BoyActors - Reviews/Ratings by Cinefan

Welcome to BoyActors. Login.

Reviews by Cinefan

Sort by: Title | Rating

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

The NeverEnding Story (1984)

One of the boy film classics and, like 'The Cure', one of the few starring two boy actors. Both Barret Oliver and Noah Hathaway are excellent in their parts. A real fairy tale type story well told and directed. I often wonder just how Noah coped with the scenes where he's in the Swamp of Sadness having to plough through all that mud and that. Unfortunately, like so many of the better boy films, there are no extras with the DVD.

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

Oliver! (1968)

A real classic and a rare musical okay for the boy film collector's shelf. Mark lester is wonderful as Oliver though he is beaten to the Oscar by the even greater performance of Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger. This film has everything though what Charles Dickens would've thought of this 'chocolate box' version of his story I don't know. After all, he wrote it as a condemnation of Victorian hypocrisy and the scandalous treatment of the poor in workhouses at that time.

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

Ang pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (2005)

A charming movie from the Phillipines with Nathan Lopez excellent as girly-boy, Maximo. In the DVD extras the Gay director, Auraeus Solito, gives a fascinating explanation of how he came to make the film shot entirely in his own home neighbourhood. Charming and down to earth it deals not only with Maximo's relationship with his father and older brothers but their acceptance of his sexuality. Not only that but the film deals with a boy's awakening love for the young policeman. I doubt whether any British or American boy actor would even be allowed to portray such a situation here.

A highly recommended film and a credit to its director.

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

Pelle erobreren (1987)

A gritty film in which you could almost smell the poverty, filth and adversity the people endured on that farm. One could say that Pelle Hvenegaard was worthy of a Boy Actor Oscar but he was matched in this film by Max von Sydow's magnificent performance as the weak father. The winter scenes were obviously genuine and I wonder how poor Pelle got through doing that scene running over the broken ice pursued by the school bullies? The film came over as completely realistic and showed the sadism of not just the people in charge of the farmhands but the farmhands themselves who could all mutually sneer and laugh at a young boy being whipped naked by a bullying young overseer. Definitely a DVD to grace the collection of any devotee of the Boy Actor even, if sadly, there were no extras. It was also refreshing to see the nude scenes handled properly and effectively by the director, Bille August. Not something you would be allowed to see in a British film!

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

Pinocchio (1940)

Animated yes but surely even animated films featuring a boy are acceptable on BA? This is a Walt Disney classic and beautifully rendered and full of great one liners and musical numbers.

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

The Prince and the Pauper (1996)

Another BBC six-parter of Mark Twain's classic story. Philip Sarson is outstanding playing both King Edward VI and Tom Canty as there must be a lot of pressure on a boy acting two roles in a lengthy TV series.

I have the DVD set though there are no extras to tell us more about this elusive boy actor.

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

Road to Perdition (2002)

You won't get a much better 30s atmosphere movie than this one. The period detail is amazing. Tyler Hoechlin plays the lead role as the son of a gangster hitman. He's sharing the screen with cinema stars like Tom Hanks and Paul Newman yet holds his own. A brooding story reflecting the harsh, brutal world of godfather-style gangsters. The car the father and son drive in makes you want to get behind the wheel of one of those marvellous contraptions!

Violent and dramatic, 'The Road to Perdition' is a great film. Everyone just about gets bumped off. I even feared at the end when Michael goes back to the old farming couple for sanctuary that the wife was going to come out with a gun and blow HIS head off!

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

The Road (2009)

A gripping film that tells an unsettling story of just what could happen if there was some terrible worldwide catastrophe. Grey and bleak, the heartrending portrayal of father and son trying to survive a lawless world was stamped on every frame. Kodi Smit-McPhee was outstanding as the boy thrown into this world while so young. The cannibals may have shocked some viewers but when you thought about it, that was a way to survive! A relentless film that had you always wondering how it would all end. As it happened, the ending was a mixture of sadness and hope for the future.

It was interesting to note that in the scene where father and son plunge into the lake by the waterfall, the man is starkers but the boy still wears shirt and shorts! Quite unrealistic, of course, but then what can film makers do when confronted by the taboo of showing a child's naked body?

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Known as 'Innocent Moves' here in the UK, Max Pomeranc gave a masterful performance as the boy chess prodigy. Interesting to see the point made about the parents having to be kept away from the tournament room. This is what can happen actually. And what of Michael Nirenberg cast as Max's arch enemy, Jonathan Poe? Poor kid, even though given the part of the baddy boy he played his character well. From the position of the pieces at the time Poe was offered a draw, several chess buffs have since pointed out that Poe could've won. Fine film and well acted by all the boy performers.

