Film Review – The New Boy

Cate Blanchett was last seen on screens in 2022’s “Tar,” where she delivered an exquisite performance in a difficult film, reinforcing her ability to handle all kinds of characters and moods. Before she goes the paycheck route with this summer’s “Borderlands,” Blanchett returns to challenging material with “The New Boy,” tasked with portraying a nun who witnesses a miracle occurring at a remote monastery, unsure how to process such an event. There’s a strange atmosphere to the feature, with writer/director Warwick Thornton looking to build a mystery with some supernatural elements, also delving into Australian history involving the collection and reprogramming of Aboriginal children. “The New Boy” isn’t always a well-balanced study of discovery, with its two-hour-long run time much too indulgent for the story it wants to tell. However, Thornton has an opening half that’s stocked with surprises, and there’s Blanchett, who creates a fascinating journey of faith and survival in this unusual picture. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com