Kieron's Corner 1st addition About A Boy

Based on Nick Hornby's best-selling novel, About A Boy is the story of a cynical, immature young man who is taught how to act like a grown-up by a little boy
Directors: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Writers: Nick Hornby (novel), Peter Hedges (screenplay), and 2 more credits »
Release Date:26 April 2002 (UK)





Often regarded as being amongst Britain’s top rated films of the past ten years About a Boy is a film that I’d highly recommend to anyone interested in 21st century British cinema.

I like how the film tackles a multitude of different issues and yet retains a clear, easy flowing narrative which is both funny and interesting at the same time. Hugh Grant’s performance I felt was superb and I’d also recommend the film to anyone who hasn’t experienced a performance from him which wasn’t just floppy hair and a lot of bumbling. The film also stars Nicholas Hoult who many may recognise from his more recent role of Toby in teenage sitcom Skins. He plays here Marcus, a troubled 12 year old boy and many credit this as the role that helped elevate his career.

Things I liked about the making of the film;

The soundtrack – The score from Badly Drawn Boy was fantastic and really worked well here, with its cool, uplifting style and gave the film a contemporary British feel I felt. I have heard the same tracks from the artists used numerous times in TV shows and such since and it helps create a really good vibe for whatever material I’ve seen it collaborated with.

In Depth Characters- Due to there not being all that many characters in the film I found that each of them were given the appropriate amount of build up and screen time which a lot of films seemingly don’t do. This allowed me as a spectator to invest more emotionally as to how I felt about each person in the film and how much I cared about their aims and well being.

Lack of action- Although the heading would suggest a negative comment it’s quite the contrary, more appraisal as I felt that for a film that essentially has no stunt scenes, action scenes, violence or blood it still had my attention and I found it entertaining. If it wasn’t for the high critical acclaim the film has garnered then you could just say I’m easily pleased however it was genuinely good viewing. And more to the point, a great example of how you don’t necessarily have go to extreme measures in order to keep an audience entertained.

‘Feel Good’ Factor- A great movie I felt for when you want to leave the cinema (or wherever you watch it) feeling happy about life generally. Though a vast majority of films end with cheesy happy ever afters and soppy moments anyway, I felt that About a Boy, with its charm and refreshing wit, showed class and style throughout technique wise, something that Hugh Grant hasn’t always been accustomed with.

Performances- Last but not least, it goes without saying (so why do you continue to type you may ask) but even if you have a golden narrative with all the guidance and panache you could ask for then it would come to nothing if either your actors and actresses were either off form or just useless to begin with. Thankfully, everyone puts in a great performance here and for Hugh Grant fans, or even those who loath the washed up twit (don’t mean it really Hugh) then I’d recommend watching just so you can see him in a much less familiar role than most of his other movies and one that he carries out very well I’d say.

If you’ve actually read this, then thanks.
If you read and actually liked this, then I solute you, there will be more instalments of Kieron’s Corner coming shortly.