About a Boy (2002)
Coming Out at 26 April 2002 in theaters.
Comedy, Drama, Romance
About a Boy is romantic comedy-drama film directed by Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz and written by them and Peter Hedges. It is an adaptation of the 1998 novel of the same name by Nick Hornby. The film stars Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, and Rachel Weisz. The film at times uses double voice-over narration, when the audience hears both Will’s and Marcus’s thoughts.
The film was theatrically released on 26 April 2002 by Universal Pictures. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Actors Hugh Grant and Toni Collette were nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Award, respectively, for their performances. The film received positive reviews from critics and it earned $130.5 million on a $30 million budget.
Will Freeman lives a serene and luxurious lifestyle devoid of responsibility in London thanks to substantial royalties left to him from a successful Christmas song composed by his father. In an attempt to meet single women with children (who Will believes have low expectations in the men they date), Will begins attending a single parent support group, where he falsely states that he has a two-year old son named Ned. He meets an attractive woman named Suzie in the group, and during a planned play-date with her, he meets Marcus, the son of Suzie’s friend Fiona, who was unexpectedly brought along by Suzie. Will gains Marcus’s interest and trust after he lies to a park ranger to cover up for Marcus accidentally killing a duck by throwing his mother’s cottage loaf at it. Afterward, when Will and Suzie take Marcus home, they find Fiona in the living room, overdosed on pills in a suicide attempt.
Directors: Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Writers: Nick Hornby (novel), Peter Hedges, Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz
Stars: Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz
Cast:
| Hugh Grant | … | Will Freeman |
| Nicholas Hoult | … | Marcus Brewer |
| Sharon Small | … | Christine |
| Madison Cook | … | Imogen |
| Jordan Cook | … | Imogen |
| Nicholas Hutchison | … | John |
| Ryan Speechley | … | Barney |
| Joseph Speechley | … | Barney |
| Toni Collette | … | Fiona Brewer |
| Natalia Tena | … | Ellie |
| Laura Kennington | … | Ellie’s Friend |
| Tanika Swaby | … | Ellie’s Friend |
| Peter McNicholl | … | Ellie’s Friend |
| Chris Webster | … | Ellie’s Friend |
| Ben Ridgeway | … | Lee |
| Jack Warren | … | Lee’s Sidekick |
| Russell Barr | … | Maitre D’ |
| Isabel Brook | … | Angie |
| Orlando Thor Newman | … | Angie’s Kid |
| Paulette P. Williams | … | Bitter Ex-Girlfriend |
| Fritha Goodey | … | Bitter Ex-Girlfriend |
| Susannah Doyle | … | Bitter Ex-Girlfriend |
| Delma Walsh | … | Bitter Ex-Girlfriend |
| Jonathan Franklin | … | Mark |
| John Kamal | … | Nicky |
| Tessa Vale | … | Class Teacher |
| Lorna Dallison | … | Woman in Supermarket |
| Bethany Muir | … | Child in Supermarket |
| Bruce Lawrence | … | Husband in Supermarket |
| Joyce Henderson | … | Moira / SPAT |
| Jenny Galloway | … | Frances / SPAT |
| Janine Duvitski | … | Caroline / SPAT |
| Sue Hyams | … | SPAT Woman |
| Maggie Kahal | … | SPAT Woman |
| Lynn Askew | … | SPAT Woman |
| Beverly Milward | … | SPAT Woman |
| Danielle Harvey | … | SPAT Woman |
| Anna Maria Credenzone Philip | … | SPAT Woman |
| Sarah King | … | SPAT Woman |
| Susan Ghamsary | … | SPAT Woman |
| Edna Johnson | … | SPAT Woman |
| Victoria Smurfit | … | Suzie |
| Frog Stone | … | Mothercare Shop Assistant |
| Buddy Hunter | … | Family Member in Mothercare Car Park |
| Kristine Perrin | … | Family Member in Mothercare Car Park |
| Nathan Perrin-Hunter | … | Family Member in Mothercare Car Park |
| Rachael Perrin-Hunter | … | Family Member in Mothercare Car Park |
| Amy Craven | … | Suzie’s Baby Megan |
| Rebecca Craven | … | Suzie’s Baby Megan |
| Sidney Livingstone | … | Park Keeper |
| Cathy Murphy | … | Nurse |
| Joanne Petitt | … | Hairdresser |
| Jason Salkey | … | Amnesty International Worker Tom |
| Annabelle Apsion | … | Amnesty International Worker |
| Matt Wilkinson | … | Amnesty International Worker |
| Peter Roy | … | Will’s Dad |
| Matthew James Thomas | … | Candy Thrower |
| Aaron Keeling | … | Candy Thrower |
| Scott Charles | … | Candy Thrower |
| Claire Harman | … | Skechers Shopgirl |
| Sian Martin | … | Cute Waitress |
| Mark Drewry | … | Clive |
| Denise Stephenson | … | Lindsey |
| Rosalind Knight | … | Lindsey’s Mum |
| Rachel Weisz | … | Rachel |
| Murray Lachlan Young | … | New Year’s Eve Party Guest |
| Augustus Prew | … | Ali |
| Alex Kew | … | Simon Cosgrove |
| Mark Heap | … | Math Teacher |
| Sunanda Biswas | … | Def Penalty Kru |
| James Marshall-Gunn | … | Def Penalty Kru |
| Jamie Mayer | … | Def Penalty Kru |
| Korede Obashju | … | Def Penalty Kru |
| Roger Brierley | … | Mr. Chalmers, the M.C. |
| Stefan Pejic | … | Apple Thrower |
| Henry Allan | … | Tribute Band Member |
| Macéo Bhardwaj | … | School Boy (uncredited) |
| Gillian Evans | … | Lexicographer (archive footage) |
| Tim Rice | … | (archive footage) |
| Chris Tarrant | … | (archive footage) |
| Carol Vorderman | … | (archive footage) |
| Richard Whiteley | … | (archive footage) |
| Stuart Wood | … |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia