Jimmy (2026): A Review

It was 11 years ago that I helped serve appetizers at the red-carpet premiere of Beyond the Mask, a historical fiction film set during the time of the Revolutionary War. My one "claim to fame" is the one time I gave John Rhys-Davies a cup of lemonade at that red carpet premiere. It was a joy seeing that film develop from beginning to end as so much of the production team, stunt doubles, and background cast were members of the church in which I grew up. It's a greater joy knowing one of the directors, Aaron Burns, and seeing his vision come to life on the big screen.

Now, another of Burns's visions has come to life on the big screen, and it demonstrates how well he has developed as a director and a producer in the last 11 years. Burns's newest film, Jimmy, displays his ability to take a deeply loved and yet complicated individual and tell his story in a respectful but honest way. As a Christian, he tells this story with deep interest and Gospel elements and without falling into the clichés and goofiness that other faith-based productions often fall into.

Synopsis

Jimmy is a biopic about James Stewart, the peak of his career as an Oscar-winning Hollywood actor, his time of service as an airman in World War II, the subsequent PTSD that oppressed him, and the therapeutic catharsis that It's a Wonderful Life provided for him in his struggle with PTSD. In a way, Jimmy is a time capsule, both thematically and artistically. It invites the audience back into the 1940s with both the idealism of Hollywood and the horrors of war, demonstrating how difficult it was for men like Stewart to navigate both, especially after returning from the latter.

Review of Elements

Acting

KJ Apa disappears into the role of Jimmy Stewart, outshining most of his costars. It's hard to recognize the Riverdale star as he takes on the role of one of the most well-known actors of all time. Likewise, Max Casella comes alongside Apa to deliver a powerful take on Frank Capra, the writer-director of It's a Wonderful Life. When the two are on screen together, the film is at its absolute strongest. Likewise, Christopher McDonald brings a great amount of gravitas in his brief appearance as Lionel Barrymore towards the end of the film.

Writing

The film understands itself as a biopic very well in that, while it has wartime elements, it doesn't come across as a war film. Part of this is that it is only the second act that explores Stewart's time in the United States Air Force during WWII. Furthermore, little focus is given to the actual action of the battles that Stewart was a part of and more focus is given to him as a person, wrestling with the losses, gains, and traumas of war. The movie is about Jimmy Stewart and his wrestling with himself as a person. All of the writing, visuals, and scripting center on this point. Due to the writing and production, there were points, when watching this film, that I felt like I was watching an original 1940s Jimmy Stewart production.

Production

Production-wise, it is surprising to learn that this movie only cost around $15 million to make, an incredibly low amount for such a well-made production. If you asked me how much I thought it cost, I would have guessed $40-50 million. What's demonstrated is Burns's economical use of his budget as he focuses on the writing and the acting of this film, both of which are what makes it so powerful. There are Marvel movies and Hollywood productions that are 10x bigger in budget and suffer in their writing and acting. What many people have come to realize is that bigger budget doesn't always mean better. Jimmy (along with other productions this year) have proved this point by succeeding in its writing and acting.

When it comes to visuals and sound, Burns does an astronomically good job with what he has in that the visuals and the sound do not distract from the storytelling. Rather, they invite the audience further into the life of Stewart. The aerial battles felt weighty. The PTSD felt real. Jimmy rises above the limitations and expectations of its $15 million budget to deliver extremely powerful moments, of which the final scene between Apa and Casella shines the most.

Themes of Identity, Brokenness, and Healing

Behind the production of this movie was the influence of Stewart's daughter, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, who disclosed that Stewart recorded his personal feelings during the war in a journal, which was later discovered by Stewart-Harcourt's twin sister, Judy Stewart-Merrill. What is evidenced in those journals, as it is displayed in the film, is Stewart's wrestling with his own person and identity in the midst of the war. The movie displays his fears and how he second-guessed himself. The movie shows that he feared that he was commanding and directing soldiers as an actor but not the actual James Stewart.

Towards the end of the movie, the fears and the wrestling come to a head as Stewart struggles to act out his lines for It's a Wonderful Life. The final moments of the film are Stewart's coming to grips with the grief and brokenness that both his own self and the war had caused and the deep damage done to his own person. Stewart, praying as himself and as the character of George Bailey, finally recognizes his need for God to heal him of his brokenness. The actor and the person are seen as one as Stewart prays the classic prayer of George Bailey, "Dear Father in heaven, I'm not a praying man, but if you're up there, and you can hear me, show me the way. I'm at the end of my rope. Show me the way, O God."

Jimmy brings out what is so true about us as sinners. We are deeply broken, both because of our sin and our suffering. Our brokenness often leads us to breaking others. War is just one evidence of our deep brokenness and our need for saving. The only hope that we have in our consternation, our sin, our wrestling, and our brokenness is for God to hear us and to show us the way to himself.

Conclusion

A beautiful film, Jimmy tackles the highs and lows of James Stewart in a powerful biopic about the actor's life. Aaron Burns does a wonderful job of directing this movie and telling the story of this complex man. Apa's and Casella's performances are noteworthy. Thematically, the film is encouraging for those who find themselves in brokenness and wondering who they really are.

I recommend watching Jimmy.