Boy A (2007)

I was blown away by the original storyline and wonderful acting. Excellent Movie.

it is one of my favorite films. for the delicate grace to define the evil in its profound essence. for the admirable job of Andrew Garfield. and for the portrait of vulnerability who reminds the Russian theme in Dostoievsky work. a sin . and the trip to the rehabilitation. the shadow of the past. and the fall of fragile exercise to become part of a world who remains just projection of fears. far to be dark, it is only a honest image of social manner to define his members in the most simple and fake way. nothing surprising. only the fascinating performance of Garfield who gives the exactly image of a hero - victim of the evil who, after years, is outside of it. a film about past. not the past of character but the occasion for the public for redefine of himself. and not exactly the past but the reaction about it. the status of the other in the light of an old crime. a film about empathy. or just cold lesson about tolerance.

I have always preferred British films to U.S. ones as they are more often honest and realistic. Lives of ordinary people are generally not full of becoming heroes or obtaining sophisticated skills, dramatics is spread in minor events as well. I can understand that horrible deeds should never be forgotten, but a witch hunt by media is not justified as well - especially if a person has changed for the better as Andrew Garfield's character has repeatedly demonstrated. Moreover, cornered people, who have nothing to lose, may act totally strikingly.Boy A is a gloomy film, full of stress and misapprehension, but very realistic and with excellent acting (esp. Mullan and Garfield). I could have expected a different, more clear ending, but it is probably my fault :) Not recommended to those accustomed to bright and trouble-free life.

"Boy A" is a very difficult movie. It's also a very good movie—which makes it even more difficult. The story it tells, of Jack Burridge (a reformed convict who re-enters society after having served time in prison for a heinous crime he committed as a child), straddles the line between righteousness and sympathy. The film's narrative is structured perfectly— the story of the present-day Jack is intercut with flashbacks to his previous life as Eric, and just as our sympathy for Jack has reached its height, we are confronted with the grim reality of his past crime. Moral complications abound—just as Jack seems to have attained some stability in his new life, an act of selfless heroism thrusts him into the media spotlight, creating tragic implications. Andrew Garfield is masterful as Jack, and the largely unknown supporting cast is solid. Not a movie for those who like their films unambiguous, but if you've ever wondered what life might be like when your deepest, darkest secret is exposed, you will not be able to tear your eyes away from this one.