The Boy with a Thorn in His Side

Last updated

The Boy with a Thorn in His Side
Directed byMark Jeavonsa
Written byMark Jeavonsa
Produced byPeter Robert Ball
Mark Jeavonsa
Starring Alec Sedgley
Graham Pollard
Sue Kimberley
Morgan Lees
CinematographyBen Sampays
Edited by James Booth
Music byJustin R. Durban
Release date
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£5,000 (est)

The Boy with a Thorn in His Side is a 2005 comedy film, produced and directed by Mark Jeavonsa as his feature film debut, and starring Alec Sedgley as Billy Heinlickburger. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

Boy With A Thorn was shot in Birmingham and Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, England over a period of 17 days, because that was the length of time director Mark Jeavonsa was allowed to use the equipment. [1] The director relates that he devoted most of 2004 in preparing to make the film, spending the first half of the year seeking funding for a feature before learning about the government-funded 'Media Vault' program that would allow West Midlands filmmakers access to filming equipment, but for only 17 days. The first draft of the film had been written in 2001. After arranging for the use of the equipment for a period three months later, he re-wrote the draft to create it as a project that could be shot within his time constraints and began his pre-production and casting. [3]

The film premiered 18 May 2009 at the Cannes Film Festival, [4] and later screened at independent cinemas in the United Kingdom [1]

Synopsis

Billy Heinlickburger (Alec Sedgley) is 18, has no job, and no friends. He daydreams about a becoming rock star or artist or best-selling author, but fails to follow through with any of his aspirations due to his not wanting to work. He wishes to get back together with his slightly older ex-girlfriend, Susan (Morgan Lees). She has moved forward with her life, but agrees to a few dates anyway. Billy's German parents, Jurgen Heinlickburger (Graham Pollard) and Gertrude Heinlickburger (Sue Kimberley), are both eccentric. Jurgen has for 30 years maintained a monotonous diet of Spam sandwiches and raw carrots. Gertrude is simply and totally paranoid about everything. But they both pressure Billy continually to leave home and get a job. This constant friction forces Billy to decide once and for all if he will change his ways. [ citation needed ]

Cast

Reception

Microfilmmaker Magazine wrote that this was an interesting story, in that it could apply to many different person's lives. They offered that "Alec Sedgley did a good job at portraying the rather lazy and childish Billy", due to his seeming to personally understand the problems and frustrations faced by a young adult. They also offered that actress Morgan Lees did a good job as Susan in her "portraying the sympathetic and down-to-earth ex-girlfriend, who is trying to be encouraging." They also approved of Neil Harris' portrayal of Susan's roommate Felix who, even though verbally referred to in context as a boyfriend to her, dresses and acts in a flamboyant manner leading viewers to assume Felix was more interested in men than in women. Itwa stressed though that the best acting in the film was done by Graham Pollard and Sue Kimberley in their portrayal of Billy's very odd German parents. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Hope and Glory</i> (film) 1987 British film by John Boorman

Hope and Glory is a 1987 comedy-drama war film written, produced, and directed by John Boorman based on his own experiences growing up in London during World War II. It was distributed by Columbia Pictures. The title is derived from the traditional British patriotic song "Land of Hope and Glory". The film tells the story of the Rowan family and their experiences, as seen through the eyes of the son, Billy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael J. Pollard</span> American actor (1939–2019)

Michael J. Pollard was an American character actor. With his distinctive bulbous nose, dimpled chin and smirk, he gained a cult following, usually portraying quirky, off-beat, simplistic but likeable supporting characters. He was best known for his role as C.W. Moss, in the film Bonnie and Clyde (1967), which earned him critical acclaim along with nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Other notable appearances include The Wild Angels (1966), Hannibal Brooks (1969), Little Fauss and Big Halsy (1970), Dirty Little Billy (1972), Roxanne (1987), American Gothic (1988), and Tango & Cash (1989).

<i>Bad Santa</i> 2003 film directed by Terry Zwigoff

Bad Santa is a 2003 American Christmas black comedy crime film directed by Terry Zwigoff, written by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, and starring Billy Bob Thornton in the title role, with a supporting cast of Tony Cox, Lauren Graham, Brett Kelly, Lauren Tom, John Ritter, and Bernie Mac. It was Ritter's last live-action film appearance before his death on September 11, 2003. The film was dedicated to his memory. The Coen brothers are credited as executive producers. The film was released in North America on November 26, 2003, and was screened out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. It received positive reviews and was a commercial success.

<i>Dr. Who and the Daleks</i> 1965 British science fiction film by Gordon Flemyng

Dr. Who and the Daleks is a 1965 British science fiction film directed by Gordon Flemyng and written by Milton Subotsky, and the first of two films based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. It stars Peter Cushing as Dr. Who, Roberta Tovey as Susan, Jennie Linden as Barbara, and Roy Castle as Ian. It was followed by Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966).

