Jamesy Boy (2014) User Reviews

An urban tell of a kid who took the wrong path for a long time, then decides to get his life together.

[Amari-Sali · 6/10 · 14 January 2014]

Whenever a film is based on a true story there are a few guarantees. 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 & Story

The focus of the film is James (played by Spencer Lofranco) who is a troubled kid. He gets into fights a lot, usually falls with bad crowds, and he has been in and out of institutions since six years old. Reasons vary, but one time includes pulling a knife on his mom's boyfriend, for reasons not explained. Said mother Tracy (played by Mary-Louise Parker) is seemingly James' last hope and despite it all, she remains in his corner. 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?

Praise

When it comes to the film, certain scenes and elements are worth praising and act as a silver lining to the overall production. For example, it is nice to see the two Middleton co-stars Farmiga and Lofranco back together and have a little bit of romance. Also, though not always, Lofranco does well in some scenes and does show why he was casted as the lead in the film.

Criticism

However, 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 It

Though 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. For though you can see effort from the actors, there is something missing that keeps the film from having a heart and feeling like it is alive. Hence why I say to skip it. Though usually I would say something is worth watching on TV, there comes a point where a film maybe worth nothing more than experience for the cast and production crew, and background noise for the viewer. Which, sadly, is what I see Jamesy Boy as.

Never really feels as good as it should be, and leaves you a bit empty.

[face-819-933726 · 7/10 · 22 February 2014]

One of those life in a bottle, kid goes to jail and learns to be a real man movies. This one is based on a real guy, and sometimes seems very real, but other times it seems more like an amalgam of stereotypes, and prison horrors. This is a good movie, most of the time, just not when it really should be. I felt at times that there was just way to much time spent getting the dramatic shot, that the story, and the characters suffered. Which would not have been so bad if these dramatic shots didn't appear to be in a lower grade of film. 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. So I do recommend this movie, it just isn't much more than a Hallmark movie of the week level of overall that you end up with though.

A Well-Made, but Uneven Biopic!

[namashi_1 · 6/10 · 25 September 2015]

Based on ex-convict James Burns's early life, 'Jamesy Boy' makes an earnest attempt to portray a true-story, with honesty. The results are, well not always right & quite uneven too, but in totality, it's well-made.

'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. The amount of depth & dignity Ving Rhames brings to his part, that being of a man behind bars for multiple murders, is something to be witnessed. Mary-Louise Parker melts your heart as James's mother. And lastly Spencer Lofranco. 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. It's a troubled story, told somewhat effectively. White's Direction, on the other-hand, is competent.

On the whole, 'Jamesy Boy' isn't flawless, but it does have some pluses.

Very good movie about a difficult subject, a teen going into a life of crime.

[TxMike · 6 August 2014]

Spencer Lofranco, a good-looking kid bearing an uncanny resemblance to a young Matt Damon, is 14-yr-old James. We learn that he had been in various troubles since he was 6 yrs old, and now at 14 he seemed to have only one chance left. But discouraged he cut his ankle monitor, leaves mom and little sister, and went off to work for a small time drug dealer. He gets the nickname 'Jamesy Boy'.

The movie is edited in a particular way. It cuts between James in his somewhat short career in the drug business, and James in prison with hardened prisoners. Once I figured out the editing it worked well, probably batter than if it had been a time-linear edit.

So the big question becomes, will James just end up as another statistic, a criminal kept alive by the state? Or will be gain some insight and set out to improve his life?

The telling influence was hardened murderer Ving Rhames as Conrad, who was respected by all the others and basically left alone. 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.

Mary-Louise Parker is good as his mother Tracy. Taissa Farmiga, still a teen, was especially effective as Sarah, the girl minding the C-store who became a girlfriend of sorts to James, but could not put up with his criminal involvements. James Woods is effective as the warden, Lt. Falton.

Found it on Netflix streaming movies.

Better then the best part of youth gone wrong stories

[gvzfs · 7/10 · 23 February 2014]

One thing look at the cast. 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. Recommended for a lazy Sunday afternoon. But do kkep in mind this will not shift any opinions either way.

"You keep writing--It don't even matter if it's good or not"

[doug_park2001 · 6/10 · 26 January 2014]

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. In the process of it all, he discovers the catharsis of writing, something he's always halfheartedly done. The time-shifts between James as a delinquent at 14 and James as a convict several years later are well-synchronized even though his appearance hardly changes over the years. Violent with some fairly mild gore, it goes no further in those areas than is really necessary. JAMESY BOY is quite watchable, but it has neither the impact nor the originality that it aims for.

Both the script of protagonist "Jamesy Boy" and Spencer Lofranco's performance as same are so-so, by-the-numbers. We simply don't get to know this character as well as we should. More on his earlier life and background might have helped. Some of the supporting cast, particularly Taissa Farmiga and Ving Rhames, give excellent performances. I agree: We see or hear very little of James's poetry and musings, and more in that area might have been a plus. 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.

