Jerry Maguire – Spiel des Lebens

This film is the first one through which I experienced the work of director Cameron Crowe. I don't know if this is a good or bad thing, but I have a good feeling about Jerry Maguire. Throughout, the film teeters on the thin line between comedy and drama. It also depends on the viewer how they choose to perceive the film. On one hand, I enjoyed the occasional one-liners and acting performances, but on the other, I also followed quite intriguing life stories of people determined to achieve their goals at any cost. Jerry Maguire definitely wanted to take it far. At the end of the film, it is up to the viewer to judge his "success." The film has a slightly different problem, and that is Cameron Crowe's storytelling. Crowe switches tempos. At times, it moves along smoothly, and at times, it disgustingly drags on. Janusz Kamiński's outstanding camera work, especially the amazing tracking shot through the office after Maguire gets fired, is captivating. The OST, composed of more or less familiar songs, certainly won't disappoint and will be pleasing to the ears. Tom Cruise in the lead role is absolutely excellent. To be honest, I liked him even more here than in Magnolia, and that's really saying something. Renée Zellweger is pretty, and she can really act (but I still can't get rid of the Bridget Jones's Diary aftertaste). Jerry Maguire is a film that is definitely worth seeing. Two hours and twenty minutes may seem a bit much, but believe me, the time invested in the film is definitely worth it. (13.02.2005)

In most respects, it's a little too disjointed and uncoordinated, to the point where at times it feels like the travails of an immature adolescent. It's certainly ambitious in its length, but that's ultimately not the biggest problem, as there are plenty of great gags involving Cuba Gooding Jr. and it flows just fine overall. The problem is the overly gushing emotions here, which are often too ostentatiously screaming at the viewer to immerse themselves in Jerry (that sounds so stupid!) and live through his every hurt with him. A bit of distance and perspective would definitely have done it good. Still, this is a thoroughly enjoyable film from the fabulous 90s with strong casting. It's actually a bit of a weird romance grafted onto a gradual journey to find a better version of yourself, which is pretty cool. (06.11.2020)

Cameron Crowe is a well-known sentimentalist, he’s brilliant at portraying relationships, love and emotions, but mostly leaves the audience confused in the end. Jerry Maguire is a typical example. It shifts from drama to romance to comedy, but those elements don't fit together very well, resulting in a somewhat disjointed and tearful story about an honest, wealthy, and attractive sports agent, whose kind heart couldn't be swayed even by a fat stack of money. It's a nice watch, with the good guys being good, the bad guys being bad, and everyone knowing how this fairytale for adults will end. A decent option for a Saturday evening by candlelight. (09.10.2007)