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)

Hugo (2011)

From the point of view of breathtaking cinema this film was magnificent; but as the 'Telegraph' critic wrote, it had a 'largely immobile plot'. Asa Butterfield was, of course, heartwarming as Hugo and looks better now he's a little older. We had to put up with the ubiquitous Chloe Grace Moretz who played her part well enough but do any other girl actors get a look-in when she's around? I thought the plot tended to meander and go off track especially with regard to the station inspector who was a complete idiot and didn't come across as all that funny. The set of the station clock was excellent with all it's whirring cogwheels and pendulums. I award my stars for that and Asa's wonderful performance. However, the combination of those cannot overcome this film's lack of coherent plot.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Indian in the Cupboard (1995)

An interesting film with a fine performance from Albert Henry Hugh Scardino as the boy with the magic cupboard. A real laugh when things start to get out of control. One film critic said that there were too many close-ups of Hal's face!

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Interrogation of Michael Crowe (2002)

This was a very dramatic movie exposing what lengths corrupt police will go to obtain a confession. It required a high standard of acting from Mark Rendall to which he aspired with great merit.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Jungle 2 Jungle (1997)

Good to see an unknown boy actor, Sam Huntington, getting a chance to strip down to loincloth and take part in an interestiing movie. Huntington is elegantly boyish in the part of Mimi Siku (interpreted to mean 'cats piss'). The film is a good romp with some endearing scenes like when Mimi thinks his father is only obligated to him.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

King of the Hill (1993)

A great film both heart rending and comical and with a fine performance from Jesse Bradford. This film would have gained 8 stars but for the implausibility of part of the plot wherein the 12 year old Aaron Kurlander is left for months by his wayward father in a hotel room to fend for himself eventually almost starving to death. No way to treat a son even in hard times.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Kisses (2008)

Shame on you, 'Young Arthur', I thought this was quite a good film. The acting of the two kids was really gritty making them come across as typical products of dysfunctional families. Obviously made on a low budget, the director did well getting the girl and boy to act as well as they did. The boy, especially, appeared as much a handful offset as he did the character he was playing!

Although only next door countrywise, it's not often you come across boy films from Ireland.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Lauf junge lauf (2013)

A sometimes funny but mostly harrowing film of a young boy on the run in wartime Poland. I never realised twins were playing the same boy even if the character names, Srulik and Jurek, were different. The acting from the brothers is very good and the film keeps up a steady pace with one situation developing after another.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004)

I am a big fan of Liam Aiken, too, but in this film his performance is rather muted. The special effects are well done but Liam needed a more animated character than Klaus to show off his acting talent.

The only other Liam film I have on DVD is 'Good Boy!' in which he is very good. I also have 'Road to Perdition' but his part in that was so small as to not warrant attention.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Let Me In (2010)

Great acting from Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Moretz. Kodi plays Owen with such intensity of acting he could be BA Oscar nominated. As only to be expected from puritan USA, Kodi didn't parade around his bedroom in quite the same stylish undies as his Swedish counterpart. Even when doing his weight lifting he had to wear a T-shirt!

However, the interaction between the vampire girl and Owen was played out wonderfully. The director did wonders getting the atmosphere right between them. The bullies were depicted as typical up to when they have Owen in the pool. For a group of boys to push a kid underwater for three minutes is not bullying it's murder. You still had the nagging worry that Owen was going to end up another 'father' to the girl. It's a true saying that familiarity breeds contempt.

