If you have read any of my other reviews you will know I like movies about families adjusting to problems, and this one was no exception. The film stars Clive Owen, mainly an action star previously, in a domestic role based on a memoir by Simon Carr, and directed by Scott Hicks, probably best known for "Shine". As others have noted, the story concerns a soon to be widower having to deal with being a father to his 6 year old son, played brilliantly by Nicholas McAnulty, and further into the film, his early teen son from a previous marriage who comes to stay with him in Australia from England. He is played by George Mackay, who outshines everyone including Clive Owen, who received Oscar buzz for his performance. The situations are not that unusual, nor are the happenings. What makes the film more than standard fare are the excellent performances and the literate script and fine direction. I found the first 30 minutes rather sad and depressing, and even a bit slow, but from the time the older son enters, the movie takes off, and by the end I felt I was watching a great film. Some of the reviewers complained that it wasn't believable, but it is based on true events from a memoir. Others may have been expecting more "action", and dislike movies about relatively ordinary people facing the ordinary problems that so many of us may encounter, with no easy solutions. Had the movie been a little tighter in its editing, particularly in the early scenes, I would have given it a 10, but it is definitely a must-see if you, like me, find the majority of Hollywood mass entertainment movies a waste of time, and prefer heartfelt honest reality, rather than a lot of violence, raunchiness, and profanity.
Review of The Boys Are Back
