Film Scouts Diaries

2002 Taormina BNL FilmFest Diaries
Cosa Mostra: Day 3

by Philipp Hoschka

Taormina, July 8, 2002 - It is getting hotter every day - the only way to survive the early hours of the afternoon is sitting in a street cafe having one caffè freddo after another, and spreading the word about the Film Festival to unsuspecting tourists (looks like the Festival is not all that well-known after all). It would be nice to go to see a movie during that time, if only to take advantage of the air conditioning in the screening room - however, the Festival holds a siesta from noon to four pm.

Tonite in the Greek theatre, they showed Hugh Grant's new movie "About a Boy". Ever the slightly helpless grown-up boy, Grant actually managed get lost on the short distance between Hotel Timeo and the Greek theatre, where he was awarded a prize before the screening started (the Taormina Arte Diamond Award, which is "a precious tennis bracelet with diamonds in it" according to the press material).

Directed by the Weitz' brothers (notorious for "American Pie"), this is an adaptation of Nick Hornby's novel by the same name. Grant is cast perfectly as Will, a thirty-something who starts out as self-centered, womanizing convinced bachelor, but finds himself nearly leading a family life at the end of the movie. This is caused by a life-changing encounter with a nerdy young boy (played by Nicholas Hoult in his debut movie) who convinces Will that caring for others is not as bad as it seems. All this may sound a bit like pushing traditional values, but the movie is quite funny, and, of course, very British.

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