The Boys are Back

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Beate
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The Boys are Back

#1 Post by Beate » Fri Oct 23, 2009 12:44 pm

I saw this yesterday as part of the Film Festival.

Man loses wife. Man gains son.

That's how you could describe the story in a nutshell, which is not wildly exciting but explores grief gently. Clive Owen plays a Sports journalist living in Australia with his second wife and their son when she suddenly dies of cancer and he is left to care for little Artie, rejecting his mother-in-laws offer of taking him in ("You cannot replace your daughter with my son!"). He adopts a "just say yes" philosophy to childcare, which is viewed by many as irresponsible, and when his older son Harry from his first marriage comes for a visit from England (and yes, he looks just like Ron Weasley!), things come to a head when he leaves his kids alone in the house to cover the tennis men's finals in Melbourne. (It makes no sense though, first he is told there are no flights to Melboure nor hotel rooms left so he can't take his kids and later we see him drive there and check into a hotel room big enough to accommodate all three). In my opinion it is not really his fault what happens next but it upsets just about everyone around him.

It is kind of heartbreaking when Harry asks him why he left him. "I know you got divorced but why did you leave ME?" There is a lot of repressed anger and grief to deal with, especially as Harry now feels he does not belong anywhere as his mother has moved on as well, with a new boyfriend and a baby on the way.

This film, although not much is happening, will nevertheless strike a chord with everyone who has ever experienced divorce or loss, and a lot of the emotions and what is said feels very real, so I will give it a 7.5/10, not least for the solid performances from the kids, although they really could have cut out the dead wife's appearances as "ghost giving advice". Sensitive souls are advised to take tissues with them.
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Re: The Boys are Back

#2 Post by a_person » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:14 pm

TRAILER:
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Re: The Boys are Back

#3 Post by a_person » Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:15 pm

After "Up in the Air," this is on the list for Sky feedback for a future screening....
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Re: The Boys are Back

#4 Post by Beate » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:36 am

What is it with Sky? I got tickets for Avatar, so couldn't get tickets for Up in the Air (ok, collided with another film anyway). But now I can't get tix for this either (ok, seen it already), I mean how long is this "you cannot book more than 2 tickets" crap for, the entire year???
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Re: The Boys are Back

#5 Post by a_person » Mon Dec 21, 2009 9:50 am

I got Avatar and I got the Boys Are Back. It didn't let me do it for Up in the Air though. They said once every other film. So you should have been able to get The Boys Are Back. Not sure why it didn't work for you - worked fine for me. :|
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Re: The Boys are Back

#6 Post by Beate » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:09 am

Ah well it doesnt matter - I have seen it already. Still hoping for an Up in the Air screening I can actually make though!
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Re: The Boys are Back

#7 Post by a_person » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:17 am

I thought that's the best film of the three on the 5th so I should hopefully going. I'm at Oxford that day though until 4pm so it will depend on how quick I can get back. :(
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4) Odeon Greenwich or Odeon Surrey Quays

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Re: The Boys are Back

#8 Post by sharon.mcfarlane.100 » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:01 pm

Anyone else having problems with the Sky website? I can't seem to click into the Up in THe Air on "My Extra" page to access the ticket request.
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Re: The Boys are Back

#9 Post by baty » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:05 pm

Only just found out that you can't get two films in row GRRRRRRRRRR
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Re: The Boys are Back

#10 Post by steve9872 » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:46 pm

If you can, try registering a different user name and email address.
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