<i>St. Elmos Fire</i> (film) 1985 American coming-of-age film

St. Elmo's Fire is a 1985 American coming-of-age film co-written and directed by Joel Schumacher and starring Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Andie MacDowell and Mare Winningham. It centers on a clique of recent graduates of Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown University, and their adjustment to post-university life and the responsibilities of adulthood. The film is a prominent movie of the Brat Pack genre. It received negative reviews from critics but was a box-office hit, grossing $37.8 million on a $10 million budget.

<i>The Navigators</i> (film) 2001 British film by Ken Loach

The Navigators is a 2001 British film directed by Ken Loach with screenplay by Rob Dawber.

<i>The Man in the White Suit</i> 1951 film by Alexander Mackendrick

The Man in the White Suit is a 1951 British satirical science fiction comedy film made by Ealing Studios. It stars Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood and Cecil Parker and was directed by Alexander Mackendrick. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Writing (Screenplay) for Roger MacDougall, John Dighton and Alexander Mackendrick.

Ian Maxtone-Graham is an American television writer and producer. He has formerly written for Saturday Night Live (1992–1995) and The Simpsons (1995–2012), as well as serving as a co-executive producer and consulting producer for the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Meadows</span> English director, screenwriter and actor

Shane Meadows is an English director, screenwriter and actor, known for his work in independent film, most notably the cult film This Is England (2006) and its three sequels (2010–2015).

<i>At Lady Mollys</i> Book by Anthony Powell

At Lady Molly's is the fourth volume in Anthony Powell's twelve-novel sequence, A Dance to the Music of Time. Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize 1957, At Lady Molly's is set in England of the mid-1930s and is essentially a comedy of manners, but in the background, the rise of Hitler and of worldwide Fascism are not ignored. The driving theme of At Lady Molly's is married life; marriages – as practised or mooted – among the narrator's acquaintances in bohemian society and the landed classes are pondered. Meanwhile, the career moves of various characters are advanced, checked or put on hold.

<i>The Acid House</i> (film) 1998 British film

The Acid House is a 1998 Scottish film adaptation of Irvine Welsh's short story collection The Acid House directed by Paul McGuigan. Welsh himself wrote the screenplay and appears as a minor character in the film. All three sections are independent, but are linked by the setting of Edinburgh and the reappearance of incidental characters, in particular Maurice Roëves, who appears variously as an inebriated wedding guest, a figure in a dream, and a pub patron. All three of his parts symbolise a human manifestation of God.

<i>Crime School</i> 1938 film by Lewis Seiler

Crime School is a 1938 American crime drama film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring the Dead End Kids, Humphrey Bogart and Gale Page. It was produced and distributed by Warner Brothers.

<i>Sons and Lovers</i> (film) 1960 British film by Jack Cardiff

Sons and Lovers is a 1960 British period drama film directed by Jack Cardiff and adapted by Gavin Lambert and T. E. B. Clarke from the semi-autobiographical 1913 novel of the same name by D. H. Lawrence. It stars Trevor Howard, Dean Stockwell, Wendy Hiller, Mary Ure, and Heather Sears.

<i>The Neon Bible</i> (film) 1995 British film

The Neon Bible is a 1995 drama film written and directed by Terence Davies, based on the novel of the same name by John Kennedy Toole. The film is about a boy named David coming of age in Georgia in the 1940s. His abusive father enlists in the army during World War II and disappears, leaving David to take care of his mother with his Aunt Mae, who is a singer. It was filmed in Atlanta, Crawfordville and Madison, Georgia.

<i>The Damned United</i> 2009 film

The Damned United is a 2009 sports drama film directed by Tom Hooper and adapted by Peter Morgan from David Peace's bestselling 2006 novel The Damned Utd – a largely fictional book based on the author's interpretation of Brian Clough's ill-fated tenure as football manager of Leeds United in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whit Hertford</span> American actor

Whit Hertford is an American theatre director, writer, and actor.

<i>The Girl in the News</i> 1940 British thriller film

The Girl in the News is a 1940 British thriller film directed by Carol Reed and starring Margaret Lockwood, Barry K. Barnes and Emlyn Williams. It was based on the eponymous novel by Roy Vickers, released the same year.

Mark Joffe is an Australian film and television director. He has directed feature films, telemovies, and drama series.

Studio 8 is an American entertainment company founded in 2014, by Jeff Robinov, John Graham, Mark Miner and based in Culver City. It specializes in film and television production.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Chris Osborne (14 November 2007). "A thorn in his side". BBC . Retrieved 23 October 2011.
  2. 1 2 Monika DeLeeuw-Taylor (15 May 2006). "Final Film Critique: The Boy With A Thorn In His Side". Microfilmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Mark Jeavons. "Director's Comments". Sepia Films. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
  4. ↑ Mark Jeavons (19 May 2005). "Cannes 2005: Judgement Day". Sepia Films. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.