Loverboy (2005)

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Emily	Kyra Sedgwick	½
Paul	Dominic Scott Kay	½
Marty	Kevin Bacon
Mark	Matt Dillon
Mr. Pomeroy	Oliver Platt
Paul's father	Campbell Scott
Sybil	Marisa Tomei	½
Emily	Sosie Bacon	½

Review

Young Dominic Scott Kay is a revelation in the title role of this idiosyncratic, unbiassed study of a traumatized, anti-social woman and her disporportioned motherly love towards her 6 year old son, Loverboy. Bacon’s direction in his first cinematic feature is deliberately lingering and low-key. His intention is to give a heartfelt and deep rendition of Victoria Redel’s novel, narrating in thematically motivated non-linear segments, making his film increasingly revealing and effective as it moves along. In many ways, this is not an easy story to convert to the screen, because of the intense and often static nature of the relationship between Emily and Paul. It is a relationship of both wonder and agony as Paul grows independent without his mother’s understanding. Bacon captures this duality, and conducts a film that never seizes to interest. And even though his film for periods remains challenging and strenuous, his wrap-up shows class and poise. Sedgwick and Kay develop an impressive on-screen closeness, and a number of bit-parts by skilled character performers liven the film up.