A NIGHT IN THE LIFE OF JIMMY REARDON
US, 1988, 88 minutes, Colour.
River Phoenix, Meredith Salinger, Ione Skye, Ann Magnusson, Matthew Perry.
Directed by William Richert.
A Night in the life of Jimmy Reardon is a star vehicle for the young River Phoenix. Phoenix made quite an impact in such films as Mosquito Coast, Stand By Me. He also received an Oscar nomination in 1988 for his excellent performance as the son in Running on Empty. Phoenix is a very serious actor and is not quite suited to this role of the 17 year old Chicago Lothario of 1962.
The film is based on an autobiographical novel by William Richert who wrote and directed the film. Richert also wrote and directed the offbeat features, Success and Winter Kills (from Richard Condon's novel). There is quite a good cast. But this is one of those 'have your cake and eat it' films. While Jimmy learns his lesson; it is a bit hard to know whether anything sinks in to break his self-preoccupation.
1. A youth oriented film? The focus on the young and their behaviour, the possibilities of growing up and learning? Based on an autobiographical novel by the director?
2. Chicago in the '60s, the railway, the two sides of the tracks, affluence, ordinary lifestyle, homes, school, society? The musical score?
3. River Phoenix's portrait of Jimmy Reardon? Credible? 17, his place in the family, education, the prospect of college, his wanting to go to Hawaii? His wanting to get the money? His going to his friends, trying to arrange a girl for his best friend, trying to get money from his sister? His moral values and stances? Sex? Using people? Lack of scruple? Going to his boss, his boss's mother and wanting to hear the gossip and paying him for it? The sex fantasy with Denise and his accosting her, her having Robin Hood on the television? The encounter with Joyce, driving her home, poetry, staying, not thinking of Lisa, the sexual encounter, the phone call and his hurrying home? Discussions with Lisa, loving her, yet not enough, leaving her waiting two hours, the return, the fight with her? The revelation about his father after he rang Joyce? Talking to his father, his father's change of heart, his own change of heart, not going to Hawaii, going to his father's college? Getting some meaning in life?
4. How typical was Jimmy a young man of this period: his attitude, behaviour, self-preoccupation, double standards, attitude towards women, sexuality, money, integrity?
5. The sketch of his parents? His mother and her concern, brother and sister, order in the family? His father and his demands, style, his old college, wanting his son to go there? Discipline in the home? Not giving his son the money? The irony of his father being found out, his double standards, the ride on the train and the reconciliation?
6. Lisa as wealthy, attractive, loving Jimmy, their encounters, sex? Going to the party with him, her being left for two hours, her going with the handsome young man, his reputation, her decision to lose her virginity to him, Jimmy interrupting the party, his poetry, the fight with the young man, her being in doubt?
7. Denise and her friendship, sex, fantasies? Suzy and her wealth, her talking to Jimmy about the virgins in the class? observing everything?
8. Jimmy's best friend, trying to arrange the prostitute for him, going to the cafe, cruising the town, its not working? Denise and the best friend?
9. The sketch of the adults: the boss and his eccentricity, looking after his mother? The mother and her love of gossip? Joyce and her friendship with Jimmy's mother, the irony of the affair with his father, her taking Jimmy home, listening to him. seductive? Lisa's parents and their anger? The values of the adults compared with the values of the teenagers?
10. A look back at the standards of the early '60s. differences from the '80s, similarities?
