The Search for One-eye Jimmy

Last updated
The Search for One-eye Jimmy
Directed bySam Henry Kass
Written bySam Henry Kass
Produced by Lisa Bruce
Robert Nickson
Starring
Cinematography Lodge Kerrigan
Chuck Levey
Robert Nickson
Edited byMarc Jurgens
Music byWilliam Bloom
George Small
Production
company
Orenda Films
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release date
  • June 21, 1996 (1996-06-21)(United States)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$71,314

The Search for One-eye Jimmy is a 1994 comedy film written and directed by Sam Henry Kass.

Contents

Synopsis

Set in Brooklyn, New York, the movie is the story of a California film student Les (Holt McCallany) who returns to the town in which he grew up to shoot a film about it. The first individual he happens upon is Joe "Head" (so named because of the size of his head) played by Michael Badalucco. While interviewing him, they are told of a neighborhood man named "One-eyed" Jimmy (because of his glass eye) who has gone missing.

They then decide to switch gears from a documentary to a docu-drama, filming the hunt for Jimmy as they go. They come across one quirky character after another, each one giving his account of where Jimmy was last, or where he could be.

Jimmy's brother, played by Steve Buscemi, is not very interested in finding his brother. "Disco Bean", John Turturro's version of a disco-dancing freak stuck in an abandoned building dancing non-stop actually gives his account of how Jimmy lost his eye. "Colonel Ron", (Samuel L. Jackson), is a homeless, toothless, strange Vietnam veteran who catches fish in the Gowanus Canal, and may actually be the most intelligent one in the bunch.

"Lefty" (Mancini) and "Junior" (Nick Turturro) constantly get into physical altercations because Junior, a kleptomaniac, is always stealing Lefty's car. The group uncover a ransom note but to meet the demands of the kidnappers they must borrow a large amount of money from the local loan shark "The Snake", played by Sirico, who thinks it is not worth the asking price to rescue Jimmy who he calls a "bum". Snake was formerly known as "The Whale" but has just returned from six months in a health spa where he lost two hundred lbs. and now wants to be known as "The Snake". The gang pays a visit to a psychic (Aida Turturro) in vain.

Completely distraught, Jimmy's mother (Anne Meara) commissions an amateur sketch artist Ellen (Jennifer Beals) to craft a poorly drawn portrait of Jimmy on a "missing person" flyer from a photograph, rather than using the actual photograph itself. Ultimately she decides she must throw a house party in Jimmy's honor, and invites the entire group of zany characters that we have met along the way. They all show up, and have a great time, and Joe Head woos Ellen as he displays dance moves passed on to him by Disco Bean.

Towards the end Jimmy winds up making his way home after his mother calls an early end to the party. He was trapped in the superintendent's apartment in the basement of his apartment house for five days, where he stayed alive by eating cat food. Visibly shaken, he recounts a tale of not having any beer to drink during his disappearance, and having to watch basic television channels since the super did not pay for cable. Jimmy vows that he will never do his laundry in the building again.

Les leaves, disappointed about the anticlimactic end to his story, but parts with Joe as friends. Later on, Joe and Junior, claiming they now own the rights after a financial dispute, are seen pitching the story to a Hollywood executive.

Cast

Screenings

The Search for One-Eye Jimmy had a 25th Anniversary screening at The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival in June 2017. [1] Director Sam Henry Kass was in attendance for the Q&A that followed.

Related Research Articles

Steve Buscemi American actor

Steven Vincent Buscemi is an American actor, producer and director. He is known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs (1992), Robert Rodriguez's Desperado (1995), Simon West's Con Air (1997), Michael Bay's Armageddon (1998), the dark comedy Ghost World (2001), Tim Burton's drama Big Fish (2003), and Armando Iannucci's political satire The Death of Stalin (2017). Buscemi is also known for his many collaborations with the Coen brothers, having appeared in six of their films: Miller's Crossing (1990), Barton Fink (1991), The Hudsucker Proxy (1994), Fargo (1996), The Big Lebowski (1998), and Paris, je t'aime (2006).

Tony Sirico American actor (1942–2022)

Gennaro Anthony Sirico Jr. was an American actor. He was best known for his role as Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri in The Sopranos.

Michael Badalucco is an American actor. He made his screen debut in the film Raging Bull (1980) and subsequently appeared in many films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Miller's Crossing (1990), Jungle Fever (1991), Mac (1992), Léon: The Professional (1994), Summer of Sam (1999), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) and The Man Who Wasn't There (2001). His breakthrough role came as attorney Jimmy Berlutti in the television series The Practice (1997–2004), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999.

