Customer Reviews

Jet Boy

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am from outside the US but bought this movie here - could not find it elsewhere. I don't understand why this film is hardly known. Of course, it is a low-budget production (but that does not affect its quality), of course, its theme might be critical and not mainstream. But neither is it about a gay, nor is it a movie just for pedophiles (though Nathan is a very likeable boy...).

It is about a poor boy (Nathan) who lost his parents and has to take care for himself. Nobody does really love him, so he is searching for true love (that is why he sells his body) - but they that "buy" him just do use him; it is not to love. On the road Nathan finds a man called Boone (great-acting Dylan Walsh) who takes him along, but isn't willing to care for that child in the long run. So one day he sends the boy away (who is then starting his old business again) - until Boone sees what is happening to the poor boy. Eventually he rescues him and takes him as a son. Happy end only in the last seconds ;)

The story is so honest, so near to the poor life of those children who live on the streets - very emotional. The movie belongs to the best ones I've ever seen, and is worth the price (though there are no additional features on the DVD). 5***** for the producers and actors - esp. young Branden Nadon is great!

This was an awesome movie! A positive uplifting story about a abandoned adolescent boy looking for a father who meets a man trying to forget the pain of his relationship with his own father. Nathan is a sexually confused boy desperately looking for security of a father figure. He runs into Boone, a hardened loner whom Nathan latches onto. We learn that Boone has some emotional father issues of his own, and Nathan shows up to provide him a way to work them out. In other words, Boone finds that he can resolve his own sadness at his father's lack of love by giving Nathan the love and security he needs. This is a low budget made-for-tv movie, but the unusual story line---and the heart rendering performance by Branden Nadon as Nathan---make this a must-see movie for anyone who has familiar with the sort of emotional wounds that too often occur between father and son. It brought tears to my eyes...and a good feeling at the happy ending. I agree--must see.

BTW, this is NOT a movie about boylove or child prostitution, this is really about the painful relationships between fathers and sons. The need for men to mentor their sons, and the need of an adolecent boy for a strong male role model. Nathan's involvement in sexual abuse is only important in the development of his character as a lost boy. It adds to the drama that Boone's interest in him was entirely non-sexual. Unfortunately, inclusion of these issues might have doomed this astounding movie to oblivion. That is really sad.

Struck by Brandon Nadon's performance, I immediately looked for more pictures by thim only to learn that Branden Nadon subsequent career was making some sleazy horror movies. So I guess he got typecast a little. Sad, he was a tremendous actor that deserved some better roles. See more of Nadon in a bit part in Living with the Dead, Taken and Masters of Horror. Hopefully we will see in some more challenging adult roles in the future.

Jet Boy turned out to be a great movie. A beleveable story executed with some terrific acting. This is not a "gay" interest movie. The story would appeal to almost everybody. The main character is a ten year old prostitute but this just adds seasoning to the story line and is not the main entree. There were some surprises, twists and turns, near the end of the movie that will make it a keeper for your collection. Very much recommended.

Jet Boy deals with some very sensitive subjects. It does so with skillful honesty and without falling into stereotypes and melodramatic depictions. It is a real-life drama that convinces with its sincere authenticity and the profound quality of the interaction between the two leading characters.

The movie is set in Canada and shot in Vancouver, B.C., Calgary and Linden, Alberta, and the road between. The drama focuses on characters influenced by their cultural milieu and by each other. The movie has a simple story and is still complex in its plot development as well as in the pace of plot revelations. The audience never stops learning about the two main characters, their individual stories and their background, which provides the movie with tremendous quality and causes curiosity that makes the audience dive into the story and stay alert.

The main protagonist is Nathan, played by newcomer Branden Nadon. We are introduced to him as he sells his body on his 14th birthday. These very subtle scenes at the beginning make us aware of how desperate this young boy is. He is a hustler, but still a child. We get a very good impression of his life - a bleak, exploited life without much room for dreams and no way out. Then we are introduced to his family. He has no father and his mother is a drug addict. She dies right at the beginning due to an overdose, which leaves Nathan orphaned and totally isolated.

The second main character is a rough and mysterious man named Boon Palmer (played by Dylan Walsh of Nip Tuck), a man we do not know anything about. Apparently he has a questionable past as some kind of criminal. All we know is that he is up to something and violent if challenged.

Nathan is on the road, running away from the social services that would take him in, heading towards Vancouver, when he encounters Boon in a road pub. He associates with him and manages to make the taciturn man give him a ride to the city. On their way they stop in a motel in a small town, where Boon grew up and where he has to settle something. It becomes clear from the very beginning of their traveling companionship that Nathan sees much more than a temporary ride in Boon, but pins all his hopes on him. He does everything to please the man, makes their breakfast and - as some subtle hints reveal - would not mind sleeping in the same bed with him.

