Boy A (2007)
AKA: –
Directed by: John Crowley
Starring: Andrew Garfield (Jack Burridge), Peter Mullan (Terry), Alfie Owen (Eric Wilson), Taylor Doherty (Phillip), Katie Lyons (Michelle), Shaun Evans (Chris), Skye Bennett (Schoolgirl), Josef Altin (Bully), Siobhan Finneran (Kelly)
Country: UK, Effed Up British Cinema
Language: English (Optional Eng Subs)
Runtime: 01:46:18
Plot – Spoilers:
Boy A refers to the practice of hiding the identities of notorious child criminals to prevent vigilante attacks against their families or them, when released.
Andrew Garfield masterfully plays one such Boy A, released into the Manchester wilderness as an adult, where he adopts the new identity of Jack and attempts to conjure up a new life with the help of a rehabilitation worker. Having spent the latter half of his childhood in prison, Jack is socially awkward, but this endears him to his work colleagues and rehab supervisor.
Jack’s childhood leading up to the crime runs parallel to his present life and taunts your judgmental views just when they attempt to take shape. By the end of it all, the viewer’s opinion on the scale of effort by the system to give child criminals a second chance, mostly depends on whether or not you’ve known a child criminal, been the victim of a child criminal, or are one. For the truly neutral viewer, it could feel like a laudable side to the oft-derided system, as it tries to allow the possibility of a second life.
Boy A was based on a book that was itself partly inspired by the James Bulger case. According to the author, he was mostly inspired by the post-prison life of a friend and adapted that into the Bulger story.
Genres: Based on a True Story, Teen-Childhood, Killer
Wow that was very poignant ..the natural reaction when a heinous crime is committed including those by children is to never forgive & never forget.This film apart from the fact it’s well acted it really brings another more logical perpective that when a prisoner has served their time that they should be allowed to redeem themselves through reform & if it means a new identity ..maybe we need to let go of our anger.
Another movie based on the James Bulger case worth noting is called “2 Little Monsters” (2012). It follows James (based on Robert Thompson) and Carl (based on Jon Venables) after they are released from juvenile prison when they turn 18. It’s a well acted movie. The guys that portray James (Ryan LeBoeuf) and especially Carl (Charles Cantrell) are so irritating it will make your blood boil. The real parents, the parole officers, the scumbag looking tabloid journalist guys, the neighbors and the new foster parents are all so stupid that it makes the movie more realistic. I’d give it 3 stars but I really have to give props to Charles Cantrell. I don’t think I have ever hated a character in a film as much as the one he portrayed.
This movie hits like “Killer Inside Me”
Thia was a great movie top acting and filmed round corner from me, definitely a must watch
No scouse accents hmmm
sublime actuacion de Andrew Gardfield , tema real que es desgarrador…
Wonderful movie… Entertaining very sad and romance too. Like a rom com for us lot who have brains and like dark shit &)
Anonymity is objurgated benediction. Small in scale but large in impact, Boy A’s career-making performances (particularly that by star Andrew Garfield) and carefully crafted characters defy judgment and aggressively provoke debate.
It was pretty good. I like Peter Mullan from “Tyrannosaur” so I kept watching. There are a few really good scenes in the film. Not what I would consider to be effed up but it was a decent watch.
So powerful and heartbreaking. Some mistakes we never stop paying for.