The Boys Are Back: DVD Review

The Boys Are Back: DVD Review

The Boys Are Back
Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Entertainment
From the Academy award nominated director of Shine, Scott Hicks comes this wonderfully underrated drama starring the ever suave Clive Owen.

Owen stars as Joe, a wise cracking sports journalist and absentee father (due to work) in south Australia.

He's got a pretty sweet life; a wife Katy (Laura Fraser) whom he adores and a six year old Artie (a brilliant, crowd winning performance from Nicholas McAnulty) whose hedonistic enthusiasm for life keeps him on the move.

But when his wife suddenly dies, Joe finds himself having to run the house and is forced to reconnect with his son. That's not the half of it though - as his teenage son Harry (McKay) from his previous marriage is heading over from the UK to stay.

Suddenly Joe is facing responsibilities and emotions he'd long forgotten&

Based on the memoir by Simon Carr, The Boys Are Back was criminally ignored on its general release in cinemas. It is a sensitive look at a father's relationship with his sons, brilliantly handled by director Hicks and masterfully performed by McAnulty and Owen.

With its low key warmth and heart, as well as heartbreak, I think it's fair to say that you'll be hard pushed to find a more poignant film about the complicated relationship between a father and his son.

Extras: A Little lacking here - just deleted scenes and a photographic journey.

Rating: 8/10