Little Boy Blue (1997)

Don't Believe the Hype

An Exercise In Nonsense

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

I am confused about the last shot of the movie. The close up of the rusted container. Did that have some meaning? I found the movie interesting and disturbing. The acting was well done. After reading many of the comments on this movie I agree there are many questions left unanswered. I assume that was the director's intent. Or as one writer said the result of questionable editing. I would recommend this movie to my friends but with a warning that it is hard to watch. I think it might actually trigger some post traumatic stress in someone who has been abused. Please respond if you have thoughts about the last shot of the movie. Thanks

Little Boy Blue had me transfixed the entire time, wondering about this and that, and the final climax is startling and surprising. You think you've got it figured out, but then something (rather, someone) comes along and everything gets turned upside down.I watched this three days ago and still can't get it out of my head. It was, as far as I can remember, the most disturbing movie I've ever watched and when I started doing some math in my head the next day, I got very, very queasy. I think this film was well acted and well made, even though certain things could have been improved. When the movie finishes you might get caught, like me, stuck between wanting to watch it again with a fresh perspective and being too hesitant to re-watch some of those scenes.John Savage is convincing in his role as the father, you try (it's not a big effort, but it's there) not to sympathize with him and I feel you'll succeed since he is one twisted fellow. Ryan Phillippe is the title character and the story's center, but he doesn't have as much to say, it seems, as other characters. He perfects the role, though, he does an excellent and very truthful job of it. The mother, well, I disagree with the actress' portrayal of her, but I understand it. I think it should have been different, though. You sympathize with her too much and when the movie's over with and you start 'doing the math', like me, you might be left feeling quite a bit less sympathetic. Oh, and the two boys do a fantastic acting job. Those are some good child actors there. The plot is full of twists and keeps you hooked, but it does drag on a little if you're convinced you know what's going on and there's no surprise or point in watching other than to be wigged out. Believe me, it pays off. But you won't be able to figure out what's what until it's over, and then you still might be wondering about certain motivations, and well, numbers.It isn't for the faint of heart. My mother, I know, would have a heart attack if she watched it. I recomend it, if you've got a strong stomach and a bit of patience. It's worth watching twice (kind of like The Sixth Sense, how the movie is in a new light on the second viewing), it'll have your wheels spinning. If anything can be said about it...it's unique, original and interesting...and certainly affecting.

The primary problem with most non-mainstream films is that they fail to adhere to some of the basic cinematic elements that make films work. True, they are often interesting and provocative, but they fail in the larger sense that the film itself (not just the subject matter or content) fails to succeed for viewers. That is not the case with "Little Boy Blue." For once, a novel premise and provocative content combine in a well-written screenplay that leaves the viewer fulfilled instead of disappointed. This film far exceeded my expectations in all areas, including the believable yet powerful acting in all of the major characters. My major problem with the film was that the early part of the film didn't deal with (or even allude to) the overriding premise that really comes to light in the final third of the film. Additionally, the Doris Knight characterization seemed a bit unstable and her motivation in the final scenes is hard to pin down.Still, a highly recommended film.

The movie is pretty well-acted, but the story is not original and the plot twist is not exciting.To begin with, the story is some patchwork version of just about any of the more "shocking" plot devices you've seen in soap operas: mistaken identities, incest, murder, skeletons in the closet, etc... The only difference is that this soap opera is set in "Trailer Park, Texas."spoilers to followAs for the "plot twist," it's no twist at all for it revolves about something that anyone should see coming.Throughout the whole movie the police are investigating the murder at the bar. The action involves Phillipe, Savage & Kinski, but we keep hearing about the investigation. You HAVE to know there's going to be a connection. And you HAVE to know that Savage's character is going to be proven the villain; there's no other option.Furthermore, the reason that this movie isn't good at all,is that none of the character work comes to anything, which is to say this: The acting is fine and very believable, creating some very full, 3-dimensional characters. However, all of it is undermined by the cheezy plot device that most all the other comments on this page praise as the "marvelous plot twist."Bluntly put, we know that Ray West is a bad man; we know that all the characters are affected negatively by him; he's already enough of a monster. Consequently, there is no need to turn him into a literal monster. It undermines him as a character, and it undermines everyone else.