Boy A (2008)
Boy A (2008) 6/10
Boy A poses a simple question: Can society ever forgive a child for murder? Is there such a thing as true evil? Boy A is a film about redemption and rehabilitation. Andrew Garfield gives a strong, mesmerizing performance as Jack, a young adult just released from prison for a crime he committed as a kid. He is given a new identity, a new life to start anew and much of the film follows this awkward man-child as he tries to navigate the perils of a new world. But beneath his burning desire to rejoin society hides his dark, violent streak. To me, the greatest scene in the film is where he saves the life of another young girl, an act that ironically becomes his act of atonement and leads to his downfall.
This film clearly provides a sympathetic view towards the character of Boy A, by painting him as a boy who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. It shifts much of the blame towards his childhood friend who was supposedly the one who had violent issues. It did not really give the victim much characterization beyond a cursory introduction. This was where i felt the film was lacking. It presents a sympathetic side of Boy A while failing to show a dispassionate view of the seriousness of the crime committed. The film also proceeds at a slow, glacial pace and despite Garfield’s strong performance, much of the film will bore the average viewer. I also disliked the terrible deus ex machina by letting Boy A meet his girlfriend in the last scene. The ending is quite a downer and it is really in the last act that the film packs its emotional wallop. While i won’t recommend Boy A to the average viewer, those who enjoy thought-provoking arthouse flicks should give this a try. The film’s strength draws from the fact that it is based loosely upon true events and asks moral questions for which there are no easy answers.
“Thought-provoking, powerful, sad and boasting a central performance that won a BAFTA (British Oscar) for its star Andrew Garfield”- Jim Slotek