Once in the small town, we find out some interesting bits and pieces about Boon's past, about his imperious father, about his old flame and his life twenty years ago. We still do not know who Boon is today, but we get a clearer idea of his roots and find out that he is indeed a rather likable person, which we could not expect right from the beginning. The growing relationship between Boon and Nathan is characterized by frictions, but still slowly growing in depth. Boon renews a sexual affair with his old flame while Nathan associates with some local lads.

The movie's climax is emotionally stirring and intriguingly played by the two leading characters. Nathan breaks away as Boon neglects his love and his yearning for paternal appreciation. Boon has to finish his job in Vancouver, and there he sees how Nathan offers himself to a client. He follows them and rushes into the hotel room as Nathan is about to be sexually harassed. Boon finally opens up his heart to Nathan and takes the boy into his arms and hugs him and the emotional turmoil makes the boy break down and cry. As they leave the hotel, we find out that Boon is in fact an undercover cop - something we did not know throughout the entire movie. They drive back to the small town, as it seems happily united with Nathan finally having the father and security he was search for.

The movie is profoundly authentic and smashing in its sincere character portrayal of a strange man and a young hustler who help each other out of their bleak lives. These two characters carry complex problems and their interaction makes up the emotional thrill of the whole production. The soundtrack is flawless and the camera work lives up to the decisive moments. The other characters are fairly flat, but this is okay here, as the two protagonists carry the burden and define the pace and the quality of the plot development.

I give Jet Boy a 10 because it handles a very sensitive issue - child prostitution - frankly and without corny stereotypes. It furthermore delivers a fine character portrayal and focuses on a very strong father-son aspect, set in a cultural stratum in which hope and trust are hard to find and even harder to maintain. The two leading actors are just brilliant, and thus Jet Boy is an authentic Canadian movie, a wonderful portrayal of genuine human struggles. A Must See movie.

I got this movie on a lark not really knowing what it was really about because I am an avid movie collector and thought this would make an interesting addition to the collection. I really wasn't expecting the gut wrenching, very frank, subject matter about child prostitution and the devastating effects that it and a terrible home life with an uncaring druggie parent has on a child as portrayed in this film. I am very glad I got this movie! I truly believe that you should see it if you have a chance but be forewarned that some parts may be hard to watch. Nothing graphic or obscene is in this movie and if your interests are not so pure then this movie is definitely not for you.

I don't want to be a spoiler so I won't go over more of the subject matter of this film, especially since there is a synopsis and other reviews that contain spoilers, but will say that the delicate subject matter this film covers is handled in a thoughtful and thought provoking manner. The story is not solely about child prostitution but, rather, deals with the emotional subject of a boy's real need for a male role model and the importance of father / son relations.

Even though this is a low budget production that, appears, was originally made for Canadian television, Brandon Nadon, the child actor in this movie gives an outstanding performance along with Dylan Walsh, the rough character that "Nathan" bonds with. It also does have good production value and does not really seem low budget. I have never seen a movie dealing with subject matter like this handled with so much grace, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness. At times some situations may seem a bit hard to believe but this really is a great underrated movie that truly deserves much more attention.

You won't be disappointed with this selection. I cannot recommend it highly enough. (My actual rating would be 4 1/2 stars)

once again a great delivery of there product.. well packed, a plesure to receive.. thank you Amazon.
I found Jet boy a very down to earth movie.. well acted, i was very sad for that young boy at first, but as the story went on i was pleased to see that it would have a very happy ending,it shows how vile some men are who pick up young boys, and hurt them,i feel like i wanted to jump in and save that poor boy, thank goodness he was saved and i had a good cry..its a must be read story, very enjoyable..

Not knowing anything about this movie but was highly recommended by a friend i bought it and when i watched it i really loved it. It had a great story made me feel really bad for the kid and hoped for a happy ending. This movie will keep you gueasing all the way to the end.

I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. It surpassed my expectations. It's been a long time since I enjoyed a movie so much.

This is a remarkably good film about an unusual subject. If I said that it is the story of a very young rent boy, you might easily be put off. Happily, it is much more than that. It is about bravery and persistence against the odds. It is also a feel-good mystery story in which nothing is what it seems. The boy is superbly well played by Dylan Walsh, a remarkable young actor who holds your attention all the time he is on the screen. One mystery is, is the boy naturally homosexual, or simply 'gay-for-pay'? It is a sobering and often uncomfortable story about what some people have to do in order to survive. Full marks to the Canadians for this first class film.

However, I would love to know in what way the directors cut differs from the original which I already have. Are there any significant differences, or is this just another marketing 'come on'?

Quite nice cinematography. Mysterious dark subtext turns out light. Child slowly rises up from abandonment and despair, prostitution and drugs, into connection and love, family love, through the force of his own iron will. Mystery resolved and happy endings all around.