The Boys Are Back (film)
| The Boys Are Back | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Scott Hicks |
| Written by | Allan Cubitt |
| Produced by | Greg Brenman |
| Starring | Clive Owen Emma Booth Laura Fraser George MacKay Nicholas McAnulty |
| Cinematography | Greig Fraser |
| Edited by | Scott Gray |
| Music by | Hal Lindes |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures UK (United Kingdom) Hopscotch Films (Australia)[1] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 104 minutes |
| Countries | Australia United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $3,185,839 |
The Boys Are Back is a 2009 Australian/British drama film directed by Scott Hicks, produced by Greg Brenman and starring Clive Owen.[2] Based on the 2000 book, The Boys Are Back In Town, by Simon Carr, the film features a score composed by Hal Lindes, and a soundtrack by Sigur Rós.[3][failed verification]
Plot
Joe Warr (Clive Owen) is a British sports writer who lives in Australia with his second wife, Katy (Laura Fraser) and his young son Artie (Nicholas McAnulty). Katy is diagnosed with cancer and dies, forcing Joe to cope with the responsibilities of being a single parent.
Joe's teenage son from his first marriage, Harry (George MacKay), feels abandoned in the United Kingdom with his mother. Harry uses Katy's death as an opportunity to try to build a relationship with his father, coming to visit him in Australia. Although Harry is initially unnerved by the lack of discipline in the house, he eventually forms a strong bond with Artie, while struggling to foster a closer relationship with Joe.
When Joe is forced by work to leave his sons alone in the house for a night, local teenagers throw a party at the house against both boys' will. With the house ransacked, Harry flies back to England because he no longer feels safe living with Joe. Joe and Artie go after him. After much discussion, Joe convinces Harry to move to Australia on a permanent basis.
The trio return to Australia, and together shoulder the responsibilities of running the household without a female influence.
Cast
- Clive Owen as Joe Warr
- Laura Fraser as Katy
- Emma Lung as Mia
- Nicholas McAnulty as Artie
- George MacKay as Harry
- Julia Blake as Barbara
- Emma Booth as Laura
- Erik Thomson as Digby
- Natasha Little as Flick
- Alexandra Schepisi as Mother
- Adam Morgan as Journalist
- Tommy Bastow as Ben
- Luke O'Loughlin as Bree
Reception
As of June 2020[update], the film holds a 73% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 124 reviews with an average rating of 6.33 out of 10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Great performances by Clive Owen and The Boys save this melodrama from entering into the sappy territory it might have in less competent hands."[4]
Box office
The Boys Are Back grossed $2,117,064 at the box office in Australia,[5] and $809,752 in the United States, grossing $3,185,839 worldwide.[1] The film was released in the United Kingdom on 22 January 2010.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b "The Boys Are Back (2009) - Box Office Mojo". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 January 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Carr, Simon (2 August 2001). "The Boys Are Back In Town". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ "The Boys Are Back". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "UK Weekend Box Office 22nd January 2010 - 24th January 2010". www.25thframe.co.uk. Retrieved 20 September 2018.