Director : Neil Jordan
With : Stephen Rea, Ian Hart, Sinéad O’Connor
I had enormously high hopes when I entered the theater to see the post “Interview With A Vampire” rebound from director Neil Jordan. I left mildly disappointed yet reasonably entertained. “The Butcher Boy” is the surreal tale of a bizarre Irish boy, Francie, played remarkably by newcomer Eamonn Owens. Born to a pathetic drunk (Stephan Rea) and a manic depressive mother, it is no surprise that Francie’s character turns out to be more than just your typical dysfunctional youth.
As he and his best mate, Joe, cause minor havoc throughout town’s streets, Francie becomes more and more obsessed with the perpetual harassment of a nerdy schoolmate and his nasty mother. His preoccupation elevates as his family situation becomes more and more dire, as some sort of irrational outlet for familial honor. In Francie, Neil Jordan has managed to create one of the most insane but bizarrely likable characters in recent history.
[Read more…]