BoyActors - Reviews/Ratings by Cinefan

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Reviews by Cinefan

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285 reviews/ratings - 15 pages (20 reviews/ratings per page)

Oliver Twist (2007)

Another interesting TV adaptation of Dickens book with William Miller giving a performance of a more up-and-at-'em Oliver and somewhat quite intelligent for his age. However, here the Artful Dodger is played by attractive Adam Arnold who is certainly the best looking Dodger I've seen. So many versions reflective of Dickens genius as a storyteller.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Oliver Twist (1999)

An unusual version of Dickens's story with a sort of prequel to Oliver's eventual arrival on the scene in the workhouse. Sam Smith is engaging as Oliver and not too soppy showing plenty of grit when he wanted to. Marc Warren is outstanding as Oliver's demented half brother Edward. Quite a good production though some of the supposedly Victorian London sets looked a bit too much like Prague. Good acting all round.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Peter Pan (2003)

This is a fine film which treats J M Barrie's play well enough. Many will have thought the casting of Jeremy Sumpter, who turned 14 while making the film, as too old for the part and casting an American boy too! I thought Sumpter was excellent as Peter and that boy actor's good looks made Peter even better! His sword fight with Captain Hook was the highlight of the film especially when Hook says Wendy doesn't love him any more and Peter is momentarily defeated.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Le Petit Nicolas (2009)

This was a charming French film with lots of cute young French boys parading around in their shorts. It reminded me of the type of children's films they made in the fifties ... very pretty and nice.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Prince and the Pauper (2000)

This is one of those versions little known about with exemplary performances from both Jonathan and Robert Timmins, unknown British boy actor twins. A fairly lavish production, the settings are bright and colourful with American actor, Aidan Quinn, giving great support as the befriending Miles Hendon.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Prince and the Pauper (1937)

This is another of those wonderful old B&W boy films from the thirties. The Mauch twins play their parts almost to perfection and even Errol Flynn can't act them off the set! Also of note is the film's musical score written by Erich Korngold which is quite outstanding and has been mentioned by several film reviewers in the past.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy (1994)

A delightful film in the Prince and the Pauper mode. Here urchin rat catcher Jemmy, charmingly played with street wise ernestness by Truan Munro, meets spoiled Prince Horace played by Nic Knight, a boy actor I had never heard of before. After some adventures encountering a couple of dastardly villains on the way, the two boys become friends and each helps the other achieve a happy ending. I believe the film was originally titled simply 'The Whipping Boy'.

The only other time I have seen Truan Munro was in the BBC TV production of 'Little Lord Fauntleroy' where he played Dick, the boot boy..

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Ransom (1996)

Plenty of suspense and some nail biting plot twists. Although not a big part, Brawley (where do they get these names?) Nolte played his part well as the kidnapped son.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The River Wild (1994)

A fast paced thriller with some great outdoors scenery and the versatile Joseph Mazzello playing his part wonderfully. I liked the scene where Joseph realises Bacon's character is a bad guy and says "I thought you were a nice man" and throws the baseball cap away. Good acting all round.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Rocking Horse Winner (1949)

Just seen this film of 1949 on YouTube. You can tell it's English with the cut glass accents and everyone dressed oh so formally. Rather good film for its time with good acting from John Howard Davies. The old tale of riches - at a price.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

A Room for Romeo Brass (1999)

A film of a typical boyish friendship put to the test when the dangerous stranger comes between them. It's one of those films where you are kept wondering what's going to happen and then it does in the most innocuous of circumstances during a day by the seaside. The friendship between the two boys is dealt with very effectively by the director even though Andrew and Ben apparently quarrelled a lot on set.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Silent Night (2002)

A great boy film complete with social message. Fine performance from Matthew Harbour as the young German boy, Fritz, spending Christmas Eve with his mother in 1944. Matthew plays his part with sensitivity caught as he is between wanting to serve his country and Fuehrer and finding out the Yanks aren't as bad as he was led to believe.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

Good movie with great acting from the boys. Not so good about the problems, moneywise, that followed the young actors after the film was made.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Somewhere in the Darkness (1998)

Here's another of those obscure boyfilm gems that crop up every now and then. Also another example of an unknown boy actor, Rowan Witt, playing a demanding role as a young boy trapped under a collapsed supermarket with only an old man to talk to in the claustrophobic darkness. Well acted by all concerned but good to see Rowan rising to the occasion in more ways than one. A great little film with an intriguing storyline.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

St. Vincent (2014)

Where do they keep finding these good boy actors? Jaeden Lieberher gave a great performance as 12 year old Oliver even if some of his dialogue was rather grown up. Bill Murray, of course, stole the show but Jaeden stood his ground acting-wise. I agree it was a well worn plot line especially when they won at the horse race ... I kept hoping their horse would lose and make it more real to life.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Suburbicon (2017)

Just watched this film on TV and although it seems to have been panned by the critics I thought it a good black comedy. The old plot of murdering for insurance money but in this case with some humour thrown in. It ended on a light note but I couldn't help wondering how young Nicky (Noah Jupe) was going to cope with the fact he was playing ball with his friend outside while explaining to the authorities how his dead dad and aunt lay in the house.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Sunnyside Drive (2017)

Grady Port is a good looking boy and stars in an interesting short film. While you feel sorry for the neighbour who's subject to a typical boy's mistaken fantasy, he has gained the friendship of the boy next door.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Undertow (2004)

A gritty film with superb acting from Jamie Bell who seems to have mastered the American accent. Along with Devon Alan this is a dramatic boy movie with, what some might consider, an incomprehensible ending.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Voces inocentes (2004)

If that is really what went on in the El Salvadorian civil war then it's inhumanity makes your heart sink. Carlos Padilla was remarkable as Chava, a boy struggling to be a boy yet surrounded by abject poverty, death and depraved brutality. The people had nothing and yet they were caught between the soldiers and the partisans who cared little about human life. Carlos could be nominated for a BA Oscar as his performance was so outstanding. How children could survive such a horrific environment makes you realise how tough a child like Chava had to be. A great film interspersed with the occasional humour like Chava's 'farty' sister and the boy getting a job on the bus.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (2003)

An entertaining little movie of typical Americana. Sasha Neulinger is impressive as the fat showboy, Zachary Beaver, who has an answer for everything. The friendship between Toby and Cal is nicely explored. The scene where Toby dances on the main street with the attractive young blond girl is poignant. Good film that sort of washes over you. Slight mistake in the editing: When Cal comes into Zachary's caravan angry with Toby and throws the money he owes at him he's wet through. But the scene where he and Toby fall in the lake isn't until later. Just a mild mistake in an otherwise plesant film that should reside on any enthusiast of the boy actor's DVD shelf.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

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