SYNOPSIS: Rarely has such a bold subject met with such acclaim as Boy A, an eloquent film, which boasts a stirring title turn by newcomer Andrew Garfield.  Garfield is Jack, a young man just released from prison for a crime committed when he was just a boy.  Jack manages to build a new life - friends, a job, a girlfriend - until the ghost of his past returns to haunt him.  Can Jack escape his violent past, or will the mistakes of his youth lead to tragic consequences?

EDITORIAL REVIEW: I'll be honest.  When we offer a movie that is less than stellar, or let's face it, down right awful, I find myself staring at a computer screen trying to find something positive to say about it so we can at least make our money back on the stock we bought.  Then every once and a while there comes a film like Boy A.  There's a reason why this movie has been called "a masterpiece".  From the moment the first word is spoken until the credits roll more than 100 minutes later, you're completely enthralled in the story.  And that is of Jack, a young man who spent much of his childhood in prison - the reason for which is revealed as the story progresses. 

We first see Jack as he is introduced to his new life, new name, and a new pair of "Nike Escape" running shoes.  We quickly learn that, before prison, Jack was Eric Wilson, a troubled boy raised in an equally troubled family.  As so often is the case with troubled boys, Eric is beaten and bruised by bullies and anyone else who senses weakness.  Then comes Philip, a lad who is more of a troublemaker than a troubled boy.  Philip is not there to prey on Eric, but more to fill a void that's been missing in his life: a friend.  Philip is not without his own problems, though.  With a hate fueled by constant sexual abuse by his older brother, Philip turns his anger towards those who chose to pick on Eric - with the kind of violence equal to, if not greater than what any predator can do to either of them.  To an already timid and shy boy like Eric, this kind of influence from Philip can be dangerous.  What starts out as innocently skipping school and shoplifting sweets turns into something much more sinister.  At which point you're torn between what you know is morally right to think, and what you know you think.

The character development and storytelling by director John Crowly is remarkable.  Newcomers Alfie Owen and Taylor Doherty play Eric and Philip respectively and turn in great performances (and should have had more screen time).  Peter Mullan plays Terry, a father figure to Eric as a boy, and then his new "protector" and friend on the outside as Jack's pseudo parole officer.  Andrew Garfield is Jack in his first major role (the first of many, I hope).  I said in the beginning, there's a reason why Boy A has been called "a masterpiece".  Make no mistake, this is not a "feel good" movie that will fill your heart with a warm glow when the credits roll.  It is, though, a masterpiece.  One that you'll never forget.
 

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* This DVD will play in North America only.  This DVD should play in most players outside of North America as well, but it's not guaranteed. This DVD will play in any computer DVD-Rom.  This is NOT a DVD-R.

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STARRING: Andrew Garfield, Alfie Owen, Peter Mullan, Taylor Doherty.
DIRECTOR: John Crowley.
AVAILABILITY: In stock! Ships within one business day.
LENGTH: 106 minutes.
LANGUAGE: English, with OPTIONAL ENGLISH (SDH) and SPANISH SUBTITLES.
SPECIAL FEATURES: 1.78:1 (16:9 Widescreen); Dolby Digital Surround 5.1 audio; 1 disc; Uncut.
VIEWER DISCRETION: Nudity, sexual innuendo, sexual scene, coarse language, violence.
PICTURE QUALITY: Excellent picture quality. (what's this mean?)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UK (2007).
ALSO KNOWN AS:
DATE ADDED TO OUR LIBRARY:  June 5, 2009.
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