Rent The Boys (1998)
3.5 of 5 from 68 ratings
1h 21min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Based on the Australian writer Gordon Graham's highly acclaimed, award-winning play, 'The Boys' is set in the suburbs of Sydney and follows the life of Brett Sprague as he returns to his family after twelve months in prison.
Brett finds life is slightly different after a year 'inside'. His brother Glenn has moved out with his girlfriend, his younger brother Stevie's pregnant girlfriend now lives with the family and his mother has taken a shine to a Maori drifter.
Having lost the hold he once had over his family, Brett can no longer keep his anger and frustration at bay. Intent on restoring order and dominance, Brett soon wields his power in a most terrifying way. - Actors:
- David Wenham, Toni Collette, Lynette Curran, John Polson, Anthony Hayes, Jeanette Cronin, Anna Lise Phillips, Pete Smith, Sal Sharah, Lawrence Woodward, Peter Hehir, Andrew Heys, Teo Gebert, Anthony Kierann, Stephen Leeder
- Directors:
- Rowan Woods
- Producers:
- Robert Connolly, John Maynard
- Writers:
- Gordon Graham, Stephen Sewell
- Studio:
- Cinema Club
- Genres:
- Drama
- Countries:
- Australia
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Reviews (2) of The Boys
Why? - The Boys review by JD
Why does one watch a DVD? Sometimes there is an element of emotional escape from the unpleasant realities of life, sometimes an element of being entertained, sometimes to inspire or explore feelings. It is not in my opinion to be reminded of the most unpleasant things, bullying, fear and intimidation. These can be used to contrast or emphasise, or can be stylised. To have them in a bleak setting , with a dower plot, violently and grindingly portrayed is not why I watch a DVD and so after an hour I stopped.
1 out of 2 members found this review helpful.
Blistering Australian drama - The Boys review by AER
Complex characters and some career best performances mark this 90s Australian drama out as something very special indeed. The three brothers are reuinited when the bad breed of the trio returns to the fold after a year in jail for GBH. The pecking order is re-established as the eldest goes about bullying his younger brothers and everyone around him through intimidation and cajolery. David Wenham has never been as good and you can see why his career took after this. Astonishing performances from Lynette Curran and Toni Collette as the tough women who live in their world. The ending contains one of the coldest, most icy endings I know - I couldn't bear to watch at times, but I was glued. Not for everyone, as this is relentlessly bleak and unimaginably sad and tragic. Jon Polson and Anthony Hayes are also superb as the two other brothers. I saw this on release and was glad I caught up with it again. It has really retained its power.
Weird bit of trivia - Director Rowan Woods went on to be one of the chief creators / series directors of TV's Farscape.
0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.