Boy A the Movie in Review

Boy A is named after the fashion in which underage offenders are not identified in court other than by a letter reference. In this movie two your boys are convicted of murder long before they are truly old enough to comprehend what they have done. They are identified in court as Boy A and Boy B, this movie follows the life of Boy "A" portrayed by Andrew Garfield as he deals with the real world upon his release from prison.

In the movie we follow the story of a 24 year old man who comes out of prison with a new name and a second chance at a life that had barely begun when he was incarcerated. Jack begins life as the only child of a mother who is dying of the worst kind of breast cancer, while his father buries his troubles in a bottle of whiskey. A soft spoken lad who is hounded and bullied by his peers he finally befriends Phillip Craig (Taylor Doherty) who like Jack is a social outcast among his peers. Phillip on the other hand as a history of sociopathic rage and sexual abuse to contend with and Jack falls under his sway.

We are treated to the sight of Jack at the age of 24 when he is released from prison. He is a very socially shy and seemingly innocent character unlike the one that the movie would have us believe could possibly have committed a heinous crime in his past. Jack is desperate to let his past go and get on with his life, but the nightmares still continue to haunt him making life difficult to say the least. Thankfully he finds a friend and mentor in his caseworker Terry (Peter Mullan) to help him through the trials and tribulations he must cope with.

Jack is found gainful employment with a delivery company that knows only that he has served his time and is ready to get on with his life. The setting is industrial Manchester in the heart of Britain's northern industrial area where not much has changed since the sixties while the movie was shot in colour it could just as easily been done in black and white and achieved the same scary images.

Throughout the movie we are taken on a journey in which we follow as Jack discovers love as he slowly gathers the courage to as the secretary where he works out on a date which eventually leads to the first kiss. As the romance blossoms Jack wants desperately to tell Michelle (Katie Lyons) about his past, but remembers the instructions from his caseworker to never reveal his crime.

As we come to the latter part of the movie Jack and his now best friend Chris (Shaun Evans) come across a car that has crashed in to the woods with a young girl trapped inside. Saving her life makes Jack an instant local celebrity. However this celebrity comes at a price as his history is revealed and we are asked to decide for ourselves if those who commit such horrendous crimes can atone for their past and be forgiven.

Outstanding performances by Andrew Garfield as he portrays Jack and makes us feel every uncertainty as he learns to come to terms with himself and his past. This movie will definitely have you questioning the morality of today's society and the standards by which we judge others.