Loved the movie then and now. Recently was asked to make a list of my top 20 movies. It made the list.
Have to respectfully disagree with Henny. Jerry was a self-absorbed ass but the point of the movie is that he had an awakening and was trying, as best he could, to redeem himself.
As an ass often will, he did it the wrong way and not always for the right reasons. But the continuing attempt at growth, at being a better human being in spite of himself, just worked for me.
I’m not a jerk but I’ve been one at times. I’ve screwed up at life enough to identify with the idea that, with effort, there can be a sort of personal redemption. I think that was some of what Cameron Crowe was trying to show in Jerry Maguire.
Of course I’m running on four hours of sleep and am in horrific pain from sciatica, so what do I know?
BTW, the emotion of Jerry and Dorothy’s reunion and the happy ending/positive message made it stick with me long after “Show me the money!” had faded away.
Loved this synopsis, disliked the movie then & now. To me, Jerry comes off as an ass and his relationship with Renee seems unlikely at best. Seeing as how sweet she was, and again, what an ass he was.
I think Jerry Maguire is mostly still liked, but like with Forrest Gump, the culture itself needed to take a hiatus from its ever-present influence. And it doesn't help that "Show me the money" and a film about an over-the-top manager/salesperson isn't high on anyone "love" list in the current decade, regardless of how good it may actually be. It's fascinating to go from this to watching Cruise in MAGNOLIA, which is almost like: what happens when Maguire is older, laden with emotional baggage, still ultra-uccessful professionally but a failure in every other sense. They'e like two sides to Cruise himself, beween two movies.
And can't wait for ROCKY V! It doesn't quite hold up but I've always loved that entry more than most. I thought it was an excellent coda to the whole series (at least until Rocky Balboa dropped many years later.) It isn't really "another Rocky", but more a coda/denouement to the whole franchise.
Great entry today, a lot of fun things come up. And yes, Red Rooms is deeply upsetting.
As for Jerry Maguire, it did penetrate the culture in a peculiar way. I still get taken out of The Dark Knight when Joker tells Batman, "You complete me." It would have been nice if, six hours later, Batman is at home reeling after such a bad night, but he remembers that and wonders, "Is that FROM something?"
Part of what's so enjoyable about Jerry Maguire is how it's humanizing a sports agent, the kind of profession everyone hates, or at least once hated. however, it seems to have opened the door to a whole world of movies about sports executives and movers/shakers moreso than the athletes, and I really don't love that.
Loved the movie then and now. Recently was asked to make a list of my top 20 movies. It made the list.
Have to respectfully disagree with Henny. Jerry was a self-absorbed ass but the point of the movie is that he had an awakening and was trying, as best he could, to redeem himself.
As an ass often will, he did it the wrong way and not always for the right reasons. But the continuing attempt at growth, at being a better human being in spite of himself, just worked for me.
I’m not a jerk but I’ve been one at times. I’ve screwed up at life enough to identify with the idea that, with effort, there can be a sort of personal redemption. I think that was some of what Cameron Crowe was trying to show in Jerry Maguire.
Of course I’m running on four hours of sleep and am in horrific pain from sciatica, so what do I know?
BTW, the emotion of Jerry and Dorothy’s reunion and the happy ending/positive message made it stick with me long after “Show me the money!” had faded away.
Thanks for this comment! Love your point about what Crowe was trying to do with the character.
Hope you’re feeling better too!
Loved this synopsis, disliked the movie then & now. To me, Jerry comes off as an ass and his relationship with Renee seems unlikely at best. Seeing as how sweet she was, and again, what an ass he was.
Interesting! I think I just found him extremely goofy rather than an ass, but that might just be Tom Cruise bias 😂
He is the last true movie star imo, so your bias is warranted.
I think Jerry Maguire is mostly still liked, but like with Forrest Gump, the culture itself needed to take a hiatus from its ever-present influence. And it doesn't help that "Show me the money" and a film about an over-the-top manager/salesperson isn't high on anyone "love" list in the current decade, regardless of how good it may actually be. It's fascinating to go from this to watching Cruise in MAGNOLIA, which is almost like: what happens when Maguire is older, laden with emotional baggage, still ultra-uccessful professionally but a failure in every other sense. They'e like two sides to Cruise himself, beween two movies.
And can't wait for ROCKY V! It doesn't quite hold up but I've always loved that entry more than most. I thought it was an excellent coda to the whole series (at least until Rocky Balboa dropped many years later.) It isn't really "another Rocky", but more a coda/denouement to the whole franchise.
That’s an excellent point about Cruise in Magnolia compared with this. Man, I really must revisit that movie
Great entry today, a lot of fun things come up. And yes, Red Rooms is deeply upsetting.
As for Jerry Maguire, it did penetrate the culture in a peculiar way. I still get taken out of The Dark Knight when Joker tells Batman, "You complete me." It would have been nice if, six hours later, Batman is at home reeling after such a bad night, but he remembers that and wonders, "Is that FROM something?"
Part of what's so enjoyable about Jerry Maguire is how it's humanizing a sports agent, the kind of profession everyone hates, or at least once hated. however, it seems to have opened the door to a whole world of movies about sports executives and movers/shakers moreso than the athletes, and I really don't love that.
Fromtheyardtothearthouse.substack.com
‘I still get taken out of The Dark Knight when Joker tells Batman, "You complete me."
I love this! 😂
Love this film, I must watch it again as I don't think I've seen it since I saw it at the cinema on first release.
I can’t believe I went so long without seeing it!