The Boys (1998 film)

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The Boys
TheBoys dvd.jpg
The Boys DVD cover
Directed by Rowan Woods
Screenplay by Stephen Sewell
Based onThe Boys
by Gordon Graham
Produced by Robert Connolly
John Maynard
Starring David Wenham
Toni Collette
Lynette Curran
John Polson
Anthony Hayes
CinematographyTristan Milani
Edited byNick Meyers
Music by The Necks
Alan Lamb
Distributed by Roadshow Entertainment
Release date
  • 7 May 1998 (1998-05-07)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2.5 million

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, with Graham influenced by the 1986 murder of Anita Cobby, [1] with the play first performed by Griffin Theatre Company under the direction of Alex Galeazzi.

Contents

Plot

After serving time in prison for an assault on a liquor store employee, Brett Sprague is released from prison and returns home to his two brothers and their girlfriends, mother and stepfather. 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

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." [2]

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 Sewell. [3]

Shooting was done on location in a rented house in Maroubra, one of Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. The location used to shoot the scene of the heinous crime was filmed at the Eastlakes Shopping Centre in Eastlakes, another eastern suburb.

Accolades

The original music score is composed by The Necks, with other music contributed by sound designer Alan Lamb. [4] [5]

AwardCategorySubjectResult
AACTA Awards
(1998 AFI Awards)
Best Film Robert Connolly Nominated
John MaynardNominated
Best Direction Rowan Woods Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Stephen Sewell Won
Best Actor David Wenham Nominated
Best Actress Lynette Curran Nominated
Best Supporting Actor John Polson Won
Anthony Hayes Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Toni Collette Won
Best Cinematography Tristan MilaniNominated
Best Editing Nick MeyersNominated
Best Original Music Score The Necks Nominated
Best Sound Peter GraceNominated
Phil JuddNominated
Sam PettyNominated
Best Costume Design Annie MarshallNominated
ASSG Award Best Location RecordingPeter GraceWon
Serge StanleyWon
Michael TaylorWon
Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear [6] Rowan WoodsNominated
FCCA Awards Best FilmRobert ConnollyWon
John MaynardWon
Best DirectorRoman WoodsWon
Readers' Award for Favourite Australian FilmWon
Best Adapted ScreenplayStephen SewellWon
Best ActorDavid WenhamNominated
Best Supporting ActorJohn PolsonNominated
Anthony HayesNominated
Best Supporting ActressToni ColletteNominated
Lynette CurranWon
Best CinematographyTristan MilaniNominated
Best Music ScoreThe NecksNominated

See also

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References

  1. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (2011). Rape-Revenge Films: A Critical Study. McFarland. p. 108. ISBN   978-0786486922.
  2. "Wettbewerb/In Competition". Moving Pictures, Berlinale Extra. Berlin. 11–22 February 1998. p. 12.
  3. "Interview with Rowan Woods", Signet, 12 May 1998. Retrieved 18 November 2012
  4. Biron, D. 2013. The Aesthetics of Conservatism. Overland, 210, 72-77.
  5. Mitchell, Tony. Minimalist Menace, UTS Publishing, 2005.
  6. "Berlinale: 1998 Programme". berlinale.de. Retrieved 15 January 2012.