Jimmy's World

Author: Evan(NY)

"Jimmy's World"

Written by: Courtney Hunt
Directed by: Courtney Hunt

Cast
Janet Cooke - Taraji P. Henson
Marion Barry - Morgan Freeman
Bob Woodward - Richard Gere
Donald Graham - Matt Damon
Phil Donahue - Jeremy Piven

Tagline: "There is no antidote for guilt."

Synopsis:
Janet Cooke (Henson) was just 27 years old when she was hired as a staffwriter on the weekly section on the Washington Post. claiming she had adegree from Vassar college, and Sorbonne University, and had recieved anaward from the Toledo Blade newspaper, Janet was given a great position,and good pay.

Trying to move up in the newspaper hierarchy, Janet looked into some leadsshe had on an 8 year old heroin addict living in Washington. unable tolocate the boy, Janet decided to publish a story on him anyway. OnSeptember 29th, 1980, "Jimmy's World" was published, and it chronicled thelife of an 8 year old black boy named Jimmy who was a third generationheroin addict.

The story became incredibly popular, and the overwhelming responses fromreaders prompted the mayor of Washington, Marion Barry (Freeman) toorganize an all city search for the boy. unable to locate him, Barry liedto the public, saying he was in the governments hands, and was beingtreated.

The lack of face time for Jimmy made the public question the story'svalidity. despite all this, the paper defended Janet's story. AssistantManaging Editor Bob Woodward (Gere) decided to submit her story for thePulitzer Prize. On April 13th, 1881, Janet was awarded the Pulitzer Prizefor Feature Writing.

As Janet became more and more famous, her guilt began to bite at herstomach. but she couldn't admit to anyone that she had fabricated thestory. Meanwhile, editors at the Toledo Blade read her bibliographicalinformation and noticed some problems; like how she had never worked attheir paper. upon further investigation, post publisher Donald Graham(Damon) grudgingly held a press conference, admitting that the story hadbeen fiction.

Only two days after winning the Pulitzer Prize, Janet returned it, andretired. In 1982 she appeared on the Phil Donahue (Piven) show and toldthe country that the high pressure had corrupted her judgment. fading backinto obscurity, Janet tried to get jobs at other newspapers, but nobodywould hire her after the anger she had caused so many people.

She moved to Anne Arbor, Michigan and got a job as a cashier in a largemall, where she has spent years of her life, alone. Marion Barry had toexplain that he had not lied, but had just told the public what theywanted to hear, and Donald Graham had to put up with the scathing commentsof other newspaper owners for the rest of his career. All this because onewoman had created a world in her mind, a world that caused more pain inreal life, than in her head.

Press Section
Courtney Hunt, who took the industry by storm last year with her highlymoving, award winning indie "Frozen River" has moved towards a much moremainstream film here, with the story of journalist Janet Cooke. "Jimmy'sWorld" is a very well made, classy film that knows what it is, and doesn'ttry too hard to be anything else. helmed expertly by Ms, Hunt, "Jimmy'sWorld" is quite moving, and has a message that is universal: every wrongaction has a consequence. with a steller cast, "Jimmy's World" is achronology of the short career of the exceptional journalist Janet Cooke,who lost everything after fabricating a story. Oscar Nominee Taraji P.Henson plays Cooke, and is wonderful, taking a character who realizes thewrongness of her actions after it's too late. with a quiet confidence notoften seen, Henson is a fresh face to watch come oscar time. MorganFreeman also gives a powerful performance as the mayor of D.C. he caresabout people, and is wrongfully peanalized for Ms. Cooke's mistakes.Freeman catches his sorrow and dissapointment spot on, creating a roundedcharacter out of a somewhat flat one on paper. "Jimmy's World" is a greatbio-pic, and one that should not be missed.

FYC
Best Picture
Best Director - Courtney Hunt
Best Actress - Taraji P. Henson
Best Supporting Actor - Morgan Freeman
Best Supporting Actor - Richard Gere
Best Adapted Screenplay