The Boys Are Back (2009)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Scott Hicks

Writers:

Simon Carr (novel)
Allan Cubitt (adaptation)

Release Date:

12 November 2009 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

A sports writer becomes a single parent in tragic circumstances.

Plot Keywords:

Based On A True Story

Cast

Clive Owen	...	Joe Warr
Laura Fraser	...	Katy Warr
George MacKay	...	Harry Warr
Emma Booth	...	Laura
Emma Lung	...	Mia
Julia Blake	...	Barbara
Erik Thomson	...	Digby
Natasha Little	...	Flick
Adam Morgan	...	Journalist
Nicholas McAnulty	...	Artie Warr
Alexandra Schepisi	...	Mother

Also Known As:

The Boys Are Back in Town (Australia) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual language and thematic elements.

Runtime:

Canada:104 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:104 min

Country:

Australia | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #45455) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Ireland:12A

Filming Locations:

Adelaide Airport, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)

Trivia:

The film's US box-office failure led to Disney downsizing Miramax pictures and the head of the division Daniel Battsek leaving the company.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2009-09-26)" (2009)

The High Water Standard for both SAG Awards & Oscar

Do not look for comforting resolutions and feather-smoothing platitudes or resolutions in "The Boys are Back."

The strength of this film is the confusion and adjustments of life necessitated by the accidents and the neglections of life. This was thoroughly captured by Allan Cubitt in his narrative adaptation of the episodic novel.

Scott Hicks has managed to reproduce these faults/strengths on film with a sure and loving eye. His work with script, camera and actors reminds me in many ways of the love songs that John Schlesinger sang to those he nurtured onto celluloid.

Clive Owen portrays his universal love and need through the chauvinist characteristics of his daddy hood. A solid harmonic melody consisting of grace notes.

George MacKay's artistic accomplishment as a teenager should not be over-shadowed by the younger actor. Those concerned about the emotional hurts of the "forgotten" child, will find the case for all forgotten children is made and reinforced by Master MacKay.

Then to that younger actor. Nicholas McAnulty as the youngest Warr, is the first "child actor" that has managed to go beyond "Yeah, nice work." for me. I can see, as Mr. Owen has said in an interview, why an actor of Owen's stature and ability adjusted to this boy's genius.

The entire cast, Ms Fraser, Ms Booth, the others cast by Nikki Barrett and Nina Gold, were exemplified by Alexandra Schepisi's mother-in-law. This oft-called "thankless role," sang with her humanism and fiber, especially in her scenes of conflict with Mr. Owen.

I hold this film, this director, this star, these co-stars/supporting actors as both precious additions to my memory bank and a water mark for what I consider art in the world of film.

Thank you, Arlen Dean Snyder