The Boy with the Sun in His Eyes (2009)

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I watched THE BOY WITH THE SUN IN HIS EYES purely for the Italian horror connection, as it follows the adventures of a young man who hooks up with a B-movie actress, Solange, famous for appearing in low budget Italian horror flicks. Sadly, this part of the story is very vague and unrealised, with the majority nothing more than a simple character drama. The main problem I have with it is that the characters are all superficial and obnoxious. There's an emphasis on erotica and make-out scenes but little concrete narrative. Imagine that excellent Euro horror flick POSSESSION without a budget, skill, or any horror content and you have the right idea.

Nothing could prepare John (Tim Swain) for the changes that would occur in his life following the death of childhood friend Kevin (Josh Ubaldi). Shortly before Kevin's passing, John accuses him of never telling him the beginning or ending of a story. Rather it's "always a headlong plunge into drama." Little does John know that he's about to take a similar plunge after he meets the mysterious Solange (Mahogany Reynolds), a B-movie actress in low-budget Italian horror films, at Kevin's funeral. Within minutes of meeting him, Solange offers John a job as a production/personal assistant for "The Untourist Guide," a food/lifestyle magazine/show she is planning to do in Europe. Before you can say "passport," John quits his boring cubicle job in Boston and relocates to Paris with Solange. Todd Verow's film, based on the novel by Jim Dwyer (who also wrote the screenplay for Verow's controversial movie version of Dennis Cooper's "Frisk"), makes good use of the European locations. Verow also elicits honest performances from his lead actors, brightening the dark subject matter. (Gregg Shapiro)

This movie is a spoof-y, fun, hilarious commentary on male friendship (and yes male sex) in the go-go 90's. Ever heard of 'Andy Warhol' No? Pop some corn, gather all your friends (get the kids outta the room!) watch a few Italian B horror flicks first (hint 'Demons' 'Rats' 'Warrior Of The Lost World') then settle back and laugh at all the inside jokes Todd Verow, James Dwyer and co-writer; Geretta Geretta (whose B-Movie career the story is lightly based on) have peppered the movie with, while sharing subtle truths about lost Americans, Black Female wanna-be-Stars, Boys almost in love; in a dizzy Europe that was waaay before Grace Jones... then ENJOY! This is an 'experimental art film' with a POV...not just endless tracking shots & expensive CGI calling itself 'art.'