FREE JIMMY
UK/Norway, 2006, 86 minutes, Colour.
English version: Voices of: Woody Harrelson, Simon Pegg, Phil Daniels, Jay Simpson, Kyle Mac Lachlan, Samantha Morton, Jim Broadbent, Amelia Fox, Kris Marshall, Lisa Maxwell, James Cosmo, Douglas Henshaw, David Tennant, Russell Barr, Steve Pemberton.
Directed by Christopher Neilson.
Once upon a time, there was Fritz the Cat, from cartoons by Robert Crumb and animated on film by Ralph Bakshi. It was considered the first of the mainstream R certificate animation films. Since then, animation for adults has proliferated and no subject is taboo. Much of this kind of work was considered 'underground' in the past and Norwegian artist, Christopher Neilson, has continued in this tradition.
As his film, Free Jimmy (echoes of Free Willy) comes over ground, we see that these days there are no holds barred in content, language or visualisation (especially for blood, death and dismemberment). Not that it isn't extremely clever and will find a cult following of devotees but many of the overground audience may well find it too much.
From the late 1960s, there used to be jokes (as well as reality) about audiences getting high to appreciate and enter into some films. Since many of the characters in Free Jimmy are stoned a lot of the time and others are drug dealers, this is obviously one of those films to watch while in an altered state.
As for Jimmy, he is an elephant. But, he too is stoned, and has been for years to keep him subdued as he performs in a third rate touring circus. The humans involve a number of groups: a rabid animals' liberation movement, the circus itself and its workmen, some moose hunters and some Russian drug dealers – all in pursuit of Jimmy who, scraggy though he is and doped up, makes a bid for freedom, helped by a kindly moose, the most sympathetic character in the whole film. There are also two nice American tourists who don't want to disturb the thugs but they are quickly disposed of.
So, there is lots of action in the mountains as groups pursue groups and poor old and decrepit Jimmy can hardly stand, let alone run, on his last legs.
The voice cast is topnotch with Woody Harrelson and Kyle Mac Lachlan, Samantha Morton and Jim Broadbent, Scots James Cosmo and Douglas Henshall and the cast of the League of Gentlemen. Simon Pegg is there too and he wrote the English screenplay.
Most films can be described as 'mainstream' movies. Free Jimmy is a 'substances in the bloodstream' movie.
1.Norwegian animation, a cult story, drawing and style?
2.The British adaptation and British and American voices?
3.The style of drawing, use of colour, images, characters larger than life, big, blunt dialogue, locations, Oslo, the wintry countryside? The Nordic atmosphere? The musical score?
4.Animation for adults, the language, situations, sexuality, violence, the hunting?
5.The opening and its tone, the animal liberation group, their personalities, motivations, going into action, protest, the explosion, viciousness?
6.The group of down-and-outers, Odd, Gar, Flea? Their meeting Roy, his offering them circus jobs? Looking after the elephant, an elephant called Jimmy? Discovering that Jimmy was drugged all the time for his performances?
7.Roy and his motivations, the hidden cache under the elephant’s skin? Feeding Jimmy drugs? The liberationists setting him loose, the role of the police, Roy’s quest to find Jimmy? Getting the slackers to help?
8.Jimmy and the liberation, going into the snow, Roy and his friends, the pursuit?
9.The Lapland bikers, their appearance, talking, wanting to find the drugs?
10.The hunters, their appearance, their leader, aggressive?
11.The moose, his meeting with Jimmy, helping Jimmy with his withdrawal symptoms? His saviour?
12.The build-up to the confrontation, in the mountains and the snow, the groups converging, the shootout, the blood, the Lapps falling off the cliff, the liberationists’ dog being trampled, Sonya and her reaction, shooting with vengeance?
13.Jimmy, his fall, dying, the moose burying him, the stone cairn?
14.The film’s observation on the uglier aspects of human nature? The exploiters, the ideologists? A moral perspective or a sardonic perspective?
