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Boys Customer Reviews (1 - 3 of 5 Reviews)

Ryder and Haas anchor the film with good performances...
Winona Ryder (Heathers, Mr. Deeds) winds up in the hands of school boy Lukas Haas (Mars Attacks!, Witness) after she falls off her horse and knocks herself unconscious in a field. Haas goes to an all boy school and he tries to hide her from his classmates...he doesnt like school. Ryder is hiding from the cops because their investigating on a baseball player named Bud Valentine, played by Skeet Ulrich (Scream, Chill Factor) and the last person to see him was Ryder and also threw the movie we see flashbacks from her night with Ulrich and what happened to him. Alright story has its lulls here and there but what anchors it is the performances by Haas and Ryder but the ending sorta is put on for a happy yay feeling which I didnt like. Also starring Chris Cooper (Jarhead, Adaptation), John C. Reilly (The Aviator, Dark Water), Catherine Keener (The 40 Yeard Old Virgin, Interpreter) and James LeGros (Near Dark, Just Looking).

Not the Movie for Everyone, but Loved by Some
This movie has been panned by countless critics and dissed by even more amateurs all of whom have underappreciated its beautiful subtlety. I'll readily admit that the plot, which often seems to be nonexistant, is annoyingly vague, based on a short story that provides the basis for pretty much only the first ten minutes of the film. But it is an interesting starting point.

Much like she did in her previous (and more widely appreciated) film "My New Gun", director Stacy Cochran sets up the idea: What would happen if an outsider (the elusive, lovely, and slightly dangerous Patty, played by Winona Ryder) were to literally fall into the anxiety-ridden, closed world of a boys prep school. This recurring theme of the influence of an outsider plays out just as it did in "My New Gun," with the main character experiencing a liberating revelation through contact with a mysterious intruder. Imaginative schoolboy John, played by Lucas Haas, is inspired by Patty to leave his life of frustration at the school and defy his oppressive father. After some of the plot details work themselves out, this film ends suddenly. Both "Boys" and "My New Gun," though superficially such different stories, end on the same note of jubilant, romantic defiance.

"Boys" is not for everyone. This is a slow, meandering study of an improbable situation. Its plotlessness makes the actors performances all the more impressive. Ryder and Haas handle the difficult material with maturity and subtlety. A word of praise for excellent cinematography as well- the light and colors of autum permeate every scene with an unforgettable moodiness.

It Is What It Is...
Winona Ryder plays Patty Vare, a troubled young woman with a dangerous secret. Lukas Haas plays John Baker, a prep school student straining against the restrictive and highly rarified lifestyle forced upon him by his ambitious father. Patty recieves a visit from the police and immediately afterward goes for a ride, but in her distracted state of mind winds up falling off her horse. When Baker finds her unconscious in a field, he decides to take her back to his dorm room (Patty comes around just long enough to tell him "no doctors" then conveniently swoons again). While Baker's attempts to keep Patty safe from his marauding dormmates escalate, Patty periodically flashes back on the event that led to her hiding out in a dorm in the first place.

All of the actors in this film do a good job with what they have to work with. The cinematography is lovely. The plot, unfortunately, is thin, improbable and increasingly incoherent. This is not a film to watch for the sheer joy of witnessing marvelous storytelling. This is a film to watch when you're feeling nostalgic for the Gen X heyday of the mid-90's. Winona Ryder, with all of the opposites she is able to encompass (waifish and voluptuous, little-girl-lost and Charlie-girl-who-knows-what-she-wants, Prep School Queen and Goth Princess) is the ultimate Gen X heroine, and Haas, who is sensitive but edgy here, makes a good Gen X hero. The soundtrack is pure mid-90's alternative pop-rock -- soaring guitars and wistful lyrics, all performed by bands you've probably never heard of but whose members you probably have. The clothing and hairstyles worn by the actors scream "'90's!" as loudly as any John Hughes film heralds the '80's -- for instance, Patty starts the film wearing minimalist styles in somber colors but eventually puts on some of Baker's casual clothes and winds up looking grunge.

All things considered, the film's story is too confusing to be truly enjoyable, but the mood is palpable and might be enough to hold your attention on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Terrible story -- excellent time capsule.

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