. Like most Mancunians
, Jimmy loves football. He is a fervent supporter of Manchester City and attends home games with Donna's ex boyfriend, Harry (Ray Winstone
). Jimmy also loves to play football, but while Eric (Robert Carlyle
), the coach of his school's team, thinks he has potential, "Gorgeous" is already a skilled player, and when Gordon's father informs the school he will make a large and much-needed donation if their team makes it to the Manchester Schools Cup final, it looks like Jimmy will be on the bench for a while. But when an old woman gives Jimmy a pair of boots that once belonged to one of City's greatest players, his skills on the field begin to change.
Oldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The film centred on one young boy's dream to play for Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
Plot
Jimmy Grimble (Lewis McKenzie) is a 15-year-old misfit living in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, where nothing seems to go his way. Jimmy is constantly threatened by the school bully, "Gorgeous" Gordon (Bobby Power); he is also not sure what to make of Johnny (Ben Miller
Ben Miller
Bennet Evan "Ben" Miller is an English comedian, actor and director. He is perhaps best known as one half of comedy double act Armstrong and Miller, along with Alexander Armstrong. Together the pair wrote and starred in Channel 4 sketch show Armstrong and Miller, and the more recent BBC television...
), a lost-in-the-ozone biker who is dating Donna (Gina McKee
Gina McKee
Georgina "Gina" McKee is an English actor known for her television roles in Our Friends in the North , The Lost Prince and The Forsyte Saga ; and her portrayal of Bella in the film Notting Hill ....
), Jimmy's mum; and he has a crush on one of his classmates, Sara (Samia Smith
Samia Smith
Samia Maxine Ghadie , is an English actress best known for playing Maria Connor in the ITV Soap Coronation Street.-Early life:...
), who seems to like him, but his powers of speech invariably fail him when he tries to talk to her. Like most Mancunians
Natives of Manchester
This is a list of people from Manchester, a city in North West England. The demonym of Manchester is Mancunian. This list is arranged alphabetically by surname:-A:...
, Jimmy loves football. He is a fervent supporter of Manchester City and attends home games with Donna's ex boyfriend, Harry (Ray Winstone
Ray Winstone
Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
). Jimmy also loves to play football, but while Eric (Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle
Robert Carlyle, OBE is a Scottish film and television actor. He is known for a variety of roles including those in Trainspotting, Hamish Macbeth, The Full Monty, The World Is Not Enough, Angela's Ashes, The 51st State, and 28 Weeks Later...
), the coach of his school's team, thinks he has potential, "Gorgeous" is already a skilled player, and when Gordon's father informs the school he will make a large and much-needed donation if their team makes it to the Manchester Schools Cup final, it looks like Jimmy will be on the bench for a while. But when an old woman gives Jimmy a pair of boots that once belonged to one of City's greatest players, his skills on the field begin to change.
Cast
- Lewis McKenzie ... Jimmy Grimble
- Jane LapotaireJane LapotaireJane Lapotaire is a British actress.She studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the 1960s. Her role in the title role of Marie Curie first brought her to wide attention...
... Alice Brewer - Gina McKeeGina McKeeGeorgina "Gina" McKee is an English actor known for her television roles in Our Friends in the North , The Lost Prince and The Forsyte Saga ; and her portrayal of Bella in the film Notting Hill ....
... Donna - Ben MillerBen MillerBennet Evan "Ben" Miller is an English comedian, actor and director. He is perhaps best known as one half of comedy double act Armstrong and Miller, along with Alexander Armstrong. Together the pair wrote and starred in Channel 4 sketch show Armstrong and Miller, and the more recent BBC television...
... Johnny Two Dogs - Wayne Galtrey ... Walkway Kid
- Ciaran GriffithsCiarán GriffithsCiarán Joseph Griffiths is an English actor, best known for his roles as Gary Best in The Bill, Mickey Maguire in Shameless and Dylan Hodge in Waterloo Road.-Biography:...
... Psycho - Bobby Power ... 'Gorgeous' Gordon Burley
- Robert CarlyleRobert CarlyleRobert Carlyle, OBE is a Scottish film and television actor. He is known for a variety of roles including those in Trainspotting, Hamish Macbeth, The Full Monty, The World Is Not Enough, Angela's Ashes, The 51st State, and 28 Weeks Later...
... Eric Wirral - Samia SmithSamia SmithSamia Maxine Ghadie , is an English actress best known for playing Maria Connor in the ITV Soap Coronation Street.-Early life:...
... Sara - Antony Marsh ... Crane
- Sean DelaneySean DelaneySean "Rab" Delaney was a famous sportsman from County Laois, Ireland.Aged 55, Sean died suddenly in 2004 and the news stunned the county....
... Brick - Charles Denton ... The Cat
- Azmier Ahmed ... Elvis
- John McArdleJohn McArdleJohn McArdle is an English actor. He is most notable for playing Billy Corkhill in the soap-opera Brookside, with many other smaller appearances in other soaps and dramas...
... Headmaster - Ann Aris ... Governor 1
- Ray WinstoneRay WinstoneRaymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone is an English film and television actor. He is mostly known for his "tough guy" roles, beginning with that of Carlin in the 1979 film Scum and as Will Scarlet in the cult television adventure series Robin of Sherwood. He has also become well known as a voice over...
... Harry - Lenny Taylor ... Background Extra 1 (Fan)
- Charlie Barton ... Background Artist 1 (The shopper)
- Edward Platt ... Background Artist 2 (The looker)
- Ronald Marshall - JD Family Stand Door Security
Movie References
- The TerminatorThe TerminatorThe Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
1984- During the opening scene Jimmy references the film, while talking to himself in the mirror. - A Nightmare on Elm StreetA Nightmare on Elm StreetA Nightmare on Elm Street is a 1984 American slasher film directed and written by Wes Craven, and the first film of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. The film features Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Amanda Wyss, Jsu Garcia, Robert Englund, and Johnny Depp in his feature film...
1984 - 27 minutes into the film, one of the bullies tells Jimmy that Freddie Krueger has nightmares because of Jimmy's mum. - Lethal WeaponLethal WeaponLethal Weapon is a 1987 American buddy cop action film and the first in a series of films, all directed by Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a mismatched pair of LAPD detectives, and Gary Busey as their primary adversary...
1987 - During the opening scene Jimmy references the film while talking to himself in the mirror.
External links
- Review at BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Films - There's Only One Jimmy Grimble review, at TalkTalkTalkTalkTalkTalk is a pay television, telecommunications and internet service provider company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
.co.uk - Tom Fogg, There's Only One Jimmy Grimble, at FilmFestivals.com
- Peter Bradshaw, There's Only One Jimmy Grimble, The Gaurdian, 25 August 2000
- Jimmy Grimble, Le Stuff Journal
- There's Only One Jimmy Grimble film review, Abc.net.au, 05/12/2001
- Jim White, There's Only One Jimmy Grimble, from Sight & SoundSight & SoundSight & Sound is a British monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute .Sight & Sound was first published in 1932 and in 1934 management of the magazine was handed to the nascent BFI, which still publishes the magazine today...
, September 2000 - El Topo, There's Only One Jimmy Grimble film review, iofilm.co.uk