Published via Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

Film makers in Hollywood can develop reputation of being “difficult”. Or, in other words, willingness to clash with producers and studios in order to maintain original creative vision and later disown their films when outcome of such conflicts doesn’t end in their favour. Writer and director William Richert made such reputation because in his filmography, made of only three feature films, two became subjects of decades-long controversies and debates over theatrical vs. director’s cut. The last of those was Richert’s 1988 period drama A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon.

Richert wrote the script based on his debut semi-autobiographical novel Aren’t You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye?, written when he was teenager. The plot takes place in 1962 Chicago and the protagonist, played by River Phoenix, is Jimmy Reardon, 17-year old boy who has just graduated from high school and has to decide what course his life should take. Born in middle-class family, he is expected from his father Al (played by Paul Koslo) to follow his footsteps and attend local business school. Jimmy is, however, aspiring beatnik poet and likes to hang out with upper class friends, which, together with irresistible womanising abilities, brought him in contact with Lisa Bentwright (played by Meredith Salenger), beautiful girl who refuses to lose virginity. Trying to impress her, Jimmy decides to fly to Hawaii with her and plans all kinds of schemes in order to get money for the plane ticket. However, those plans will be wrecked when he his mother Faye (played by Jane Halleren) asks him to drive her friend Joyce Fickett (played by Ann Magnusson) home, which leads to Jimmy just enough time in Fickett’s home to be seduced.

Source of the conflict between Richert and producers can be easily found. For Richert, Jimmy Reardon was, obviously, deeply personal project, and he imagined it as a serious drama about growing up and confronting first challenges on the road to adulthood. 20th Century Fox executives, on the other hand, viewed this film through the prism of being the first starring role of River Phoenix, teen actor who was just beginning his ascent to the top of Hollywood. They wanted Jimmy Reardon to be just another teen romantic comedy, something that would bring growing army of Phoenix’s teen fans (mostly girls) to the cinemas. The result of this clash are evident in the finished film which starts somewhat unusual (with Phoenix’s narration, brought against Richert’s wishes, who wanted to do it himself) and has somewhat unconventional protagonist, but never actually wanders too much from the land of Hollywood cliches. Sex, while present, is toned down in the film and character of Jimmy Reardon never becomes too manipulative or ruthless in his attempts to get the money for his harebrained Hawaii adventure. Phoenix is, on the other hand, very good in his role and allows audience to like his character, despite often acting arrogant or irresponsible. The rest of the cast (which includes then little-known Matthew Perry in role of Reardon’s rich friend) is also very good. Jimmy Reardon ultimately fails because of the director who, especially in the middle section of the film, makes some scenes and dialogue seem a tad confusing. Impression is in the end rescued by somewhat unconventional ending. Clashes between Richert and the studio ultimately resulted with film being released two years after the end of production and barely having success at box office. For Richert that meant the end of directorial career, but Phoenix continued his path to the heights of Hollywood stardom, which would be tragically cut five years later. In 2007 Richert privately assembled his own “director’s cut” version of the film titled, just like the original novel, Aren’t You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye?.

RATING: 5/10 (++)