Over thirty-plus years, Robert McGinley has only released three feature films. His projects tend to teeter on the edge of arthouse and cult cinema. While his work is sometimes a bit crude, he makes up for it through imagination, resilience, and hidden messages.
His first film was Shredder Orpheous (1990), a futuristic take on themes from Greek Mythology. His last film, Danger Diva (2020), was a cyberpunk musical. In the middle was Jimmy Zip (1999), a film based on his short of the same name, which starred Alyssa Milano. Much like his other work, it balances cult film with art in a film about art.
The film was originally released over twenty years ago. Now, McGinley’s media production company has completely restored the film from 35MM Kodak Vision Stock to 4K HDR and recut a new ending. This was the only film of his I hadn’t seen, so I can’t speak on the original version, but I will talk about Jimmy Zip: Reloaded (as it has been billed).
Jimmy Zip (Brendan Fletcher) has been abused by his stepfather and has grown tired of it. With nowhere to go, he hops on his bike, making it to Los Angeles. The streets are mean, and he has nothing, not even a penny to his name. After a run-in with some violent youths, he’s offered a job by Rick Conesco (Chris Mulkey). He’s a little reluctant to take it, but given his current situation, he really can’t turn it down.
He’s given the job of a courier and delivers things for Rick, like drugs, and collects money for him. When he strays from the job, he gets into trouble with Horace (Robert Gossett), an artist with Tourettes living in a junkyard. Fascinated by Horace’s work, he wants to be an apprentice and learn how to turn junk into art. But he crosses Rick, which is the biggest mistake he could make, a man with criminal inclinations and someone who isn’t afraid to draw first blood.
Jimmy sees a light at the end of the tunnel, but it certainly won’t be an easy journey alone. He at least has Sheila (Adrienne Frantz) by his side to help lead the way, even though she works the streets for Rick. Is there an end to all this, and can he find a way to use his art as a weapon to battle back against this life he wants to leave behind?
Reloaded is a deep, allegorical ride into a world filled with corruption, and the only ray of hope for a better life is through art. What’s most shocking is how Brendan Fletcher’s career didn’t explode after his turn here. He was just eighteen at the time and gave a powerhouse of a performance, showcasing a range many his age (at the time) failed to achieve. Fletcher’s chemistry with co-stars Chris Mulkey, Robert Gossett, and Adrienne Frantz is apparent the moment they share a scene together.
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The story, as fantastical as it is at times, feels like something that can happen. It may be a bit familiar, but McGinley twists the narrative enough to create a truly unique experience. One of the taglines is, “When art becomes a weapon,” and it’s the most fitting and easiest way to describe the film. McGinley is an artist, and with Jimmy Zip, he delivers an experience that audiences can interpret in multiple ways, with none of them being wrong. Watching these characters navigate through a realistic nightmare of living on the streets and the hope found in art is inspiring. When Jimmy Zip: Reloaded finds its way to disc and streaming, do yourself a favor and take the plunge. Maybe you’ll be inspired, too.
The film is now available for pre-order on Boomcult.com.