An accomplished film if only lacking slightly the horror of the Swedish 'Let The Right One In'.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Little Lord Fauntleroy (1936)

Freddie Bartholomew was born to act the part of Little Lord Fauntleroy. He does so in this film with posh voiced aplomb. A host of wonderful supporting actors make this version a fine vintage example.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Local Boys (2002)

Anything with Jeremy Sumpter in it is worth watching - mainly for Jeremy - the best looking boy actor to date! Here, his acting abilities come to the fore as he plays Skeet, a child with a nervous disorder. The film is pure Americana but rises above the usual teen effort. Nice to see his mom didn't mind him making friends with a strange man! Plenty of sand, sun and surfing.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Matching Jack (2010)

A heart rending movie of two boys suffering from leukaemia so it's a case of out with the paper hankies. Kodi Smit-McPhee gives a great performance as the dying boy, Finn, and with obvious help from the make-up department, looks ghastly ill. Tom Russell plays Jack where he meets Finn when they share a room in the hospital. Kodi is marvellous in his part which requires some quite emotional acting. At only 83 minutes long the film is rather short on character development but all the tragedy is there of having to watch your child dying slowly from a terrible disease. There are funny moments in the film that lighten the sombre plot somewhat. One or two inconsistences occur like the father being allowed to make his son's hospital bed into a pirate ship. Also taking his son out of hospital into the freezing cabin he has by the bay. I got the sneaking feeling there was a little too much about finding a cure for Jack while poor Finn was simply allowed to fade away.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Mercury Rising (1998)

Lots of action but then you would expect that with Bruce Willis in the film. Miko played his part as the autistic boy very well.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Michael (2011)

A powerful and dramatic movie that makes you feel uneasy due to its emotive and controversial theme. I would have given it a higher rating had it dealt with paedophilia in an understanding way instead of portraying Michael as a pretty cold character. It also loses out on the DVD's poor extras which consists of only an interview with the director and not a much needed interview with David Rauchenberger.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)

A light hearted romp with Mr Bean whose films I would normally avoid. However, on this occasion, Max Baldry was present and, despite Mr Bean's sometimes over-the-top face pulling, this was still a pleasant film to watch. Baldry was bouyant and engaging in his part as Stepan the boy who becomes lost from his father due to Mr Bean's dithering. Rowan Atkinson keeps up the funny moments and the scene where he holds the boy while miming to an operatic aria is most notable. The film is then nicely rounded off with a beach scene set to Charles Trenet's classic 'La Mer'.

I wonder if Max Baldry got the part because he comes from Russia originally and could speak the language?

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Mud (2012)

A fine film with some good acting and good photography. As with most American teen boy movies, there has to be girl characters though in 'Mud' they were thankfully inconsequential. Tye Sheridan's acting was good but not good enough to warrant a BA Oscar nomination. He delivered his lines okay but possibly more facial expression might not have come amiss.

Had I been Mud I couldn't think of two better persons to come to my assistance on the island. Definitely most welcome. At least there was a featurette on its DVD when both Tye and Jacob Lofland were interviewed.

Yes, teenage boys can be caring.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Muppet Treasure Island (1996)

A delightful combination of the Muppets and Kevin Bishop as Jack Hawkins in a classic story ... what more could you want? Kevin plays his part with gusto in a film with plenty of laughs and good musical numbers. Trouble is Hawkins never goes for a swim.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Nanhe Jaisalmer (2007)

This is a bright, cheerful film with lots of Indian music in it and a young boy who is almost too good to be true. Interestingly, it deals with the friendship formed between a boy and the adult male superstar he adores. Their relationship is treated with great humour and affection, something you wouldn't see in a British or American movie! It is also interesting inasmuch as not many Indian films get onto DVD. There are plenty of DVD extras, too, though without subtitles unfortunately.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Nature of Nicholas (2002)

A rare film dealing with one boy having a crush on another. I assume the two boy actors were having their debuts here. Intriguing and weird with Nicholas ending up having to do all the things he wants to do with his friend, Bobby, as Bobby slowly rots away. Great film and certainly different.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Nostalgist (2014)

One of the better sci fi shorts on YouTube. In a violent, oppressive world I can imagine glasses like those becoming popular. The part of the boys is nicely played by Samuel Joslin, whom I hadn't heard of until seeing this film.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

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