There's Only One Jimmy Grimble

2000 1h 46m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 205

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Jimmy Grimble is a shy Manchester school boy. At school he is constantly being bullied by the other kids, and at home he has to face his mother's new boyfriend. However, through football, and some special boots, he manages to gain the confidence to succeed and leads his school football team towards the final of the local schools cup.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Robert Carlyle
Eric Wirral
Ray Winstone
Harry
Gina McKee
Donna Grimble
Lewis McKenzie
Jimmy Grimble
Jane Lapotaire
Alice Brewer
Ben Miller
Johnny Two Dogs
Wayne Galtrey
Walkway Kid
Ciarán Griffiths
Psycho

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: John Hay
Writers: Rik Carmichael, John Hay, Simon Mayle
Languages: English
Countries: France, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

26 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: France, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by John Hay, shot by John de Borman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Simon Boswell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Oral Norrie Ottey shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

AWARDS

Did you know

Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone and Gina McKee carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0238660 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

John Hay directs. John de Borman behind the camera. Simon Boswell scores. Oral Norrie Ottey cuts. Produced in France, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

126 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2International production across 2 countries: France, United Kingdom.
3Directed by John Hay, shot by John de Borman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Simon Boswell. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Oral Norrie Ottey shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Robert Carlyle and Ray Winstone and Gina McKee carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0238660 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: John de Borman
Original score: Simon Boswell
Editing: Oral Norrie Ottey
Production design: Michael Carlin
Costume design: Mary-Jane Reyner
Makeup / hair: Kathy Ducker
Runtime: 106 min · 1h 46m
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG
IMDB: There's Only One Jimmy Grimble (2000)

Also by

John Hay

Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

John Chard2020-04-13
★ 7/10
Do you believe? There's Only One Jimmy Grimble is a very simple film of whimsy and football, a tale of a young 15 year old Manchester misfit who learns some life lessons when he encounters a strange old homeless dear who gives him a pair of magical old football boots. So yes, boys own fanciful stuff for sure, but it has such a warm heart, is loaded with dry Lancastrian wit, and threaded together with such an affection for the sport and teenage growing pains, that's it's impossible to dislike. The cast list is impressive, with Ray Winstone, Robert Carlyle, Gina McKee, Ben Miller and Jane Lapotaire keeping the ball up for the adults, while in the youngsters half we have Lewis McKenzie as Jimmy scoring well by being naturally uneasy in front of the camera, and Samia Smith has the required charm and feistiness to make the tricky "girlfriend" role work very well. Jimmy Grimble versus The Psychopaths! There's good football action for the footie loving fan, with serious tension filled sequences sitting next to some truly funny ones - anyone who played for their school football team will identify with the "different" sort of teams Jimmy and co have to play against. Some of the young characterisations will definitely strike a chord with most British folk who played sport at school. The drama is well played, with director John Hay letting his actors imbue the narrative with the right amount of emotional weight, the soundtrack is contains ideal poundings from bands up North and John De Boorman's cinematography is suitably bleak and beautiful at the requisite junctures. It has flaws for sure, any film fan could pick holes in this without really trying, and familiarity of the sub-genre undoubtedly stops it blooming with freshness. But why gripe? Film achieves its aims, it wants to leave you with a feel good glow and delivers on that promise. High art it's not, perfect British footie pick me up? Indeed. All together now, "there's only one Jimmy Grimble, one Jimmy Grimble". 7/10

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