|
The Boys Are Back (2009) 6.8
Ratings:
6.8/10 from 8,402 users
Metascore: 57/100
Reviews: 36 user | 103 critic | 28 from Metacritic.com A sports writer becomes a single parent in tragic circumstances. Director:Scott Hicks |
| Watch Trailer 0Share... |
The 25 Most Immersive Worlds in Cinema
Highly immersive cinematic worlds can carry a movie, and we've rounded up the best of the best.
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Related Items
Search for "The Boys Are Back" on Amazon.com
Share this Rating
Title: The Boys Are Back (2009)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
6 nominations.
See more awards »
Learn more
People who liked this also liked...
Shadow Dancer
(2012)
Drama
|
Thriller
Director:
James Marsh
Stars:
Clive Owen,
Andrea Riseborough,
Gillian Anderson
Duplicity
(2009)
Crime
|
Romance
|
Thriller
Director:
Tony Gilroy
Stars:
Julia Roberts,
Clive Owen,
Tom Wilkinson
Beyond Borders
(2003)
Adventure
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Martin Campbell
Stars:
Clive Owen,
Angelina Jolie,
Linus Roache
Une femme de ménage
(2002)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Claude Berri
Stars:
Jean-Pierre Bacri,
Émilie Dequenne,
Brigitte Catillon
Words and Pictures
(2013)
Comedy
|
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Fred Schepisi
Stars:
Clive Owen,
Juliette Binoche,
Bruce Davison
Crime
|
Drama
|
Thriller
Director:
David Schwimmer
Stars:
Clive Owen,
Catherine Keener,
Liana Liberato
Drama
|
Thriller
Director:
Mikael Håfström
Stars:
Clive Owen,
Jennifer Aniston,
Vincent Cassel
Action
|
Crime
|
Drama
Director:
Tom Tykwer
Stars:
Clive Owen,
Naomi Watts,
Armin Mueller-Stahl
The Greatest
(2009)
Drama
|
Romance
Director:
Shana Feste
Stars:
Carey Mulligan,
Aaron Taylor-Johnson,
Pierce Brosnan
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
(2003)
Crime
|
Drama
|
Mystery
Director:
Mike Hodges
Stars:
Clive Owen,
Malcolm McDowell,
Jonathan Rhys Meyers
Zurück ins Leben
(TV Movie 2008)
Documentary
Director:
Helmut Manninger
Stars:
Cornelius Obonya
Nachspielzeit
(TV Movie 2015)
Director:
Andreas Pieper
Stars:
Mehmet Atesci,
Friederike Becht,
Frederick Lau
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Clive Owen | ... | ||
| Emma Booth | ... | ||
| Laura Fraser | ... | ||
| George MacKay | ... | ||
 |
Nicholas McAnulty | ... | |
| Julia Blake | ... |
Barbara
|
|
| Chris Haywood | ... |
Tom
|
|
| Erik Thomson | ... |
Digby
|
|
|
|
Natasha Little | ... |
Flick
|
|
|
Lewis Fitz-Gerald | ... |
Tim Walker
|
|
|
Nakia Pires | ... |
Lucy
|
| Emma Lung | ... |
Mia
|
|
| Steven Robertson | ... |
School Housemaster
|
|
|
|
Georgina Naidu | ... |
Paula
|
|
|
Daniel Carter | ... |
Digby & Paula's Child
|
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (27) »
Storyline
The Boys Are Back is a confessional tale of fatherhood. It follows a witty, wisecracking, action-oriented sportswriter who, in the wake of his wife's death, finds himself in a sudden, stultifying state of single parenthood. Joe Warr throws himself into the only child-rearing philosophy he thinks has a shot at bringing joy back into their lives: "just says yes." Raising two boys - a curious six year-old and a rebel teen from a previous marriage -- in a household devoid of feminine influence, and with a lack of rules, life becomes exuberant, instinctual, reckless... and on the constant verge of disaster. The three multi-generational boys of the Warr household, father and sons alike, must each find their own way, however tenuous, to grow up. Written by Miramax
Plot Keywords:
parenthood | single parent | australia | half brother half brother relationship | half brother |Taglines:
Inspired by a true story See more »Genres:
DramaMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for some sexual language and thematic elements | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
Edit
See more »
See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
12 November 2009 (Australia) See more »Also Known As:
De vuelta a la vida See more »Box Office
Opening Weekend:
$49,342 (USA) (25 September 2009)Gross:
$783,013 (USA) (30 October 2009)Company Credits
Production Co:
Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), BBC Films, Hopscotch Productions See more »
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1
Edit
Joe Warr: [narrating] I don't know whether you've ever seen a map of a person's mind. Doctors sometimes draw maps of other parts of you, and your own map can become intensely interesting. But catch them trying to draw a map of a child's mind, which is not only confused, but keeps going round all the time. There is zig-zag lines on it, just like your temperature on a card. And these are probably roads in the island, for the Neverland is always, more or less, an island.
