BOY A (2007)

Award-winning debut for Andrew Garfield (tv in the U.K.; theatrical elsewhere) as a hard-luck kid, grown to young manhood in jail on a murder conviction, about to get out with a new identity.  Mark O’Rowe’s script follows his halting steps into normal society, slowly filling in background with grim flashbacks to an abused, friendless boy whose one pal turned out to be a budding psychopath.  John Crowley handles the difficult material well: working-class details of Nowheresville U.K. spot on; Garfield’s learning curve at work & play (drinking buds; office romance); then moving on to the unavoidable discovery of his past and quick descent.  The dramatic problem he doesn’t solve (with one missed exception) is that there’s not a surprise in the entire package.  A tack which can work if tragic inevitability kicks in; but not when the highs & lows feel programmed by committee . . . or network execs.  On the other hand, about that exception . . .  Much of the drama rests with Garfield case worker Peter Mullan, a divorced dad with his own family problems including an estranged son just back home with a passive/aggressive chip on his shoulder from a father who seems to favor surrogate sons (like Garfield) over him.  The subject needs more investigation to work though; just as Mullan needs more clients than we see him with.  Perhaps a film better balanced between Mullan at work & Garfield at sea would have more going for it.

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: Garfield’s next big lead was RED RIDING/’09, where he showed range & originality only hinted at here.   https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2011/03/red-riding-trilogy-2009.html

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: Casting director Fiona Weir (or someone) with quite the eye for spotting potential stars.  Not only Garfield, but in leading roles for upcoming series leads Shaun Evans before ENDEAVOR and Siobhan Finneran before HAPPY VALLEY.