Winona Ryder Reflects on Struggles with ‘Boys’ Film

LONDON, UK — Winona Ryder, known for her diverse roles in both cult classics and critically acclaimed films, recently opened up about her experience filming ‘Boys,’ a movie based on James Salter’s short story ‘Twenty Minutes.’ The film, released in the mid-1990s, saw Ryder star alongside Lukas Haas as Patty, a girl whose romance with Haas’ character John leads to complications.

Ryder, who rose to fame in the 1980s and 90s with performances in films like ‘Heathers’ and ‘The Age of Innocence,’ took on the role with enthusiasm. However, she expressed disappointment when the final product deviated from the original script that had attracted her to the project.

In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter back in 1997, Ryder revealed her concerns. “’Boys’ are the examples. I think that if those movies had had an unknown actress, they would have stuck more to the script, but because they got a known actress, they tried to capitalize on that and make them big movies,” she said. “In the case of ‘Boys,’ they completely destroyed it.”

Despite her strong performance, the film was met with negative reviews, which Ryder said she was not too surprised about. She faced legal challenges when she attempted to withdraw from the project due to script changes but was threatened with a lawsuit. “I also like [director] Stacy Cochran, so I verbally agreed to do it. Then I got this new draft in the mail that was completely different. I tried to pull out of it, but they said they’d sue,” she explained.

Ryder emphasized the lessons learned from this experience. “Next time I get a script for a tiny movie, I’ll have to have a serious contract drawn up saying nothing can be changed without my approval,” she remarked. Yet, she also noted her reluctance to exert control over the director’s vision.

Though ‘Boys’ did not achieve memorable status in cinema, Ryder’s career has continued to thrive, showcasing her ability to navigate both hits and misses in Hollywood.