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

Sling Blade (1996)

With his Southern drawl, Lucas Black is spot on in his role as young Frank. He gives able support to Billy Bob Thornton as the simple minded Carl. The DVD extras reveal that Thornton had all the parts filled for his film except a 10 year old kid. He cast Lucas after seeing a video his mother made of her son in their backyard. A great film showing compassion, an unlikely friendship and ultimate tragedy.

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

Tall Tale (1995)

An enjoyable film with lots of action and pathos and wonderful scenery. Nick Stahl is great, of course, in his part as the farmer's son, Daniel. The film kept up a good pace with some humorous moments like when Paul Bunyan asks Daniel how old he is - 12 'Okay if you want to see 13 keep out of my way'. Did anyone notice uncredited Burgess Meredith playing the old man in the timber factory?

The film bombed with takings of only $8.2 million out of a budget of $32 million. It is obvious cinema goers do not appreciate fine boy actors like Stahl.

My Movie Rating:

8 / 10

Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Superb action movie and the best of the Terminator series - for obvious reasons - Edward Furlong. He is excellent in the part of John Connor playing a typical tearaway teenager. His relationship with the 'machine' is movingly portrayed as the boy seeks to make him a father figure. Plenty of action topped off by Furlong looking great. Famous scene when Arnold walks into the bar at the beginning. The DVD extras explain how Edward Furlong was cast though I doubt its authenticity. Few boys can be plucked from a kids club and be able to act competently in a major movie. What about all the would-be boy actors already paying an agent to find them such juicy roles? It doesn't add up.

My Movie Rating:

8 / 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

Accidents Happen (2009)

An unusual film in that the plot of a family prone to accidents runs parallel to comedy situations without causing problems for the audience. Harrison Gilbertson is great playing Billy Conway trying to come to terms with the loss of his sister in a car accident and his brother suffering brain damage. Two great scenes are where Billy and his friend put on ski masks and run naked through a supermarket and, where as a little boy, Billy witnesses the death of a neighbour on fire. You realise you shouldn't be laughing really but find you can't help it.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1985)

A sprawling adaptation for television with a fine performance from Patrick Day as Huckleberry. Patrick is the right age to play Huck appearing a little older than Tom Sawyer (Eugene Oakes). Also of note was good looking Jack Reidelberger as Buck Grangerford, a young tragedy of the family feud. At three and a half hours long this version is a feast of sheer indulgence for the boy film appreciator.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996)

A pleasant version of the all time classic. I can't agree with 'Boymoviebuff' only giving it a 5 star rating because he couldn't see Jonathan Taylor Thomas's face. JTT looked like he needed to keep off the hamburgers and anyway I thought the puppet looked better. Some great scenes with lots of boys having supporting roles.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938)

This is a typical 1930s film with its great opening showing Tommy Kelly swinging across the river and the pleasant music accompanying the titles. Kelly is excellent as wily Tom ably supported by David Holt as his crafty half brother, Sidney, and Jackie Moran as Huck. As nostalgic as they come, colourful and ably directed by Norman Trurog. A must for every collector of the Boy Film.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Arabian Adventure (1979)

A pleasant story in, of course, typical Arabian style with an evil caliph, heroic prince, charming orphan boy and plenty of magic thrown in. Puneet Sira plays the young boy, Majeed, really well and together with Christopher Lee as the villain and Mickey Rooney as the laughable worker of the steam driven mechanical monsters it all adds up to a good rollicking plot. A delightful adventure film with an unknown Indian boy actor who doesn't even merit being credited on the DVD cover despite playing a major part! Unfortunately, no DVD extras.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

Brestskaya krepost (2010)

A war movie called 'Fortress of War' here in the UK and told with typical Russian suffering. Aloysha Kopashov is outstanding as the young boy soldier. The aircraft special effects are fairly basic and the characterisation the usual goody Russians and baddy Germans.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

The Browning Version (1994)

A pleasant movie about the quintessential English public school and the relationship between masters and pupils. Albert Finney is excellent as the austere teacher and Ben Silverstone equally good and perfectly cast as the intelligent but vulnerable Taplow, whose other name we never get to know. An all round splendid film with quite a number of cute boys in it.

My Movie Rating:

7 / 10

This site is non-commercial and is not an official or representative web presence for any of the actors or movies listed. All images and text are the property of their respective owners. Do not link directly to any of the images on this site - please upload them to your own webspace, on the understanding that yours is also a non-commercial site.

While every effort will be made to ensure that no offensive or illegal material is posted on the forums or linked to from the links database, BoyActors administrators accept no responsibility for any content posted or linked to by its members.

PHORM PROHIBITED

The contents of this site, and communications between this site and its users, are protected by database right, copyright, confidentiality and the right not to be intercepted conferred by section 1(3) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. The use of those contents and communications by Internet Service Providers or others to profile or classify users of this site for advertising or other purposes is strictly forbidden.