The Boys (1998 film)
| The Boys | |
|---|---|
 The Boys DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Rowan Woods |
| Produced by |
Robert Connolly John Maynard |
| Written by |
Stephen Sewell (screenplay) Based on the play by Gordon Graham |
| Starring |
David Wenham Toni Collette Lynette Curran John Polson Anthony Hayes |
| Music by | The Necks / Alan Lamb |
| Cinematography | Tristan Milani |
| Edited by | Nick Meyers |
| Distributed by | Roadshow Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
The Boys is a 1998 Australian drama film directed by Rowan Woods. The screenplay by Stephen Sewell is based on the play by Gordon Graham, first performed by Griffin Theatre Company directed by Alex Galeazzi.
Plot
After serving time in prison for an assault on a liquor store-owner, Brett Sprague is released from prison and returns home to his two brothers and their girlfriends, mother, stepfather, and girlfriend. Things have changed, and as Brett begins to drink his way through the day, he regains his "top-dog" position one argument at a time. This power-trip gets Brett and his brothers united in rage against their girlfriends and mother, and they are involved in a heinous crime. The aftermath of the night unfolds through the story with flashforwards.
Cast
- David Wenham - Brett Sprague
- Toni Collette - Michelle
- Lynette Curran - Sandra Sprague
- John Polson - Glenn Sprague
- Anthony Hayes - Stevie Sprague
- Jeanette Cronin - Jackie
- Anna Lise Phillips - Nola
- Pete Smith - George
- Sal Sharah - Nick
- Lawrence Woodward - Jailer
- Peter Hehir - Graham Newman
- Andrew Heys - Sparrow
- Teo Gebert - Policeman
- Anthony Keirann - Policeman
- Stephen Leeder - Commissioner
- Veronica Neave - Girl
Production
The Boys is Rowan Woods' directorial debut, and actor Peter Hehir's last film before he retired from acting. Woods "aimed to achieve a combination of documentary-style naturalism with the edge of a thriller." Woods also said that the first time he read the play, he felt "it was an Australian story that had to be told. (...) This is the inside story of a family in crisis, of three boys on the day before a nasty crime takes place, of which they are accused."[1]
The producer of the film, Robert Connolloy had also produced the play. He met Rowan Woods at film school, and they both suggested to John Maynard they make the movie. The script was adapted by playwright Stephen Sewll.[2]
Shooting was made on location in a rented house in Maroubra, an eastern suburb of Sydney. The shopping centre which is the scene of the heinous crime is the Eastlakes Shopping Centre in Sydney's inner suburbs.
Awards
The original music score is composed by The Necks (though sound designer Alan Lamb also contributed music for the film)[3] [4]and was nominated for ARIA Best Soundtrack Album, AFI Best Musical Score, and Australian Guild of Screen Composers Award. The film was also entered into the 48th Berlin International Film Festival.[5]
See also
- Cinema of Australia
- The Boys (soundtrack album)
- List of Australian films
References
- ↑ "Wettbewerb/In Competition". Moving Pictures, Berlinale Extra (Berlin): p.12. 11–22 February 1998.
- ↑ "Interview with Rowan Woods", Signet, 12 May 1998 accessed 18 November 2012
- ↑ Biron, D. 2013. The Aesthetics of Conservatism. Overland, 210, 72-77.
- ↑ Mitchell, Tony. Minimalist Menace, UTS Publishing, 2005.
- ↑ "Berlinale: 1998 Programme". berlinale.de. Retrieved 15 January 2012.
External links
- The Boys at the Internet Movie Database
- The Boys at AllMovie
- The Boys at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Boys at the National Film and Sound Archive
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