Had no expectations, it delivered in an emotional way.

[david-991-303220 · 7/10 · 12 May 2014]

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.

Justin Bieber Goes to Jail

[volrathmichael · 4/10 · 2 April 2016]

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. He writes a rap and decides to not deal drugs and devote the rest of his existence to plunging what looks like blood filled toilets in a motel. There's one brief shot of female nudity. Not enough to fap to. I did however enjoy watching the Biebs get the snot beat out of him. James Woods is in it which was nice. Also Justin tries to save a kid that took a shank for him from killing himself. He fails and punches James in the nose.

Sensitively done

[bobshankjr-2 · 8/10 · 18 August 2014]

In spite of some of the violence (not too graphically displayed in most scenes), the film was well-and-sensitively done: realistic, well- considered, edited and displayed. Although I'm not a fan of that specific genre of music, it was well-chosen for the film (nice 'trailer song'). I'm recommending it because I believe the producers and directors had a genuinely-interesting story to tell. They chose good actors, researched the history, and made action and sensitive moments believable. The time-line was a little tough to follow at first, but you eventually catch up with that. They did it well. ~Bob Shank, Tucson AZ

Flows really well

[ryanwinning1 · 7/10 · 15 October 2021]

After about 10 minutes of scrolling through the catalogue on prime I found the kind of movie I was looking for. Of all the movies, I decided on Jamesy Boy. What sold me on it was the picture of Ving Rhames on the movie poster, and even though his role turned out to just be a cameo, he still delivered one of his signature monologues which doesn't have much to do with the movie, but its so unique and authentic that worth every second of entertainment value! Along with the cameo from Ving I was surprised that James Woods who plays the warden of the prison, adds some great veteran acting presence. Other than Ving Rhames and James Woods the cast is mostly young actors with very little movie experience but actually play their roles really well. My hats off to the director of this one for really getting the most out of the actors he had to work with and I was surprised to see the main actor Spencer Rocco Lofranco really didn't get much for chances after this movie which I really think his rugged and tough performance warranted more lead roles in higher budget movies after this.

The story is pretty interesting about a teenager who seems to be pretty down on his luck has no choice but to turn to the streets and a life of crime in order to survive. The ebs and flows are really nice and the movie goes back and forth between his current life in prison and his past life as part of a gang which got him into prison.

I recommend this movie for late night watching, where you're looking for a good story with good acting from a cast you wouldn't expect to be as good as it is!

Really Slow

[steve-974-698135 · 1/10 · 28 April 2022]

For whatever reason, I saw the title and gave it a try. It's about a loser kid who is unhappy with his easy middle-class life. So he turns to crime in stupid ways. Nothing much happens, and the movie stretches out that nothing until it almost breaks.

I watched up until the 22-year-old star said he was 14. I put up with the cheesey diaglogue. I put up with the mom defending her do-nothing son as if he was misunderstood. I put up with his two friends teaching him how to be a bad guy even though he was the one with the violent record.

But the kid just ain't 14. What is this, 90210?

This isn't a perfect movie but I do recommend this & was surprised by how good it was. A lighter version of American History X

[cosmo_tiger · 8/10 · 24 January 2014]

"I don't think I let the people in my life down by making the wrong choices. 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. After his latest stunt lands him in prison he looks back over his life and his choices. He sets out to straighten out his life, but it's not as easy as he was hoping. I knew nothing about this story going in. Once again though the fact that this is a true story made me more excited about it going in. 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. Overall, a lighter version of American History X that I recommend. The fact that this was a true story helped as well. I give this an A-.

Nice dramatization but the flow really nags

[Seraphion · 6/10 · 15 February 2015]

The story is basically a strong one, particularly because it's based on an actual person's life. But somehow in general the movie doesn't really grip the edge it should be having. One thing that I notice is that the story flow tries to beautify the movie by splitting its two acts into smaller pieces which the movie alternates in between all the entire duration. But the thing is, the alternating is done on very short durations that the feel on each act doesn't really have any adequate time to build strong in the viewers' minds. 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. The acting overall is a little bit below standard. Spencer Lofranco still needs to work more on his expression which seem hyperbolic on most times. Having Ving Rhames helped a bit in giving depth to this movie.

I bet there are more kids like James in this world. Let's hope they won't make a movie of every single one of them ....

