The Boys is a 1998 Australian drama film directed by Rowan Woods. The screenplay by Stephen Sewell is based on the play by Gordon Graham, with Graham influenced by the 1986 murder of Anita Cobby, with the play first performed by Griffin Theatre Company under the direction of Alex Galeazzi.
Plot After serving time in prison for an assault on a liquor store employee, Brett Sprague is released from prison and returns home to his two brothers and their girlfriends, mother and stepfather. Things have changed, and as Brett begins to drink his way through the day, he regains his "top-dog" position one argument at a time. This power trip gets Brett and his brothers united in rage against their girlfriends and mother, and they are involved in a heinous crime. The aftermath of the night unfolds through the story with flashforwards.
Cast David Wenham as Brett Sprague Toni Collette as Michelle Lynette Curran as Sandra Sprague John Polson as Glenn Sprague Anthony Hayes as Stevie Sprague Jeanette Cronin as Jackie Anna Lise Phillips as Nola Pete Smith as Abo Sal Sharah as Nick Peter Hehir as Graham Newman Teo Gebert as Constable Zammit
Production The Boys is Rowan Woods' directorial debut, and actor Peter Hehir's last film before he retired from acting. Woods "aimed to achieve a combination of documentary-style naturalism with the edge of a thriller." Woods also said that the first time he read the play, he felt "it was an Australian story that had to be told. (…) This is the inside story of a family in crisis, of three boys on the day before a nasty crime takes place, of which they are accused."
The producer of the film, Robert Connolly, had also produced the play. He met Rowan Woods at film school, and they both suggested to John Maynard they make the movie. The script was adapted by playwright Stephen Sewell."Interview with Rowan Woods", Signet, 12 May 1998. Retrieved 18 November 2012
Shooting was done on location in a rented house in Maroubra, one of Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. The location used to shoot the scene of the heinous crime was filmed at the Eastlakes Shopping Centre in Eastlakes, another eastern suburb.
Accolades The original music score is composed by The Necks, with other music contributed by sound designer Alan Lamb.Biron, D. 2013. The Aesthetics of Conservatism. Overland, 210, 72-77.Mitchell, Tony. Minimalist Menace, UTS Publishing, 2005.
Award Category Subject ResultAACTA Awards(1998 AFI Awards)Best FilmRobert ConnollyJohn MaynardBest DirectionRowan WoodsBest Adapted ScreenplayStephen SewellBest ActorDavid WenhamBest ActressLynette CurranBest Supporting ActorJohn PolsonAnthony HayesBest Supporting ActressToni ColletteBest CinematographyTristan MilaniBest EditingNick MeyersBest Original Music ScoreThe NecksBest SoundPeter GracePhil JuddSam PettyBest Costume DesignAnnie MarshallASSG AwardBest Location RecordingPeter GraceSerge StanleyMichael TaylorBerlin International Film FestivalGolden BearRowan WoodsFCCA AwardsBest FilmRobert ConnollyJohn MaynardBest DirectorRoman WoodsReaders' Award for Favourite Australian FilmBest Adapted ScreenplayStephen SewellBest ActorDavid WenhamBest Supporting ActorJohn PolsonAnthony HayesBest Supporting ActressToni ColletteLynette CurranBest CinematographyTristan MilaniBest Music ScoreThe Necks
See also Cinema of Australia The Boys (soundtrack album) List of Australian films
References
External links
The Boys at Oz Movies
The Boys at the National Film and Sound Archive