Nicholas Hoult
Toni Collette
Rachel Weisz
Here’s a movie
with a captivating screenplay, adapted from a book and brilliantly executed by
Peter Hedges. Actor Hugh Grant has never performed better in any lead role
since, making his performance in this film his most critically acclaimed. It’s
the kind of performance that stands out, not only because of the role’s
complexity but because Grant’s charm and wit shine in a way that’s both
heartwarming and refreshing.
This 2002
British comedy-drama film is directed by brothers Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz. About
a Boy is an adaptation of the 1998 novel of the same name by Nick Hornby.
Hornby, the author of other film adaptations like Fever Pitch (2005) and High
Fidelity (2000), allowed Hedges and the Weitz brothers to work on the
screenplay independently. The only film adaptation Hornby worked on directly
was the 1997 British version of Fever Pitch, which starred Colin Firth. His
books seem to have an uncanny ability to explore relationships with wit, and
this one is no exception.
About a Boy
follows Will Freeman (Hugh Grant), who lives a carefree, comfortable life in
London. Will doesn’t work, thanks to the overly sufficient royalties left to
him by his father from a successful Christmas song he composed. This allows
Will plenty of time to meet women and engage in random sexual relationships
with practically every woman he meets, living a life he deems as freedom. His
sense of detachment from deeper emotions is what makes his journey of
self-discovery all the more profound.
Will soon
discovers that single mothers are the easiest to get into bed, so he tries to
nab as many as he can. His quest leads him to meet Suzie, and his desperate
attempt to get her into bed introduces him to Marcus (Nicholas Hoult), Suzie’s
12-year-old son and the child of her friend Fiona (Toni Collette). A weird
relationship develops between Will and Marcus in a mentor-mentee kind of way,
making Will more involved in Marcus’s life than he ever planned to be. It’s the
kind of unexpected connection that turns Will’s world upside down and forces
him to re-evaluate what matters most.
About a Boy was
a commercial success, earning over $130 million at the box office—almost seven
times its production cost. The movie was also a critical darling, with the AFI
(American Film Institute) naming it one of the ten best movies of 2002. It
holds a 93% approval rating on the critic aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, a
testament to how well it resonates with both audiences and critics alike.
The film earned
an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, and Hugh Grant was
nominated for a Golden Globe. Although Grant didn’t win any major awards, he
did take home some lesser-known accolades, including the Golden Camera (Goldene
Kamera, an annual German film and television award presented by the magazine
HÖRZU) for Best International Actor. This movie allowed him to showcase more
than his usual charm, turning in a nuanced performance that made a lasting
impression.
About a Boy is
sweet, lovable, and guaranteed to make you smile. It’s a film that subtly
reminds us of the unexpected ways people can change our lives for the better,
even when we’re not looking for it. With humor, heart, and a bit of
awkwardness, it’s a classic in its own right.
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