KJ Apa brings Jimmy Stewart's wartime service and difficult return to Hollywood to life in a biographical drama that explores the experiences behind one of cinema's most beloved actors.
James Maitland Stewart (KJ Apa; Riverdale) was born in Indiana, Pennsylvania, in 1908. Even though he was intelligent, Jimmy wasn't a great student and went to a private prep school to bring up his grades in order to get into Princeton, where his father had attended. While at Princeton, he became interested in theater, and after graduation, he lived in New York City while working as a stage actor. After a number of years, he achieved success in movies, and in 1941, James won an Oscar for The Philadelphia Story. He was also drafted to fight in World War II, but instead of requesting a deferment, which is what MGM Studios wanted to do, Jimmy Stewart enlisted in the Army Air Corps. The new film, Jimmy, explores his time serving his country and the aftermath that almost ruined his life.
The day after winning his Oscar, Jimmy Stewart received his draft notice and, since he had a fascination with airplanes since childhood, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After training, he was sent to England to fly bomber missions over Germany and, over time, became close to some of the men under his command. However, one day, after a mission he wasn't scheduled to fly, Jimmy watched as his planes returned on fire and much of his unit perished. The higher he rose in the ranks, the more the war weighed on Jimmy, and he returned to the United States a broken man. It was only his return to Hollywood and a film he made with his good friend Frank Capra (Max Casella; Inside Llewyn Davis) called It's a Wonderful Life that helped Jimmy heal the mental and emotional scars he got during World War II.
It is evident that Apa took quite a bit of time studying the speech patterns and mannerisms of Stewart, and he mostly nails it. His physical transformation makes him more than believable as Jimmy Stewart, but it is his emotional range that solidifies him as the perfect person for this role. He portrays Stewart much as the actor seemed in reality: a kind, approachable man, not a larger-than-life Hollywood star. His reenactment of George Bailey's pivotal scene in It's a Wonderful Life is captivating, and this movie creates the transition for Apa from teenage heartthrob actor to serious adult male actor. I wouldn't be surprised if he was nominated for an Academy Award for this role.
What is more interesting is the chance the producers took by letting Aaron Burns (Legacy Peak) direct this piece. As a producer, Burns has ten films under his belt, but he is largely untested as a director, making him a big risk for a multimillion-dollar movie. The result is about 50/50, as Burns understands the gravitas of Stewart's emotional state after the war, but perhaps a more seasoned director would have created additional tension and gut-wrenching visuals that Burns did not.
The seasoned ensemble cast that includes Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Rob Riggle (The Hangover), Kara Killmer (Chicago Fire), Neal McDonough (Minority Report), Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore), and Sarah Drew (Grey's Anatomy) gives Apa the room he needs to make Stewart come to life on screen once again. They also embrace the seriousness of the film, keeping it grounded as Apa tries to pull off some heavy-duty and emotional moments, especially upon his return home from the war.
For audience members, this portrayal of Stewart is one they may not remember seeing, as the film highlights his time in battle and the aftermath. For those who only know him as George Bailey, they will see parallels between Stewart and the suicidal businessman, but they won't truly understand where the George Bailey persona came from until they see Jimmy.
Grade: B
