Borstal Boy

Starring:Shawn Hatosy, Danny Dyer, Lee Ingleby, Robin Laing (II), Eva Birthistle, Michael York, Mark Huberman, Viko Nikci, Patricia Levento, Luke Griffin, Keith Murtagh, Luke Hayden, Garret Deady, Darren Donohue, Ian McElhinney, Owen Sharpe, Trevor Hanly, Ronnie Drew, William Fitzpatrick, Lukas Hassel
Director: Peter Sheridan
Studio: Strand Releasing
Product Type: DVD

Average customer rating:

Only bought it for the Danny Dyer nudity.
If you don't know what to say, say nothing at all
this movie surprised me...
EXCELLENT Film!
Three stars for a fair flick but misleading

Borstal Boy
Starring: Shawn Hatosy , Danny Dyer , Lee Ingleby , Robin Laing (II) , and Eva Birthistle
Director: Peter Sheridan
Manufacturer: Strand Releasing
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B00006SFL3
Release Date: 2002-10-15

Customer Reviews:

Only bought it for the Danny Dyer nudity........2007-05-14

Which was lacking. Although there was a nice Shawn Hatosy/Danny Dyer kiss which was unexpected but too brief and no tongues. I didn't watch it all from the beginning right through til the end. I just fast forwarded it. Wouldn't reccommend. Not worth buying.

If you don't know what to say, say nothing at all.......2007-05-13

First of all, I have not read the book from which this screenplay was taken. Therefore, I can't review it for accuracy, but I can tell you my feelings about the movie. It's the true story of Brendan Behan, (magnificently played by Shawn Hatosy), a sixteen year old Irish activist on a bombing mission from Ireland to Liverpool during the second world war. He is apprehended and imprisoned in Borstal, A reform institution for young offenders, in East Anglia England. Brendan, a self professed straight guy is forced at Borstal to live day in and day out with those he regarded as "the enemy", and is faced with coming to terms with his feelings for the Irish Republic Army, and his regard for his fellow man. While at Borstal he made a friend "Charlie" who was a gay soldier in the English Navy. Danny Dyer gave a wonderful performance in this role. Their friendship did not come easily, especially given the fact that Charlie was gay and had deep feelings for Brendan, not to mention his loyalty to the English for whom Brendan had low regards. Over time their friendship blossomed, but not as you may have imagined to this point. When given the chance, Charlie returned to the Navy and left Borstal, because he had come to the realization that Brendan would never be his, and their worlds could never co-exist.

Eventually, that all changed and Brendan came to realize the truth about his own feelings, but things might not be so easy for the two of them ever being together. The soundtrack for this film is great. The song "Is this the end of the road" is poignant and fitting for the way the story evolved. I will refrain from going into more detail, as not to give away the whole plot behind this film.

I had high hopes for this movie but those hopes were somewhat dashed mainly due to the poor sound quality, poor lighting and although the dialogue was in English, it was done with very heavy accents which made it very difficult to understand. This is one time I could have used a few subtitles to help follow along. The acting was great, casting was wonderful and I felt all the cast played their roles perfectly. Especially the main two characters. They were also very attractive which added a lot of appeal. I appreciated the fact that the soundtrack did not overshadow the script. Very moving, warm and emotional in every aspect. I really like this film and it is one I will watch over and over again, hoping to grasp more of it's content each time I view it. It is not the story of gay desire, lust, or pure hormones. It is rather the story of love between two characters who didn't expect it. Very thought provoking and leaves the viewer to realize that love is not to be feared, but seized while there is time.

As much as I personally liked the film, and it's leading actors, I felt it could have been a much better production with the proper sound and lighting, and maybe a bit more work on breaking the accents, or at least given a little assistance for those of us who speak Americanized English. 91 minutes long and I was captivated every moment of it. I give the script, casting and superb acting two thumbs up, however due to it's technical flaws, I'm rating it with 4 stars. Very good, but don't expect the quality to be all top notch. I do however recommend "Borstal Boy" for your viewing and hope you enjoy it's message as I did.

this movie surprised me..........2006-08-12

i usually don't like this type of movie; but this, i liked this. it was good. not great or amazing, but... good... and surprising... right now it's on Logo on demand for free (but by the time anyone reads this i'm sure it will be gone)

watch it and judge for yourself <3

EXCELLENT Film!.......2006-03-14

All of the actors provide great performances. Shawn Hatosy and Danny Dyer are above GREAT! The tension and frugality of the times comes through. There is romance, same sex teenage romance, as one would reasonably expect for this part of Behan's life in a boy's reformatory, but it isn't overdone. If you're expecting a gay movie, you'll be disappointed. It's romantic and very touching. If you're homophobic, you'll be unhappy too. The entire movie is realistic.This version of the theme song END OF THE ROAD by the Hothouse Flowers is EXCEPTIONAL and the dvd is worth buying just for that. This version has not been released anywhere but on this film. The song plays in it's entirety through the closing credits. It's AWESOME!The dvd itself is not great. There isn't a widescreen option, and I wish it were LOUDER. You don't have to strain to hear it. It plays at a normal level, but I'd like the option to crank it up higher than normal. That's a personal preference.

Three stars for a fair flick but misleading.......2005-10-28

Like most movies based on "a true story", this one is well-done for many reasons on its own but as far as who the main character is and what they do or did in real life, I think it may mislead people. (Erin Brokovich, etc.)
I've read Borstal Boy at least 10 times (along with "Confessions of an Irish Revolutionary", "Brendan Behan's Island", etc. and all of his plays, two of which I have participated in) and I feel the movie doesn't even come close to the enjoyment that you can find in the book, which usually seems to be the case in movies based on books. What bothers me is there are only small hints in the book to Behan's so-called homosexuality and speculation on its importance in his life in general. Maybe he was bisexual because it is sure that he liked women. But who cares, really? To play up that angle and make this a "gay" movie was a mistake. There are so many interesting issues in Behan's telling of the story about friendship, flirtation, loyalty, disloyalty, the law, being Irish, honor, work, having fun as a young man, being funny in general and singing. The "real" story (or at least told and intended by Behan in the book) is so much richer, more beautiful and interesting. To believe that the movie reflects who he was and his life reduces him to an object in a "politically correct" flick which, I think, cheapens his memory. Long live Breandan O Beachain!

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