All  Things
 Video 

by Carol Lane Patterson 

   

About A Boy

Any actor’s dream is to express their art in plays that are a perfect fit for them…an absolute match. Audiences seldom disagree when they already like the actor, anyway. The screenplay and character of about a boy provides just such a vehicle for Hugh Grant. "A man is an island onto himself…" is Will’s credo who is proud of his accomplishments of living the ideal life, of doing nothing with no one for any reason, with as much aplomb as anyone could ever possibly wish. Even understanding that Will is as shallow as a desert creek, the viewer, is disarmingly enchanted with him nonetheless. He lives his life in ‘increments, informing us that a lifetime of waywardness is not without its disciplines, incorporating a semblance of order in the churning, emotional seas of chaos he observes all about him in others’ lives. He is no one, and has no one who cares about him, and this very invisibility brings immense self-satisfaction.

Were it not for a catastrophe of coincidences brought upon him by over-confidence, he would have not been endearing for long. However, he believes in his brilliance at practicing his ‘island’ credo in strategic forays out into the world for personal gratification. Thusly, he is wholly unprepared for one of those interactions with the outside morasses’ to reveal himself to a young boy, who ‘sees’ him and insists on a relationship, however tenuous, with Will. Young Nicholas Hoult, as Marcus, in that wonderful serendipity of casting, performs a delightful counterpoint to the cultivated indifference of Grant’s Will. Marcus is world’s apart from Will, in not just his age, but in his complete social visibility’ as his school’s favorite nerd to bully and ridicule, and the magical way of the young mind to cope with truly tragic circumstances, provided by his mother’s own turmoil.

Fiona, (Toni Collette in another of her sparkling performances) brings just the right comedic timing to what is truly a tragic human condition. Her struggle matters not just to Marcus, but to the viewer and ultimately to Will. Fiona’s growth and healing escalates to a quiet triumph, mirroring Will’s uneasy stumble smack into the middle of Life, with commensurate confusion, the whole uncontrollable, experiential impact of being ‘visible’ and caring about others’ welfare and outcome.

Of course in the middle of his retreat from the chaos of ‘involvement, back to his life where he resumes his comfortable existence of daytime television (each show equals 2 units,) having his hair ‘carefully disheveled’ (3 units) or eating breakfast (1 unit) he believes himself safely an ‘island’ once again. Enter the remarkable Rachel Weisz as Rachel, masterfully jumping in mid-movie and is so intriguing to Will, he is forced to re-consider his life choices, seeking Marcus to assist in his grasping-at-straws assemblage of a ‘persona.

You will be laughing the entire time you are experiencing this trial of growth and life as it is truly meant to be lived.

The rest of the casting is every bit as superb, the story line meanders as life does and it all works so well this film belongs in everyone’s permanent libraries. Presented by Universal Pictures as a collaboration with Studio Canal, Working Title, Kalima and Tribecca production companies.

METAPHYSICAL OVERVIEW existence, no matter how opulent and ordered, will never hold a candle to life, truly living every moment to the maximum with others who matter to you — you can ‘grow up’ at any time with the right impetus, age not being a requirement.

CineVegas Update Don’t forget to get in a few if not as many screenings as possible during the week of June 7th to the 15th of June at The Palms Brendan Theatres. Let’s all encourage ‘growing’ Las Vegas culture by participating!