The Boys Are Back (2009)

Let me start writing this review stating how much I enjoyed this movie. The subject involving a father and two young kids is an interesting subject to me, given that I adore this kind of relationship. Joe Warr is a father who has to take care of two young kids, who don't feel like helping him at all. Most of the time these kids are confronting him-- specially Harry. Sometimes it feels like writers of this movie are too mean to the poor daddy; sometimes the kid is the one who does the wrong thing, but the father is the one penalized all the time. For instance, in one scene Harry tells Joe he can go to work in peace, because Harry would take care of the house and his brother. However, he allows some punks coming in the house, and they end up destroying everything. In the end, Harry gets really MAD with his father, even thought he is the one who made a mistake. For this reason sometimes I think writers are too cruel to the main character. The scene in the airport, when Joe kept screaming the name of his youngest son, I thought "No, the little kid can't be dead, that would be TOO evil for a simple movie". Fortunately, I was right; the little kid was just talking to Harry, who was coming back to their house. I admit that in the last scenes, when the three guys were driving a car in the desert, I missed when I was younger and spent more time with my parents, which made me (nearly) cry. All in all, "The Boys Are Back" is a simple movie, but due to it's involving storyline, it is very professional in doing what it promises. Recommended.

This is one of the poorest movies I've seen - I'd no idea what it was about, but generally liked Clive Owen, so thought I'd rent it. It's the only film I can remember in which I actually yelled two or three times at the TV screen "End. END!" Owen plays the most Uriah Heepish parent I've ever seen. Extraordinarily passive - yet deceitful in many ways (Not least, as a top newspaper's sports editor who lies to all at work, and to the nation about covering the biggest international sporting event held in Australia each year - one can only hope he was fired, though there's an odd failure to mention the consequence).I've never seen a parent apologize each time his child deserves punishment. Child throwing things? Apologize. Child hits him repeatedly in the head? Apologize. Child refuses to get in the car to go somewhere? Apologize. Child won't get up from having a tantrum on the floor in public? Apologize. Child wants to throw things in the house? Apologize. Child cries because he wants to swim instead of be in school? Apologize.Say that you're deeply deeply sorry for every breath you take, every move you make - you get the idea.This is a creepy movie - the parent abandoned his vows to God, his son and his spouse to be true until death - and is somehow not made to feel the terrible consequences of his abject despicable treatment of his spouse. Why did he leave her? "I got (this sexy babe) pregnant". I constantly wished the worst for the protagonist - which I don't think the film intends. I loathe this movie.

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.

Clive Owen is one of the distinctly amazing actors of all time, and this movie is another film that shows us why. The acting, young and old is spectacular. Music is emotional, keeps you endeared to the storyline.I love the way it does not have the typical romantic Hollywood BS, even though that could have been a possibility. The film is very fulfilling. It is not about a problem that should be overcome, it is about a phase that is passed through in the most creative, adventurous manner possible. It is disappointing that the film did not get the critical acclaim i would have expected, but it was made in the year of great movies (Hurt Locker, Avatar, e.t.c.) but nevertheless, it is extraordinary.