BoyActors - Reviews/Ratings by diogenes

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Reviews by diogenes

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350 reviews/ratings - 18 pages (20 reviews/ratings per page)

Gummi-Tarzan (1981)

With its right-on message that every child can excel at something, it is not surprising that this movie won a Unicef Award; though perhaps the characters in this movie are just a little too simplistic and stereotyped to be entirely credible. What is fascinating about this film now is what it reveals about the cultural chasm separating 1981 from the present day. When Ivan's parents discover that their son's closest friend is a middle-aged man who operates cranes, and that he regularly visits this man out of school hours, they are merely bemused and a little surprised, but not hostile or suspicious, still less hysterical, as they would be now. The film thus stands as a sad testament to a more civilised and less febrile era. Alex Svanbjerg gives a highly creditable performance as Ivan.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

I Could Go On Singing (1963)

I like the story, and I like Gregory Phillips as Matt. Were boys really that exquisitely courteous and charming in the early 60s? I suppose many of them really were. I can't say that I'm a fan of Ms. Garland's singing, though. She really belts 'em out, doesn't she? I'm sure she could 'Go On Singing' - but I rather wish she wouldn't!

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

James and the Giant Peach (1996)

You know, there are very few cinematic pleasures to compare with watching Miriam Margolyes and Joanna Lumley playing a pair of wicked aunts. Having said that, the animated sequence, for me, though technically impressive, was perhaps not as engaging as the segments with actual human actors. Paul Terry was great, and sung "My Name Is James" very beautifully.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Jonny Briggs (1985-1987)

It certainly grows on you. I like Albert, Jonny's gracefully lank eldest brother.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Lassie (2005)

This movie, by the way, is a separate adaptation of the original novel by Eric Knight, and in no way a 'remake' of the 1943 film "Lassie Come Home". The film is hopelessly sentimental, of course. Jonathan Mason is a very special young actor. He just has something - a real personality and likeability. The girl is as dull as ditchwater, but never mind.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Lord of the Flies (1990)

I did enjoy this movie when I first saw it, and I particularly liked Balthazar Getty, but the Peter Brook ('63) version of Lord of the Flies really does blow this one out of the water.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Monstagram (2017)

"...And also, a duck on his back that can also kill you." Come on, that's got to be worth something.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Oliver Twist (1982)

Oh gosh, you just must see this - it's so hilarious! In Nancy's death scene, after Sikes delivers the first blow against Nancy, the latter gets up from the floor and complains that she is now blind - this is shown by the actress going cross-eyed. Then Sikes delivers a mortal blow. Outside in the street, Sikes is haunted by visions of Nancy - except that it's the cross-eyed Nancy! It's so wonderful. You keep seeing Nancy in soft focus - but cross-eyed! - saying things like 'I'm still your girl, ain't I?' I was laughing so much I was getting a stitch! It really is shockingly bad. As for the rest of the film... well, Martin Tempest (who was later in such staples of British television as 'Minder', 'Grange Hill' and, um, 'Mapp & Lucia') made a really quite excellent Dodger. He was a very good-looking lad. His scene in the courtroom is the best thing in the whole film. There were also some nice boy extras in many of the scenes. Fagin in this movie bears absolutely no resemblance whatever to Dickens' character. Sikes is an ineffectual alcoholic. He doesn't seem nearly menacing enough - indeed, he hardly seems menacing at all. Oliver himself is just a little too goody-two-shoes and uninteresting, and scarcely ever seems to be in any real danger. Still, having said all that, the film is a decent and entertaining romp, and is definitely worth a view.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Oliver Twist (1999)

