As moviegoers, i don’t think we always appreciate the amount of labor and commitment that goes into creating something that gives us 2 hours of entertainment. People dedicate years of their lives and companies dedicate their fortunes, just to plant us in a seat for 2 hours and hopefully enjoy ourselves. Is it any wonder that movies tend to shoot big to reel in the big dollars? If you read critics reviews, they almost unanimously are giving ‘Boyhood’ perfect 100 scores on IMDB. I am not going to jump on that bandwagon, but I am speechless and in awe at the level of artistry and commitment that it took to assemble this film.
Director Richard Linklater has given us a film that has taken him 12 years to assemble. It follows the life of Mason (Ellar Coltrane) growing up with his family in Texas over the course of his adolescence. What is so amazing is that Richard Linklater was able to keep the same actors on this project over the course of 12 years and you actually see Mason grow up on screen before our very eyes. He starts out as an 8 year boy and we follow him through adolescence to young adulthood. Anyone familiar with Richard Linklater knows he has done similar things with the ‘Before’ trilogy where he reassembles the same actors every 10 years for an update to their character’s story. As ‘Boyhood’ progresses one gasps the same way one gasps after seeing a child relative after they have growth spurts. To see these child actors grow up in front of our very eyes over a 2 hour period leaves one incredulous.
What I found interesting about the movie is the same thing that I felt detracted from it. The movie isn’t about anything in particular. It is dialogue based and basically is a series of vignettes of Mason’s life growing up in Texas. The glimpses aren’t even milestones in Mason’s life, merely peeks as his life progresses. As the random events are shown, one begins to see the tapestry of his life that culminates into the young man he becomes, but at it’s core, it’s very existential in its’ portrayal of his life and lessons.
Patricia Arquette plays Mason’s single mother who is struggling to make ends meet. She had children way to early with the roguish, yet lovable father (Ethan Hawke, another Linklater favorite). Mason’s sister Samantha (played by Lorelei Linklater) has even more startling transformations as she matures into a young woman. The family dynamic works despite the mother bringing a string of abusive father figures into her life and Mason’s continual teenage disaffections. Ethan Hawke is a constant in the kids life despite his absenteeism (I know that sounds weird, but its true). Over the course of 12 years, we see Ethan slowly begin to get his life together and make something of himself. Even when he starts his new family, his kids are always forefront in his heart. His attempt to talk about the birds and the bees with his daughter was one of the highlights of the film with one of the most palpably awkward and humorous scenes I’ve seen in awhile.
Again, the fascination of this film is seeing Mason develop into the man he becomes through his formative years. The movie has no real direction of life lessons, merely a voyeuristic look into the lives of a family that could be anyone in America. There are highs and lows, but I don’t think the film strives to be anything more than a character study. It’s the scope and breadth of this film that is remarkable and the awareness that it took over 12 years to make. It says something about the director that he was able to keep the same cast of actors dedicated throughout. Like all Linklater films, dialogue is at the forefront, so for those who don’t enjoy the art of conversation and observation, the 2.5 hour running time could seem tedious. Most, I believe, will be too awe struck by the actors growing up in front of us to actually miss any type of linear story or action.
A warning: this is a rated ‘R’ movie with graphic language and mature story lines. I saw a lot of families with little children attending this and the parents squirmed uncomfortably during some of the dialogue. The movie poster makes it look like a kiddie film, but it is definitely labeled ‘R’. Not to be too snobbish, but that is why they give films ratings, so parents will know what’s appropriate for kids and what isn’t. I was wondering what the parents were thinking when they brought their little 8 year olds to see this.
Overall, if you are an avid movie goer, I recommend this film for it’s artistic achievement. If you are more of a casual goer, this might be a little long and short on excitement.
I give this film ***1/2 stars (mainly for the fact it was made)
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