Worried About the Boy (TV 2010)

In 1980 young George O'Dowd baffles his parents with his love of frocks and make-up and moves into a squat with kindred spirit Peter,who dresses as Marilyn Monroe and calls himself Marilyn.... See full summary »

Director:

Julian Jarrold

Writer:

Tony Basgallop

Stars:

Douglas Booth, Jonny Burt, Mathew Horne

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Douglas Booth	...	Boy George
Jonny Burt	...	Roy Hay
Mathew Horne	...	Jon Moss
Dean Fagan	...	Mikey Craig
Andy Quine	...	Careers Advisor
Francis Magee	...	Jerry O'Dowd
Daniel Wallace	...	Christopher
Suzanne Nichole Preston	...	Mo
Freddie Fox	...	Marilyn
Nicola Potts	...	Dawn
Hannah Harford	...	Sarah
Marc Warren	...	Steve Strange
Neil Toon	...	Rusty Egan
Richard Madden	...	Kirk Brandon
Lucy Lowe	...	Caroline

Storyline

In 1980 young George O'Dowd baffles his parents with his love of frocks and make-up and moves into a squat with kindred spirit Peter,who dresses as Marilyn Monroe and calls himself Marilyn. They make a splash at Steve Strange's trendy Blitz Club where George gets a job in the cloakroom but George is unlucky in his relationships with men until he meets wannabe musician Kirk. Through Kirk George meets the handsome drummer Jon Moss,on whom he develops a crush, but sacked by the Blitz and spurned by Kirk,George turns to Sex Pistols' manager Malcolm McLaren to further his music career. George's spell with McLaren's group Bow Wow Wow is short but fan Mikey North is impressed and asks George to sing in a group he is forming,where George again meets Jon. They will have an affair and the group will become the very successful Culture Club. Four years later, however, hounded by the tabloid press amid stories of his drug addiction, an unhappy George turns to Jon for advice on his future.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 May 2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

Karma Caméléon

Company Credits

Production Co:

Red Production Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Boy George: You're accusing me of sucking my own neck.

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Connections

Featured in Breakfast: Episode dated 14 May 2010 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Beauty And The Beast"
Performed by David Bowie

User Reviews

Disappointed

Having only recently read 'Take It Like A Man', Boy George's compelling and brilliantly entertaining autobiography, I was excited by the prospect of this. I've never been a Culture Club or Boy George fan, but I love tales of rock 'n' roll excess and I was happy to find the book did exactly this.

This film, however, proved to be a bit of an anti-climax. Whilst everything appeared to be accurately depicted and the era authentically portrayed, the problem was that it stopped just as things were getting interesting. The book really came into its own once Boy George and Culture Club found fame but film stops dead at this point, with the exception of a few flash-forwards to 1986 when George was engulfed in controversy and smack addiction. I appreciate what went on before is relevant but what was shown in the film should have been condensed down, allowing the majority of it to focus on what happened thereafter. But I guess that ultimately wasn't the point.

I definitely think George's fame, popularity and infamously colourful life warrants a screen adaptation, but merely giving us an insight into what went on beforehand makes me think this was a missed opportunity.

On a slightly more positive note, to hear that the lead was only 17 is astounding and he did a terrific job in what must have been a very challenging role.