ABOUT A BOY (2002) ***1/2 Ok, I admit it. I got big heartstrings, they're easy to get ahold of. Even though that's the case, I didn't detect anything even vaguely brilliant about this film until the closing 20 minutes. The denouement is perfect. Absolutely perfect. I've always enjoyed Hugh Grant's work, and he's always been able to throw off a great line with a lot of style, but I've never seen sustained brilliance from him like down the stretch here. Laughing, oh lawdy was I laughing. If you consider the opening 80% or so of the movie as just setting the stage for the glories to come, it all gets into focus and it's all a lot better. There are truths in it or there aren't, I'm not going on about them. See this, however, and you will never hear Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly" in the same light ever again (perhaps a reward in itself). Nicholas Hoult's performance is even better than Hugh's, and I imagine I'd give him greater odds of reaching this kind of peak again but, you know, who knows?
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Reviews won't do it any more! I need sustained brilliance! I want to buy your novel!