<i>Mickey Blue Eyes</i> 1999 American romcom crime film

Mickey Blue Eyes is a 1999 romantic comedy crime film directed by Kelly Makin. Hugh Grant stars as Michael Felgate, an English auctioneer living in New York City who becomes entangled in his soon-to-be father-in-law's mafia connections. Several of the minor roles are played by actors later featured in The Sopranos.

<i>Romance & Cigarettes</i> 2005 American film

Romance & Cigarettes is a 2005 American musical romantic comedy film written and directed by John Turturro. The film stars an ensemble cast which includes James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Bobby Cannavale, Mandy Moore, Mary-Louise Parker, Aida Turturro, Christopher Walken, Barbara Sukowa, Elaine Stritch, Eddie Izzard, and Amy Sedaris. The film was nominated for a Golden Lion at the 2005 Venice Film Festival.

Two Tonys 1st episode of the fifth season of The Sopranos

"Two Tonys" is the 53rd episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the first of the show's fifth season. Written by David Chase and Terence Winter, it was directed by Tim Van Patten and originally aired on March 7, 2004.

"Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood" is the 27th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the first of the show's third season. It was written by David Chase and directed by Allen Coulter, and originally aired on March 4, 2001.

In Camelot 7th episode of the fifth season of The Sopranos

"In Camelot" is the 59th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the seventh of the show's fifth season. Written by Terence Winter and directed by Steve Buscemi, it originally aired on April 18, 2004.

Sentimental Education (<i>The Sopranos</i>) 6th episode of the fifth season of The Sopranos

"Sentimental Education" is the 58th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the sixth of the show's fifth season. Written by Matthew Weiner and directed by Peter Bogdanovich, it originally aired on April 11, 2004.

Rat Pack (<i>The Sopranos</i>) 2nd episode of the 5th season of The Sopranos

"Rat Pack" is the 54th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and is the second of the show's fifth season. Written by Matthew Weiner and directed by Alan Taylor, it originally aired on March 14, 2004.

"Meadowlands" is the fourth episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. It was written by Jason Cahill, directed by John Patterson and originally aired on January 31, 1999.

Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request... 5th episode of the sixth season of The Sopranos

"Mr. & Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request..." is the 70th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the fifth of the show's sixth season. Written by Terence Winter and directed by Steve Buscemi, it originally aired on April 9, 2006.

Wheres Johnny? 3rd episode of the fifth season of The Sopranos

"Where's Johnny?" is the 55th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the third of the show's fifth season. Written by Michael Caleo and directed by John Patterson, it originally aired on March 21, 2004. It is the only episode of the entire series in which Edie Falco does not appear.

Isabella (<i>The Sopranos</i>) 12th episode of the first season of The Sopranos

"Isabella" is the 12th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos. Written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, and directed by Allen Coulter, it originally aired on March 28, 1999.

Pie-O-My 5th episode of the fourth season of The Sopranos

"Pie-O-My" is the 44th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the fifth of the show's fourth season. Written by Robin Green and Mitchell Burgess, and directed by Henry J. Bronchtein, it originally aired on October 13, 2002.

"Moe n' Joe" is the 75th episode of the HBO original series The Sopranos and the 10th of the show's sixth season. Written by Matthew Weiner and directed by Steve Shill, it originally aired on May 14, 2006.

Holt McCallany is an American actor. He is known for portraying FBI Special Agent Bill Tench on the series Mindhunter (2017–2019) and has had several supporting roles in various television series and films, including Casualties of War, Alien 3, Three Kings, Fight Club, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Shot Caller, Wrath of Man and The Ice Road. He also played Les, a young film student graduate in the film The Search for One-eye Jimmy.

<i>Mac</i> (film) 1992 film co-written and directed by John Turturro

Mac is a 1992 American drama film co-written and directed by John Turturro, in his directorial debut. It stars Turturro alongside Michael Badalucco, Katherine Borowitz, Carl Capotorto, Nicholas Turturro and Ellen Barkin. It won the Caméra d'Or award at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

<i>Fading Gigolo</i> 2013 American film

Fading Gigolo is a 2013 American comedy film directed, written by, and starring John Turturro. The film, co-starring Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, Vanessa Paradis, Liev Schreiber and Eugenia Kuzmina premiered in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. It was given a limited release on April 18, 2014, and received mixed reviews.

<i>The Sopranos</i> (season 3) Season of The Sopranos

The third season of the American crime drama series The Sopranos began airing on HBO with a two-hour premiere on March 4, 2001 before concluding on May 20, 2001, and consisted of thirteen episodes. The third season was released on DVD in region 1 on August 27, 2002.

References

  1. ↑ Brooklyn, The Art of (2017-05-04). "Announcing the Official Selections of the 2017 Art of Brooklyn Film Festival". Medium. Retrieved 2017-06-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.