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)

Oorlogswinter (2008)

Found this World War II movie on a market stall. It seems to be an Anglo/Dutch production with Martijn Lakemeier taking the lead part. His performance was really good as Michiel, an adolescent boy trying to do something for the war effort in German occupied Holland. How come these wartime boy film heroes never work for the local Nazi Youth outfit? An interesting scene was where the boy falls into a frozen river and has his life saved by a German soldier. I noted that he did not even have the courtesy to thank the soldier and the rescue was quickly passed over in the film. Ah well, there's no such thing as a good German soldier is there? Fine acting all round with realistic landscapes.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Pan (2015)

A reasonable film with fine acting from Levi Miller but he is, unfortunately, overshadowed by the much greater Jeremy Sumpter's performance in the 2003 version.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Pay It Forward (2000)

In a decent world the idea behind 'Pay It Forward' would flourish unfortunately we haven't reached that stage yet. A so-so film with Haley great as always but the ending was rather a tear jerker and a bit too sloppy. What we Brits would call typical American schmaltz.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

A Place To Be Loved (1993)

A squeaky clean all-American family adopting Sean (and who wouldn't want to adopt Tom Guiry?) made famous as being the first time a child had sued his parents for divorce. Guiry's performance is good as he portrays all the emotions his character has to go through.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Richie Rich (1994)

Some might argue that this film is typical American schmaltz and even an excuse for rich people living the way they do. I thought it one of Macaulay Culkin's better movies. He plays the part well ably supported by British actor, Jonathan Hyde, as the butler.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Secondhand Lions (2003)

A fairly good film and when you're playing up against Robert Duvall and Michael Caine you have to be a pretty good boy actor. Needless to say Haley Joel Osment rose to the occasion. Haley was 14 when he was in 'Secondhand Lions' and had the muscles to show for it.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

The Selfish Giant (2013)

A raw and grim movie indeed. It seemed every other line of dialogue contained the F word, there was hardly a moment when kids or adults weren't screaming at each other or coming to blows. I think the grimness was ladled on with a trowel. I think the director, Clio Barnard, inserted shots of horses and sheep in fields so that the audience could have a rest from all the expletives and shouting that was going on. However, Connor Chapman was really good for a boy actor's first film. It was a relief, towards the end, that Swifty's mother showed forgiveness and understanding to the distraught Arbor.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Shipwrecked (1990)

A bit of an amateur production and typical Disney but what a great looking boy actor in Stian Smestad. I had hoped there would be some desert island scenes of Stian swimming in the altogether but no such luck. The film was a rollicking tale of pirates and skulduggery even if Gabriel Byrne's uniform was not very British. What the hell was that gorilla doing there? He soon disappeared as a character.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Skellig (2009)

Unusual but with a great performance from Bill Milner.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Sleepers (1996)

Not often you get four teen boy actors in one film and showing off their bodies in some scenes too. Not often, either, you get four adult big screen names in one film. The four boys were great in their parts but had to disappear half way through the film. Okay but nothing great.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Son of Rambow (2007)

This film is rather over-rated, I think. While the two boys are splendid even if Will Poulter's, Lee, doesn't always come over as a bad enough bully, some of the scenes are stilted. In fact, some short scenes are inserted for no apparent reason.

A typical boyish romp with Bill Milner playing the shy, Brethren boy very believably.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2002)

Here we are with another obscure boy actor called Byron Taylor starring in a film on the magic of Merlin and sorcery theme. The producers have attempted to set the film in England but it's obvious it was actually filmed in Byron's homeland of South Africa. All the usual ingredients are there: boy at odds with his parents, getting bullied at school and meeting nice girl. However, the best part of the film is in the relationship between Merlin (Robert Davi) and Ben (Byron Taylor). Moving to a new house Ben finds that Merlin resides next door! The build up of trust between the two is very well handled. Obviously aimed at a kiddies market, 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice' nevertheless comes over as a charming tale even if it does falter now and then.

Unfortunately, the DVD has no extras and so we learn nothing about Byron's background as an actor and how he came to get the part.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Sorrell and Son (1984)

An interesting series though the adult characters tend to be either very nice or very bad and not much in between. Paul Critchley is quite good as the boy, Kit. Warwick Deeping (what a marvellous name) churned out his books roughly one a year, similar to A J Cronin.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

The Sound of Music (1965)

A great film with Nicholas Hammond playing Friedrich and consequently the star of the musical.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008)

Freddie Highmore was enchanting in this film though his playing of the twins didn't come over too well. It was all about Jared while Simon was reduced to a mere cipher. I was also hoping the sister would fall foul of the beasties but no such luck. A film that tried to be something but didn't make it despite some quite good special effects.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

The Squid and the Whale (2005)

Some good one liners from an accomplished script in this film. Owen Kline is another of those boy actors who make a film then seem to disappear. He played his part well of a kid emotionally upset at the domestic problems he's witnessing. The scene in the library is not one you come across very often.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Strauss: The King of 3/4 Time (1995)

Okay, so this isn't your made-for-cinema movie but charming nonetheless. Unknown Canadian boy actor, Derek Senft, plays his part well as the stableboy who meets the great Johann Strauss II. A passable enough storyline with the added bonuses of Derek himself and Strauss's music.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Super 8 (2011)

I had never seen Joel Courtney before though he was good in this film. I noticed that Zach Mills, unlike the other child actors, never got a close-up being relegated to a minor role as Preston. How could they do this to the star of 'Mr Magorium'?

This was your usual kids Sci-Fi romp and there was nothing above the average about it. Why is it aliens look so grotesquely animal-like and rarely, if ever, wear clothes?

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

The Switch (2010)

A charming comedy film with a great performance from Thomas Robinson.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

Tales From the Neverending Story (2001)

What no reviews of this long edition of 'The Neverending Story'? Lasting over six hours and obviously made for television it starred Mark Rendall as Bastian Bux the boy who reads the book and a slightly-too-old-for-the-part Tyler Hynes playing Atreyu the boy warrior hero. Great sets and lots of colourful characters, but a sometimes plodding script and a kind of mixed up uninspired ending. Also a lot of shifting between scenes in Fantasia and the real world. I know the story isn't supposed to have an ending but for TV you need to do that. Fine acting from Mark, of course.

My Movie Rating:

6 / 10

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