clif-moberg The film is now 16 years old; perhaps writing a review isn't important. Yet, because of the sincerity of Pesci's character, and the development of a purpose for his life, and his willingness to abide Christian Slater's "slow" character, we gain appreciation for Mr. Pesci personally. He does not falter in his faithfulness to his lady-friend, even though a younger Hawaiian lady comes his way and they get "liquored up" together. Anyone who has had items stolen and yet received no favorable police-work outcome will agree with the character's frustration over theft of the car stereo and decision to make public the facts of local crime. All the sideshow techniques by "Jerico" as they escalate demonstrates the insatiable progressive desire of the public for increase in excitement over just about anything. Pesci understood Hollywood, its deterioration, its aberration and yet he loves it still. He lost his Hollywood star count on Richard Widmark who, in some ways, is as serious a role portrayer as Mr. Pesci is here. The scene where the advertisement on the bus bench has been graffiti-ed is poignant, as is the concluding scene where the portable TV battery is running low, just as the prospects of the SOS is also about deflated. I don't advocate vigilantism, but the process of getting new police chiefs takes years, doesn't it?

bob the moo Jimmy (Joe Pesci) is an actor in Hollywood, scraping a living from his girlfriend and some casual jobs waiting for his big break. Most of his time is spent with drifter amnesiac William (Slater). When they catches a thief they video him and drop him off at a police station with a note from the SOS. When the SOS is given media coverage as a vigilante group, Jimmy finds himself drawn into the role of the leader of the fictitious gang leader and finds the media recognition he's always craved. However he must continue his role in order to maintain the coverage. However as the police gradually put more resources onto finding the leader of this gang, Jimmy finds himself crossing the line of acting the role and being the role.Levinson wrote and directed this and it is obvious he's trying to say something. It's a satire of something - I'm just not sure what. Is he trying to say that the once-great LA has been ruined by crime and bad acting? Is it a satire on celebrity - where Jimmy becomes successful for bad reasons? Is it at poke a actors who work as waiters and kid themselves that they're getting somewhere? I'm not sure but I think it's a broad satire on celebrity and the nature of LA, and as such it's not great. The main story of Pesci is not clever enough to make as many good points as it could. At times it seem that it only really has a few points to make and paints them on thick.Pesci is good as Jimmy - but it's really the same sort of hyper character he always plays. Slater is good as William and plays the dopey forgetful type well. The problem here is not with the actors or the direction (which is good) but with the script. The film is just not a great satire - it tries to cover similar ground as "The King of Comedy" but is too baggy and unfocused to make it's point well.Joe Pesci is no De Niro, Jimmy is no Pupkin and this is no "King of Comedy". As a film it's entertaining enough but it is a bit laborious towards the end and is not as clever as it thinks it is. Overall an entertaining film that doesn't totally deliver when it comes to putting it's points across.

dan6pitcher I have watched this movie about 5 times, and each time I become involved in the characters and their lives. It is a gripping plot, and the movie is well acted, Joe Pesci give another great performance. This is a movie which nobody has really seen or heard of, and that is sad to me. A movie with a good point (crime is bad and hope is good) and good acting should have made more money than any of the current Freddie Prinze Jr. or Sarah Michelle Gellar movies, but the movie world is not ruled by values and quality. I give this movie a 9.5/10 I'd even think about making this movie a perfect ten.

Lou Rugani "Jimmy Hollywood" is an underrated classic, with Joe Pesci as Jimmy Alto, wanna-be movie star and starry-eyed idealist. Its final scenes and Cinderella ending will leave you with the warm fuzzies, and I could recommend it just for that. But it's a unique tale of failure-turned-victory and any student of film will be able to identify with the likable Jimmy and his associates on the mean streets of the film capital. The supporting cast is well-chosen, and the plotline progresses evenly to its satisfying final wrap. If you liked "Ed Wood", "Jimmy Hollywood" could also be your ticket back to the movies as they were seldom seen by the rest of us.