See more »
Written by Jon Thor Birgisson (as Jón Þór Birgisson), Orri P. Dyrason (as Orri Páll Dýrason), Georg Holm (as Georg Hólm), Kjartan Sveinsson (Universal Music Publishing Ltd.)
Performed by Sigur Rós
Licensed courtesy of EMI Records
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The house in the film was built at a property in Myponga Beach, South Australia and was planned to be taken down after filming. Owners of the property, however, persuaded producers to leave the house and surrounding areas intact and it has now been converted into the successful Bed and Breakfast "Brooklyn Farm - Joe's House". See more »Quotes
[first lines]Joe Warr: [narrating] I don't know whether you've ever seen a map of a person's mind. Doctors sometimes draw maps of other parts of you, and your own map can become intensely interesting. But catch them trying to draw a map of a child's mind, which is not only confused, but keeps going round all the time. There is zig-zag lines on it, just like your temperature on a card. And these are probably roads in the island, for the Neverland is always, more or less, an island.
See more »
Soundtracks
IllgresiWritten by Jon Thor Birgisson (as Jón Þór Birgisson), Orri P. Dyrason (as Orri Páll Dýrason), Georg Holm (as Georg Hólm), Kjartan Sveinsson (Universal Music Publishing Ltd.)
Performed by Sigur Rós
Licensed courtesy of EMI Records
See more »
Do not look for comforting resolutions and feather-smoothing platitudes or resolutions in "The Boys are Back."
The strength of this film is the confusion and adjustments of life necessitated by the accidents and the neglections of life. This was thoroughly captured by Allan Cubitt in his narrative adaptation of the episodic novel.
Scott Hicks has managed to reproduce these faults/strengths on film with a sure and loving eye. His work with script, camera and actors reminds me in many ways of the love songs that John Schlesinger sang to those he nurtured onto celluloid.
Clive Owen portrays his universal love and need through the chauvinist characteristics of his daddy hood. A solid harmonic melody consisting of grace notes.
George MacKay's artistic accomplishment as a teenager should not be over-shadowed by the younger actor. Those concerned about the emotional hurts of the "forgotten" child, will find the case for all forgotten children is made and reinforced by Master MacKay.
Then to that younger actor. Nicholas McAnulty as the youngest Warr, is the first "child actor" that has managed to go beyond "Yeah, nice work." for me. I can see, as Mr. Owen has said in an interview, why an actor of Owen's stature and ability adjusted to this boy's genius.
The entire cast, Ms Fraser, Ms Booth, the others cast by Nikki Barrett and Nina Gold, were exemplified by Alexandra Schepisi's mother-in-law. This oft-called "thankless role," sang with her humanism and fiber, especially in her scenes of conflict with Mr. Owen.
I hold this film, this director, this star, these co-stars/supporting actors as both precious additions to my memory bank and a water mark for what I consider art in the world of film.
Thank you, Arlen Dean Snyder