The Butcher Boy
rated R 109 minutes released in 1997 by Warner Bros. starring Eamonn Owens, Alan Boyle, Stephen Rea, and Fiona Shaw written by Neil Jordan and Patrick McCabe from the novel by Patrick McCabe directed by Neil Jordan
A Video Review by Frankie Paiva
What happens when you get angry? Many people suppress their anger, and hold all of their feelings inside until everything eventually comes bursting out. Others let their wrath run wild, not really caring what damage is done as long as they feel better. Me, Myself & Irene, starring Jim Carrey, recently examined this idea. However, that was a comedy. The Butcher Boy is a drama. Little Francie Brady (Eamonn Owens) is an uncontrollable brat. His father (Stephen Rea) is a drunk who has a less than friendly relationship with his mother (Aisling Oâ^À^ÙSullivan). The two are always fighting in front of their child and the mother tries to hang herself within the first ten minutes of the movie. Francieâ^À^Ùs only friend is Joe (Alan Boyle). Joe treats Francie well, and fulfills his needs for companionship. Through a series of events (mostly involving another child named Phillip that Francie picks on) Joe begins to realize Francie is a rude and cruel person. He tries to distance himself from Francie as much as he can, and starts hanging out with Phillip. Wanting Joe as his own, Francie seeks revenge. He does horrible things to Phillip and his home. In his attempt to win Joeâ^À^Ùs friendship, Francie will go to extreme measures. How extreme he gets may shock you.
The reason this film requires such a long plot summary is because this is a very complicated movie. The film looks at anger and how itâ^À^Ùs handled by several people with insight. Ultimately, it reaches the idea that most anger stems out of confusion. Confusion plagues Francie Brady. The movie seems like it's told in first person, but is really told in third. Some imaginative dream sequences only add to the puzzlement. In one scene, Francie and Joe are the last remaining humans after an apocalypse. In a strange attempt to link Communism and the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis with confusion, everyone in town turns into a pig. The remaining creatures all turn into aliens that look like something from an Ed Wood movie. Even stranger is the Virgin Mary. She appears to Francie and offers him advice. She also frequently uses the f-word.
Director Neil Jordan did an exhaustive search of the world for someone to play Francie, and he found the perfect person. Eamonn Owens is brilliant in his first role. He never seems to worry whether youâ^À^Ùll like his character or not, and he meets everything with an extensive set of emotions and often understanding. Alan Boyle is good too. They both capture the sense of freedom and change many people experience in their youth. Their performances help a movie where the adult acting is lackluster.
When Francie commits his disturbing final act, I could feel what was going through his mind. The Butcher Boy is a dark drama that brings its viewer deeper into childhood insanity than many will ever want to be.
B-
Frankie Paiva SwpStke@aol.com http://homestead.com/cinemaparadise/mainpage.html
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