Bleasdale, who wrote this four-part miniseries, took it into his head that he could 'improve' Dickens' original story, in particular by explaining away a couple of plot twists in the novel which otherwise seem like incredible coincidences; but the result is a somewhat tortuous and over-lengthy rewrite, made worse by his adding a tedious and uninteresting back story, which occupies the whole of the first episode. The casting is not quite right either. I'm sorry, but Robert Lindsay just isn't Fagin, and never could be. In Bleasdale's version, Fagin is a conjuror who does tricks, but this gets rather wearisome after a while. As for the Dodger, they really did find the most unprepossessing boy imaginable to play him! And Bleasdale has transformed his character to make him quite unpleasant (this comes out more strongly in the final episode). On the other hand, Sam Smith makes a lively and appealing Oliver. And some of Bleasdale's decisions are certainly very interesting - for example, his decision to give Monks a more rounded character and to present him in a much more sympathetic light. I rather liked him, and was glad that Bleasdale gave him a happy ending. I also quite liked the idea that Brownlow is in the habit of taking in boys off the street. And the narrative definitely picks up considerably in the second half of the series, as Bleasdale settles in to Dickens' story. Worth a view, I think.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Penrod and Sam (1937)

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Penrod and Sam (1931)

Absolutely the best thing about this movie was Billie Lord as the 'sissy' Georgie Bassett - he was great! (Georgie's father - played by Johnny Arthur - was also marvellous.)

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Pit Pony (1999-2000)

I've only seen Season 1 of this series. Very little about pit ponies in it. Quite pleasant after the first few episodes, once the series has got all the pseudo-Celtic cliches out of its system. Willie is a little mature beyond his years. I loved Spider, though. I think he ought to have had a separate spin-off series, 'The Adventures of Spider'.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Roman Mysteries (2007-2008)

Okay, I've only just begun watching this, but... A Jewish father and son are invited to dine at the home of a Gentile and the host serves them sea-snails - can you imagine any behaviour more insulting to a Jewish guest?!! The main girl character in the piece I find a little irritating. She has very 21st century attitudes as well - plenty of handwringing about slaves, and wanting to treat a slave as a friend. Yeah, right. Oh, and apparently people bathe (and swim) fully clothed as well. Basically, in terms of historical verisimilitude, it's sheer nonsense. Having said that... It is entertaining, in a funny way, and Harry Stott and Eli Machover are very likable as Lupus and Jonathan respectively. Just think of it as 21st century kids in Roman togs.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Shadow Builder (1997)

Actually, I think it's a shade better (no pun intended!) than the other reviews on this page might lead one to expect. There really is something quite absurdly enjoyable about a priest who packs guns with laser sights, dispatches people with gay abandon, and tells law enforcement officers to f--- off. One feels it's the kind of concept one must have seen before in some other movie, and yet I don't think I have. Yes, the film's ridiculous, but in a charming B-movie sort of way. In any case, I rather enjoyed it.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Sigurd Drakedreper (1989)

This is actually much better than the other reviewers' ratings on this page would lead one to suspect. Yes, it's historical nonsense - in fact pure New Age hokum - absurdly situated in a Viking village. But so long as one puts aside historical verisimilitude (and provided one can look past the lead's rather frightful wig), one will find that this film is a thoroughly charming story about the camaraderie of boys. Sigurd (Kristian Tonby) makes friends with a captured Frankish boy who saves him from drowning, and the two strip naked by the riverside in order to get dry (and, I expect, to give the camera an opportunity to admire their youthful physiques). There isn't even a hint of heterosexual romance in the whole thing. Gradually, by forging new alliances amongst his own generation, Sigurd gains in courage and navigates a new, less warlike path, for his people. The premise of the film is that all boys are natural comrades, and that the love and loyalty of boys for each other is capable of solving all society's conflicts. Damn it, you KNOW it's true!

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Sinister 2 (2015)

The Sloan brothers are just great in this stylish, if somewhat flawed, movie.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

So Dear to My Heart (1949)

Excellent Disney film with lots of barefoot boys in a rural town in Indiana in 1903. Bobby Driscoll was a fine actor - as he showed in "The Window" and "Song of the South", and as he shows in this film as well. Not a very deep story, and both the songs and the blending of live action with animation are not quite on the same level as "Song of the South", but the superb acting makes up for it. Recommended.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Sokout (1998)

A beautiful and enchanting film, but I'm knocking off a couple of points for casting a girl as a boy!

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Strýta (2012)

The basic concept is surely by now a little hackneyed, but the cinematography (or is that just the Icelandic landscape?) is undeniably magnificent.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

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