[peterp-450-298716 · 5/10 · 31 May 2014]

Now you keep writing. 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. There are probably several such individuals of whom a story could be told. 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.. too. Only the latter was more convincing and credible. James Burns looks more like a member of "The Backstreet Boys" or a modern parody of James Dean, with his clean-shaven appearance and perfect hairstyle. 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. He has an impressive long criminal record, including threatening his mother's boyfriend with a knife. His single mother Tracy (Mary - Louise Parker) does everything to get him back on a by society accepted track. Only James feels misunderstood, and he lacks the will to tackle his life in a different way. As a result, he derails soon and begins again with loitering, truancy, smoking joints and eventually participate in robbing a local store. There he meets Crystal (Rosa Salazar), the local mattress of the neighborhood, who introduced him to Roc (Michael Trotter), a local gang leader and drug trafficker. Because of his sturdy and apparently fearless attitude, James gets more respect from Roc who is promoting him to his right hand after a certain period of time. 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. His tough and self-destructive attitude crumbles there slowly. 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. He doesn't look like a self-destructive and menacing mobster. Several times I found it a bit ridiculous as this good-looking teen idol waves around with a heavy gun at a fierce looking gangster. Immediately I associated it with the arrest pictures of "Justin Bieber". Also such an angelic face. In general, the acting performance of Lofranco wasn't that bad. Just his looks didn't fit. Obviously we have a mother who'll never give up and still has a little hope that her son will still come to his senses, but eventually realises it's hopeless. Also a girlfriend appears and naturally she introduces him to the wrong friends and drags him into his downfall. 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. That makes that they end up in a fight regularly. The pathetic newcomer also has to be present. Again it's someone who looks like he wouldn't even hurt a fly and the tough guys start harassing him. James of course comes to the rescue for this weakling. And then there's the savior in the form of Ving Rhames. A figure that looks like a steamroller who would crush you effortless to serve as fillings between his sandwich, but repentance came while in prison and he dreams of Rio de Janeiro and the huge statue with spread arms on top of a mountain ... sigh . Eventually, he manages to convince James to change gear. So James subsequently emerge as a future poet and he starts to write down deeply human rhymes. We get the well-known images of someone writing down something diligently, then thoughtfully looking into infinity for a few seconds and then writing enthusiastically again.

"Jamesy Boy" is a typical story. You start wondering if it really was necessary to make a movie about it. There are so many other like James in the world. The only beautiful moments were the quiet and fragile ones with James and Sarah. Tomorrow I'll forget all this and in the future as it is broad-casted once again on some television channel, I will think deeply whether I've seen it or not.

More reviews here : http://opinion-as-a-moviefreak.blogspot.be/

Hopeful story

[lilshipofdreams · 7/10 · 8 March 2022]

Not gratuitously violent, lacked depth of character development but left you thinking about the world some kids are growing up in and hopeful for the real life James Burns.

DON'T TALK TO ME

[nogodnomasters · 7/10 · 3 August 2018]

The story is told from a prison flashback. The plot runs in the present with flashbacks to the past. This is done rather plainly, i.e. they didn't try to tie lessons learned in the street to doing things in prison. James is a troubled youth with an ankle bracelet. He starts a life of crime, gets caught and writes poetry, of which we hear very little. He is supposedly mentored in prison by Ving Rhames, but those scenes are infrequent, and the relationship is not well established.

His mom (Mary-Louise Parker) stood by him when nobody else would. Jamesy shows that while he is a criminal who deals drugs and robs people, he is basically a softy at heart. A so-so plot of a mixed up kid who did time in prison. The acting was good.

Parental Guide: F-bomb, stripper nudity

A moving biographical drama that delves into the harrowing journey of a young man navigating the treacherous waters of crime and redemption.

[cadenpolen · 6/10 · 15 April 2024]

Based on a true story, the film follows a young man by the name of James Burns, as he grapples with the consequences of his early criminal exploits. The movie skillfully weaves together past and present timelines, offering viewers a nuanced portrayal of James's troubled upbringing and his eventual transformation behind bars. The film doesn't shy away from depicting the harsh realities of prison life, yet it also explores themes of hope, redemption, and the power of human connection.

One of the standout aspects of this cinematic experience is its stellar cast, featuring top-tier actors such as Ving Rhames, James Woods, and Mary-Louise Parker. Their performances add depth and gravitas to the narrative, elevating the film beyond the standard biopic fare.

While the movie is undeniably compelling, it does have its drawbacks. Certain plot points may seem predictable. Additionally, the pacing can be a bit slow at times, with certain moments dragging on longer than necessary.

Despite these flaws, "Jamesy Boy" ultimately succeeds in delivering a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant viewing experience. It serves as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for growth and redemption, even in the face of adversity.

Jamesy Boy is a solid biographical drama that offers valuable insights into the complexities of the human experience. While it may not be flawless, its powerful performances and poignant storytelling make it worth a watch, particularly for fans of true-life stories and compelling character studies.

