The Boys Are Back

Scott Hicks' tale of single fatherhood after two marriages—one ending in divorce, the other with the death of a much-loved second wife—stars Clive Owen as Joe Warr, an Australian sportswriter left with a son from each union. Desperately unhappy teenager Harry (George MacKay) lives with his mother in London, while Warr's at-home six-year old Artie (Nicholas McAnulty)—too young to comprehend his mother's death—begins acting out in frustration. Much of the film deals with Joe coming to terms with his wife's sudden demise while also attempting to be a good father to Artie, even though his permissive attitude toward child-rearing raises some eyebrows. The odds against him increase, however, after Harry shows up for a visit, further altering the family dynamic. And when Joe's editor insists that he go off to cover a big international competition, he decides to leave Harry and Artie home alone—a choice that has unhappy consequences, although all turns out well in the end. Some elements veer into maudlin territory (Joe's dead wife occasionally appears to him), but the film generally steers clear of being blatantly manipulative, retaining an underlying kernel of emotional truth. A rare tearjerker that works well—largely due to the excellent cast—this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include “A Photographic Journey” photo montage with optional commentary by director Scott Hicks (17 min.), “A Father and Two Sons, On Set” featurette (2 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for a fine film.] (F. Swietek)