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)

That's What I Am (2011)

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

The Thief Lord (2006)

A pleasant little film with Aaron Johnson slightly acting the great Rollo Weeks off the screen. Better directing might have improved the film all round but Weeks looks great and kind of kinky in his mask. I wonder why no one remarked about that when he was sauntering around Venice? Stilted acting from some of the kids, and Rollo Weeks in particular, takes the edge off this film.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

The Three Investigators and the Secret of Terror Castle (2009)

This is the second of The Three Investigators films and obviously made six months to a year after 'Skeleton Island'. Chancellor Miller has become a bit of a beefcake and all their voices have broke. This tale is not as good as the first film and the production costs have been decreased. Still a good all round boy film though with the DVD containing interviews with the three boy actors.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

This classic Oscar winning movie is so great it almost eclipses the fact there are boy actors in it. Philip Alford, of course, is excellent as Jem who shares much screen time with Mary Badham as his tomboy sister, Scout. They are ably supported by the late John Megna who plays the little boy, Dill. I reckon the bogeyman, Boo Radley, wasn't that crazy when he knew he had to save nice Jem from being murdered. Great film all round.

My Movie Rating:

9 / 10

Tom & Thomas (2002)

A movie with a great idea but not worked out too well by the director. Aaron Johnson does wonderfully well in both roles even, if sometimes, you get confused as to which twin is appearing on the screen. You're not even sure just what the baddies are up to until near the end. A strange Dutch/UK production my DVD has a different cover to the one illustrated here and more interestingly the film is titled 'The Christmas Twins'! Lacks any DVD extras. Boo!

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Tom Brown's Schooldays (1951)

A fine example of old British storytelling and also an insight into just how sadistic public schools were in the 19th century! John Howard Davies is passable as Tom Brown aided by John Charlesworth as his friend, East. My DVD is a computer coloured version which, in my opinion, adds to the overall quality of the film. However, being made in 1951 the soundtrack is not so good in places but the picture quality has been greatly enhanced. The film captures the nostalgic charm of happy schooldays, that is when Tom isn't getting beaten. The characters are fairly well dealt with despite the clipped accents typical of British cinema of that time. A real oldie classic and for that reason deserves a place on the shelf of any collector of boy films.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Treasure Island (1972)

One wonders why Orson Welles would lower himself to appearing in a Treasure Island movie. However, unknown fifties boy actor, Kim Burfield, does well as Jim Hawkins.

My Movie Rating:

5 / 10

Tree House Time Machine (2017)

Quite a good short though the No 1 question is where did they all go? Apart from the shouty dialogue Steele Stebbins looks great and very attractive.

My Movie Rating:

5 / 10

The Tree of Life (2011)

This is one of those movies that seems to require more than one viewing. It can be described as highly sophisticated or bordering on what I call the 'arty-farty'. The photography is superb and the acting, especially of Hunter McCracken, really good more so considering this is his debut movie. I cannot believe that a boy actor of such obvious talent has only made one film. However, 'The Tree of Life's symbolism is sometimes absurd and the most notable scene, I think, is when the meek mother interrupts the authoritarian and, quite frankly near nutcase, father at the dinner table and tells him to "Be quiet". The film ends rather abruptly as many 'arty' films have a tendency to do. Unfortunately, my DVD has no extras so I haven't any director explanations for the involved plotline.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 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

The Walking Dead (2010-????)

A gripping series and well written keeping you on the edge of your seat as our heroes battle the undead. Chandler Riggs is an added bonus and we literally see him grow up over the series.. Everything goes okay until Season Seven when a character called Negan enters the fray and we are confronted by a psychotic and sadistic lunatic whose endless speeches of utter depravity get somewhat wearisome. Why didn't someone just put a bullet in his head and get on with the story?

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

War of the Buttons (1994)

A well made film with humour and pathos and the director managing to achieve almost the impossible these days, or in 1994 for that matter - getting boys to run about in their birthday suits. The scene with the battle at the castle was very well done, something that was missing from the French original. Plenty of action with plenty of boys though this time with the inevitable intervention of some girls. Ah well.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007)

A pleasant tale of a boy and his ... water horse for want of a better name. Fantasy adventure with good acting from Alex Etal.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Way Down South (1939)

Another slice of nostalgia in this vintage movie which is redolent of the attitudes to black people in the thirties. The plot is farcical and could do with Bobby Breen singing more often than he does here. However, his rendering of an old Southern song about Lou-Lou-Lou Louisiana is notable.

My Movie Rating:

5 / 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

Where Eskimos Live (2002)

A great film with Bob Hoskins playing a pretty awful character as a fake UN official in wartime Bosnia. He's looking for a boy to take back to Poland to be adopted. In Bosnia he meets Vlado (Seguisz Zymelka) who both go on a horrendous journey through the country. Serguisz, who is actually Polish, gives a fine performance as the boy witnessing many of the horrors of war. Apparently, he had to learn his lines in English for the part.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)

Max Records plays his part well. The mumbling creatures he meets on the island are not only strange but downright dangerous with their rough games. They could be menacing as well as friendly. There are some moving scenes but I was glad when the boy got into his boat and sailed away from the weirdos.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Whisper (2007)

I enjoyed this film even if the unfortunate kidnappers were on a hiding to nothing up against David (Blake Woodruff) and his ability to use the supernatural in his weaponry. Blake was the ideal boy to play the part with his outward innocence until you went into close-up and saw those eyes and that menacing smile.

The DVD even had an alternate ending in which David survives. The extras included a 'making of' feature which showed Blake being typically boyish around the set. It seems he even had a stuntBOY to do the scenes where he had to fall off the roof and that.

Great boy horror film with good support coming from the adult actors.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Wide Awake (1998)

A moving film of the relationship between grandad and grandson. A sprinkling of the supernatural does nothing to detract from this pleasant and often funny film. A fine performance from Joseph Cross of course.

What no mention of Michael Craig Bigwood who played the mysterious little boy/angel? I think he was the son of James Bigwood, the co-producer.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

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