A sports writer becomes a single parent in tragic circumstances.
Director:
Scott Hicks
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Title: The Boys Are Back (2009)
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6 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Clive Owen | ... | Joe Warr | |
| Emma Booth | ... | Laura | |
| Laura Fraser | ... | Katy | |
| George MacKay | ... | Harry | |
 |
Nicholas McAnulty | ... | Artie |
| Julia Blake | ... | Barbara | |
| Chris Haywood | ... | Tom | |
| Erik Thomson | ... | Digby | |
| Natasha Little | ... | Flick | |
| Lewis Fitz-Gerald | ... | Tim Walker | |
|
|
Nakia Pires | ... | Lucy |
| Emma Lung | ... | Mia | |
| Steven Robertson | ... | School Housemaster | |
| Georgina Naidu | ... | Paula | |
|
|
Daniel Carter | ... | Digby & Paula's Child |
Learn more
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
The Boys Are Back is a confessional tale of fatherhood. It follows a witty, wisecracking, action-oriented sportswriter who, in the wake of his wife's death, finds himself in a sudden, stultifying state of single parenthood. Joe Warr throws himself into the only child-rearing philosophy he thinks has a shot at bringing joy back into their lives: "just says yes." Raising two boys - a curious six year-old and a rebel teen from a previous marriage -- in a household devoid of feminine influence, and with a lack of rules, life becomes exuberant, instinctual, reckless... and on the constant verge of disaster. The three multi-generational boys of the Warr household, father and sons alike, must each find their own way, however tenuous, to grow up. Written by Miramax
Plot Keywords:
half brother | parenthood | single parent | australia | half brother half brother relationship |Taglines:
Growing up can be the adventure of a lifetime. See more »Genres:
DramaMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated PG-13 for some sexual language and thematic elements | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Joe Warr: [narrating] I don't know whether you've ever seen a map of a person's mind. Doctors sometimes draw maps of other parts of you, and your own map can become intensely interesting. But catch them trying to draw a map of a child's mind, which is not only confused, but keeps going round all the time. There is zig-zag lines on it, just like your temperature on a card. And these are probably roads in the island, for the Neverland is always, more or less, an island.
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Written by Jon Thor Birgisson (as Jón Þór Birgisson), Orri P. Dyrason (as Orri Páll Dýrason), Georg Holm (as Georg Hólm), Kjartan Sveinsson (Universal Music Publishing Ltd.)
Performed by Sigur Rós
Licensed courtesy of Fat Cat Records/PIAS Recordings!
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Simon Carr and his two sons, the people the film is based upon, all visited the set during filming. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Joe Warr: [narrating] I don't know whether you've ever seen a map of a person's mind. Doctors sometimes draw maps of other parts of you, and your own map can become intensely interesting. But catch them trying to draw a map of a child's mind, which is not only confused, but keeps going round all the time. There is zig-zag lines on it, just like your temperature on a card. And these are probably roads in the island, for the Neverland is always, more or less, an island.
See more »
Soundtracks
SamskeytiWritten by Jon Thor Birgisson (as Jón Þór Birgisson), Orri P. Dyrason (as Orri Páll Dýrason), Georg Holm (as Georg Hólm), Kjartan Sveinsson (Universal Music Publishing Ltd.)
Performed by Sigur Rós
Licensed courtesy of Fat Cat Records/PIAS Recordings!
See more »
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See more on IMDbPro »
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
12 November 2009 (Australia) See more »Also Known As:
The Boys Are Back See more »Edit
Box Office
Opening Weekend USA:
$49,342, 27 September 2009Gross USA:
$809,752Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$3,252,136Company Credits
Production Co:
Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), BBC Films, Hopscotch Productions See more »
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1Contribute to This Page
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this was a very interesting film to watch but by no means gripping. Certainly a lighter role for clive Owen after Duplicity and The International and he is of course faultless in his execution of the role as journalist Joe Carr showing great vulnerability in his relationship with women in general, notably his two wives and then his two sons Arty and Harry who live apart. There are a lot of sensitive moments and much is overplayed, though personally the death of his wife I think is not played enough and the grief of the family seems somewhat hollow to me. Laurel seemed too available and not involved enough in the story and can someone explain what the party was all bout at the house when Joe Carr was away. Who were the uninvited guests and how did they get into the house? Didn't get that at all, not at all! Another film which promises a lot but delivers little, touching on serious family issues but not really addressing them.