Some Boys Don't Leave (2009) User Reviews

All things falls apart...

[Rodrigo_Amaro · 9/10 · 19 November 2012]

Touching, funny, original and bittersweet "Some Boys Don't Leave" tells the story of a young couple's break-up that is decided by one side but not accepted by the other. The Girl (Eloise Mumford) doesn't want the The Boy (Jesse Eisenberg, adorable) around her, she wants him out of her life and out of her, at one time shared, apartment. But he just don't move! He stays there in her apartment, sitting on the corridor floor, doing everything he can in that limited space, eating, playing or trying to convince her of something while her new life passes by him, pretending he doesn't exist, bringing a new guy for a one night stand.

When these two will ever solve things out? Fine, we don't have enough time to focus on why their relationship wasn't working (maybe it's just because he's a real slacker, too focused on himself) but we do have time to notice that despite the girl's contempt for the boy she still cares about him. One of the biggest moments here is when she can't seem to sleep, then she walks to the corridor where he's sleeping and she lays on his side, hugging him for a brief moment. That's the turning point for him, when he wakes up a little after this.

Maggie Kiley's "Some Boys Don't Leave" makes interesting points about relations despite the beyond reasonable situation presented, and that's what makes the film being more attractive to viewers (along with the main couple).

Discovered by accident, I really enjoyed this short film. Even if it wasn't for this great story at least it would be because of Jesse Eisenberg. Such a talent both as comic and as a dramatic actor. His character here can be annoying, playful, a little romantic (he sure does how to steal a kiss!), sad. You can't take your eyes off of him. So cute just as this movie is. 9/10

Surprisingly Good Short-film

[jp-figueira · 10/10 · 6 April 2015]

So, "Some Boys Don't Leave", it's a short film, directed by Maggie Kiley with Jessie Eisenberg and Eloise Mumford in the principal roles.

When I saw the trailer for this short film, I can't say that I was really that excited to see it, but after seeing it, it blown my mind.

The story looks simple, but not everyone agrees about what it is about. It's a really funny, touching and bittersweet movie, with really nice performances from Jessie Eisenberg and Eloise Mumford, a nice cinematography and a really nice, but with 2 or 3 different interpretations, story, which you can surely relate to.

In the end, I really enjoyed this movie, and this made me a fan of Jessie work.

Interesting premise, weak elaboration

[Horst_In_Translation · 4/10 · 22 September 2015]

This is an award-winning short film by Maggie Kiley from 6 years ago. Thumbs up to her for discovering Jesse Eisenberg's talent before he was famous and casting him for this 17-minute movie. Eisenberg plays a a young man who got left by his girlfriend. However, he is not yet ready to deal with the break-up, so he sits in her apartment (both their apartment?) day in and day out. Weird situations arise when she has a friend over or even has a one-night stand with another guy.

My favorite scene was maybe the one when she forgot her key and he lets her in, which shows that she somehow needed him to be there still and that she was not entirely over the breakup either. Same can be said about the kiss, although this was really too showy for my taste and lacked subtlety. Now about the ending, he sees himself with her. It's not his identical twin, is it? I am really having difficulty interpreting this ending. My initial guess was that the boy sitting there was only his conscience and showed us that his mind was still with her in the apartment, but then he could not have opened the door and she would not have introduced him to her visitors, so it was probably really him, physically as well. However, I cannot come up with an explanation of the final shot then. It just doesn't make sense. oh well, maybe it was actually the identical twin brother and it shows us that she either wants to hurt him as much as she can to get him to move out or that she still is in love with him, but only with the happy version of himself who does not live like a bu day in and day out. All in all, a mediocre film at best. Pity, the premise is really interesting, but the execution detail was not. Not recommended.