Just terrible

[Theprestige82 · 1/10 · 24 February 2014]

I usually like prison flicks, but this, jeez. Where do I begin. The movie skips back and forward with nothing but the awful artificial aging as a clue. And age yes, its a problem. He is suppose to play an fourteen year old in the flashbacks. Ehm, no. Just no. I don't believe it. And neither should you.

Nothing is believable. The gang members are not scary. The cringe-worthy mom-son scenes are, well cringe-worthy. And the love story are so extremely shallow.

So in conclusion. Bad acting. Bad casting. Bad writing. Bad directing. Bad movie. If we add that the real James Burns never changed for the better, and still lives hustling and steeling another day, its really no reason for anyone to watch this crap.

Inspiring

[alejandro_chamorro · 10/10 · 10 February 2014]

Jamesy Boy takes you back when James was a teenager. Doing bad things, being rebellious and getting in to trouble with the law. I like how the story plays out back and forth from when he was younger and in to when he was more mature and decides to change his ways. His clues were always there from when he started befriending Vign Rhames who eventually tells him to keep writing no matter what he does. 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.

A lame excuse for a prison movie

[trublu215 · 2/10 · 26 June 2014]

Jamesy Boy is the type of film you go into, knowing it will probably be somewhat enjoyable and far from the best film ever made. 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. Spencer Lofranco gives a very one dimensional, and paper thin performance as our titular character while everyone else around him drowns him out with better, more controlled performances. This is never a good sign for a film. 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. One big surprise here, however, is Taissa Farmiga. She was absolutely amazing in this film and I believe she will stand as the only real reason to ever sit through something as incompetent as this is, furthermore, she is the only reason I am not rating this a 1 star film. 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. Even for the first time writer/director, Trevor White, this is pretty bad. This is a film that doesn't have any sense of reality, yet it tries to be things like "raw" and "gritty" instead it just turns out hokey and laughable. 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.

Diamond in the dirt

[deelusionalmusic · 8/10 · 23 January 2014]

I have to disagree with the other reviews here. Before deciding to watch this film, I took a sneak peak on a youtube trailer. It looked decent so I gave it a go. Maybe for snobby upper class people, this movie would not be that great. Truth is, it's a very realistic look into the life of a troubled young man. I can relate due to the events that have taken place in my life as well. If you are a fan of "Baby Boy" , "Boys N The Hood" , "Dog Pound", "Felon" etc, then you will probably enjoy this film as well. 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. The acting was up to par with any other Hollywood movies, and was most definitely not "terrible", as stated in other reviews. 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. Paired up with average acting and nicely shot camera angles. I would suggest this movie to anyone who enjoys this genre of film. Take a chance, you won't regret it!

A story that goes no where... and slowly

[badger-eastwood · 1/10 · 10 January 2014]

Watched this film knowing nothing about it at all. Sometimes this can be the best thing to do I feel as you have no expectations. Well I still left disappointed. 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. This kid leaves school, fights and is a idiot gets involved with drugs and goes to jail. In jail he has about 2 scenes with an old man (Ving Rhames) and James is let out of prison and goes straight. I have just told you everything in this film. Honestly nothing happens. This could be about 1,000,000 peoples story in America. Its not interesting and the acting is horrible. 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. Nope he just gets jacked by the police and put in jail. 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. This is horrible from start to finish, avoid at all costs but Mary Lousie Parker is still super sexy.

The Description is Misleading

[MovieHead123 · 4/10 · 3 November 2020]

This movie was nothing like its description. There isn't any chemistry whatsoever between Jamesy Boy and the lifer. Not once did they portray a strong bond between both characters. So many great actors with not much to work with. What a waste.

Jamesy boy

[unotme-40248 · 8/10 · 28 February 2017]

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. Jamesy has sick poems in jail. The characters interacting made the movie better and better as the story goes on. This is a must see!!!!! Go see Jamesy boy on Netflix now!

Boyz in the Hood is better

[jordondave-28085 · 4/10 · 21 April 2023]

(2014) Jamesy Boy DRAMA

Co-written and directed by Trevor White, for it looked like a project actor Mark Walberg might've been involved in, since the person this movie was about by the name of James (Spencer Lofranco) was identical to Walberg's life story as well. Anyways, while I was watching this, also reminded me back in the day when I was still in high school, and one of my teachers would instruct the class to write a fabricated story about 'troubled youths', STDs and drugs(part of a sex Ed thing), making the point that the entire experience was similar to something I can come up with myself, including (without the occasional swearing) find from the Hallmark channel because of it's life's hard lessons message. The real irony of it was that it was actually based on an actual person, except that parts of the movie seemed completely made up, just because it has to be a two hour movie. I ended up using the fast-forward button while playing on a few scenes since it just seemed like it would drag on forever. Mary-Louise Parker also stars as James, single mom, Tracy, James Woods stars as prison guard Lt. Falton and finally, Ving Rhames plays dangerous cellmate Conrad.