Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Boy Erased

This film is an emotional punch to the heart that is incredibly well acted, and a truly all around fantastic film. This film is directed by Joel Edgerton who did the film the Gift which was also a critical hit and here he delivers a powerfully directed picture that will move you to tears. Boy Erased also is incredibly  well acted with a top notch cast. Including  the likes of Nicole Kidman, Russel Crowe as well as the director behind it providing a great supporting turn in the film. Each actor gives amazing work that is effective in their performance no matter how big or brief their role may be. 

Firstly, This film dose a tremendous job at not glossing over the disturbing subject matter but really delves head first into it’s subject matter and shows all the sides to gay conversion therapy. It truly is scary to the things that go on in these places and when it is shown onscreen is truly unsettling to witness and it makes you very uncomfortable but it is supposed to. So I admire what Joel did with the subject matter by showing so many complex sides to the film he will show the point of view of Jared and then the parents and then the people at the therapy centre. So it shows the different perspectives through the eyes of the many people that we are shown throughout the film. And I loved that aspect brought to it making it very engaging with such a heavy handed tone and subject. 

Secondly, This film really shows the emotional scars that this leaves on a person when watching this it really drives home the message we can’t change who we are its not a choice your born with it and theirs no way around that. You can only accept and its ability to showcase such a strong vocal message like that I truly admire. It also shows the trauma it can do to people who go to these therapy centres and how damaging it is and how they just want to be who they are and its heartbreaking but also informative if your not educated  with it. Lucas Hedges delivers a powerhouse performance who’s work is going to make him a household name.

Finally, Boy Erased showcases the depth and trauma that gay conversion can have rounded and executed brilliantly by Joel Edgerton along with a terrific cast that all deliver fantastic performances Boy Erased is an important film that has to be seen. 

Based on a true story, this film is about a teenage boy named Jared who is sent to a Gay conversion therapy centre when his parents learn that he is gay but being who you are isn’t a choice its what your born with

Rated R : for sexual content including an assault, some language and brief drug use

Lucas Hedges : Lucas showcases a powerfully acted performance that showcases him at the height of his powers! Lucas has been an actor to keep a eye on within the last few years with his Oscar nominated performance in Manchester By The Sea to Lady Bird and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri to now this. He is an actor who is going places and here he delivers once again another emotionally demanding performance which he steps up to the plate and delivers in heartbreaking ways. He plays Jared a boy struggling with his sexuality until he realizes that he is Gay and wants to just be who he is but his family has a difficult time accepting this. The way Lucas plays Jared was so honest and emotionally real. When you see him come out to his parents you see the sigh of relief he said it but then automatically says sorry for being gay and its heartbreaking. Lucas is able to channel so many layers of emotion and really make it seem so genuine and real. The tears that seep from his face and anger that rages from his voice it all cracks out of him in such real ways that are so well captured by Lucas onscreen. When he talks about how he dose not hate his father to one of the people at the centre you can see the frustration in his eyes anger in his eyes as well as his voice he is so brutally real in the film giving a portrayal of the person he’s playing in a very authentically honest way. Lucas was able to deliver the dialogue in such sparkling and dynamic ways. When he speaks you believe him he just springs the words off the page and then from his mouth making it sound so real like he is that person. He fully inhabited himself in this role really reliving deep emotionally in ways he hasn’t done before that results in such a powerfully acted performance that is truly electrifying. Lucas Hedges shows the sheer sadness in his eyes and the honest in his voice and you cannot help but get wrapped up into his terrific performance Lucas is a tour de force.

Joel Edgerton : Joel delivers a compelling supporting turn in this film! Joel is one of my favourite actors who i feel is very underrated. He plays a counsellor who try to convert people who are gay to straight and his character dose it in very brutal ways. Joel digs deep emotionally to showcase such a sinister side of him he has not shown onscreen before that is unlike anything he has ever done. Joel has this striking look to him that really pulls you in and when he speaks he makes you believe that he means what he says and a lot of what he says is terrible but what is scary is he feels that his views on it is right. Joel plays this person with a very gentle take even though the things he dose is massively damaging emotionally and mentally. He is relatively calm throughout this film but he has a few outburst of anger and when he dose it hits like a punch you really feel it. From his eyes to his voice Joel is committed to every aspect and frame of this film giving a truly outstanding supporting turn that is emotionally layered. 

Nicole Kidman : Kidman delivers a incredibly strong supporting turn in this film! She’s on a track record for playing moms in emotionally driven films with Lion and now this. Not saying she’s good at that role just it’s now a role she enjoys doing and hey she’s great at it as she proves here once again. She gives a knockout of a performance she definitely is a supporting character in the film but for the screen time she has onscreen she makes the most of it and really hits you hard with the emotions. She really gets in the headspace of who’s she’s playing and plays such a protective mother who just wants to do what’s right for her son. Even though she makes decisions that may hurt him but what she thinks is for his best interest Nicole executes it amazingly well onscreen with sheer raw emotional vulnerability that is stunning. Their are moments where you see her eyes well up in tears on the brink of breaking down then you’ll see her full of rage protecting her son and it’s the incredible range she has and layers that’s astonishing. She may not be onscreen much but she makes her presence known with a truly fantastic supporting turn here. 

Russel Crowe : Yes Crowe returns to dramatic roles I’m so happy. Russel has not done a dramatic role that he can sink his teeth into since A Beautiful Mind which was 18 years ago. So to see him return to his dramatic roots I was so excited to see and he gives a fantastic performance here much like Kidman he’s a supporting character who has not much screen time but really chews up the scenes he’s in with the screen time he has. He plays the father of the main character and he’s also a minister and has a hard time accepting his sons life choices and Russel was able to play it with such emotional weight that you really felt when you saw him onscreen. He’s in smaller moments and he can be so gentle and understanding and just asking a question to then welling up inside with regret and sadness and you can see it on his face and the crack in his voice. That Russel is not pulling any punches and really is committing to every aspect of this character and film. When he speaks he really has this passion in his delivery that comes across brilliantly that feels honest and truly sincere. Crowe returns to form with one of his strongest and most compelling performances in years Crowe is outstanding in this film. 

Joel Edgerton : Joel directs this film with amazing style! Edgerton’s style of direction is unlike many filmmakers I’ve seen today where he will show the true honesty and real scope of the story and he doesn’t sugarcoat or gloss over the disturbing elements but shows each and every side to it. He dose justice to the source material that it’s based on as well as telling a compelling narrative that is fantastically well acted by its cast as he got great performances from the entire cast in the film. Joel also shows the mental and emotional damage that this could have on someone and how being who you are is one of the most important things to remember. He drives that message massively in the film in such a well done way. What I also loved is his ability to show so many different viewed of the subject matter through the characters eyes and see their views on it that to me was very fascinating and I thought it was very well done.  Joel is just so honest in his telling of the subject matter I admire that and also educates the viewers on a subject you may not be fully informed about. As well as really brining such a truly disturbing thing to light that deserves to be told and listened too as it is incredibly important. Joel shows fantastic strength once again as a director showing as he’s great in front of the camera he’s also great behind it too.