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CONSENSUS
The sentimentality of Borstal Boy feels false in contrast to the gritty life of the actual Brendan Behan.
CAST & CREW
Shawn Hatosy, Danny Dyer, Michael York
Directed by Peter Sheridan
more...
SYNOPSIS
Peter Sheridan, the acclaimed Irish theater director and brother of film director Jim Sheridan (MY LEFT FOOT) makes his feature directorial debut with an adaptation of playwright, novelist, and political rogue Brendan Behan’s autobiographical tale. more...
MPAA RATING
Not Rated
RUNTIME
1 hour, 31 minutes
RELEASE DATES
Theatrical: Mar 1, 2002
Video: Oct 15, 2002
RELEASE COMPANY
Strand Releasing
GENRE
Dramas, War, World War II, Ireland, Pilots
OFFICIAL SITE
• The Official Borstal Boy Site
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TIDBITS
SUBMIT/EDIT ARTICLE
SUBMIT USER REVIEW
FORUM
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 "Borstal Boy represents the worst kind of filmmaking, the kind that pretends to be passionate and truthful but is really frustratingly timid and soggy."
-- Jeffrey M. Anderson, SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER
 "Hatosy establishes himself here not only as the bona fide star of this little ensemble film, but also as a talent to be watched."
-- Joe Baltake, SACRAMENTO BEE
"Well-made but mush-hearted."
-- Misha Berson, SEATTLE TIMES
"Sheridan ... smoothes over sources of conflict that could have lent the film a bit more depth."
-- Ken Fox, TV GUIDE'S MOVIE GUIDE
"Hatosy ... portrays young Brendan with his usual intelligence and subtlety, not to mention a convincing brogue."
-- Susan Green, BOXOFFICE MAGAZINE
"The film creates an effective sense of time and place, though Sheridan is not above hitting us over the head with obvious stylistic contrivances."
-- Andy Klein, NEW TIMES
"Legendary Irish writer Brendan Behan's memoir, Borstal Boy, has been given a loving screen transferral."
-- David Noh, FILM JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL
"A solid and refined piece of moviemaking imbued with passion and attitude."
-- Frank Ochieng, FILMCRITIC.COM
"Behan's emotional growth and confused self-examination are ably conveyed by Hatosy's spirited and well-nuanced performance."
-- John Patterson, L.A. WEEKLY
""I blame all men for war," [the warden's daughter] tells her father. The movie is about as deep as that sentiment."
-- Steve Rhodes, STEVE RHODES' INTERNET REVIEWS
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"Behan himself knew how to spin a tale and one can't help but think he'd appreciate this attempt to turn his life into art."
-- Pam Grady, REEL.COM
"A gentle and engrossing character study."
-- Harry Guerin, RTE INTERACTIVE (DUBLIN, IRELAND)
"The film is saved by its performances."
-- Jim Lane, SACRAMENTO NEWS & REVIEW
"very solid, very watchable first feature for director Peter Sheridan"
-- Harvey O'Brien, HARVEY'S MOVIE REVIEW
"Serves as a powerful reminder that children have been willing to die for the hatred in which they've been schooled for a long time now."
-- Connie Ogle, MIAMI HERALD
"None of this violates the letter of Behan's book, but missing is its spirit, its ribald, full-throated humor."
-- Peter Rainer, NEW YORK MAGAZINE
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ROTTEN 25%
Avg. Rating: 5.5/10 |
"Sheridan's take on the author's schoolboy memoir ... is a rather toothless take on a hard young life."
-- John Anderson, NEWSDAY
"Sheridan seems terrified of the book's irreverent energy, and scotches most of its élan, humor, bile, and irony."
-- Michael Atkinson, VILLAGE VOICE
"Does anyone much think the central story of Brendan Behan is that he was a bisexual sweetheart before he took to drink?"
-- Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
"If Borstal Boy isn't especially realistic, it is an engaging nostalgia piece."
-- Stephen Holden, NEW YORK TIMES
"A film that will probably please people already fascinated by Behan but leave everyone else yawning with admiration."
-- Mick LaSalle, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
"An uplifting, largely bogus story."
-- Lou Lumenick, NEW YORK POST
"Fans of Behan's work and of Irish movies in general will be rewarded by Borstal Boy."
-- Andrew O'Hehir, SALON.COM
"Dripping with cliche and bypassing no opportunity to trivialize the material."
-- Janice Page, BOSTON GLOBE
"Takes a clunky TV-movie approach to detailing a chapter in the life of the celebrated Irish playwright, poet and drinker."
-- Steven Rea, PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
"A quaint, romanticized rendering."
-- Lisa Schwarzbaum, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
"The inherent strength of the material as well as the integrity of the filmmakers gives this coming-of-age story restraint as well as warmth."
-- Kenneth Turan, LOS ANGELES TIMES
"Behan's memoir is great material for a film -- rowdy, brawny and lyrical in the best Irish sense -- but Sheridan has settled for a lugubrious romance."
-- Michael Wilmington, CHICAGO TRIBUNE
-- Click to read the article.
-- Robert Denerstein, DENVER ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS
-- Click to read the article.
-- HOUSTON CHRONICLE
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* Who are the Approved Tomatometer Critics?
* Mouse over a tomato icon for a publication's original rating. Original rating not available for every publication.
* In fairness to critics whose last name begins with a letter at the end of the alphabet, certain pages are sorted in reverse order, z-a.
* Certain "Borstal Boy" article data provided by the Movie Review Query Engine.
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