Boyhood

Genre: coming-of-age drama  

With: Ellar Coltrane (Mason Evans Jr.), Patricia Arquette (his mom Olivia), Lorelei Linklater (his sister Samantha), Ethan Hawke (his dad Mason), Libby Villari (Grandma), Marco Perella (Bill Welbrock), Jamie Howard (Mindy), Andrew Villarreal (Randy), Barbara Chisholm (Carol), Angela Rawna (Professor Elena Douglas), Jenni Tooley (Annie), Evie Thompson (Jill), Richard Andrew Jones (Grandpa Cliff), Karen Jones (Nana), Brad Hawkins (Jim), Tom McTigue (Mr. Turlington), Zoe Graham (Sheena), Bill Wise (Uncle Steve), Maximillian McNamara (Dalton), Jessi Mechler (Nicole)

Director: Richard Linklater

Screenplay: Richard Linklater

Release: 2014

Studio: IFC Productions, Detour Filmproduction

Rating: R

MBiS score: 8.5/10

 

 

Young People Need All That Time to Figure It Out... If They're Lucky! 

 

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Story-line: BOYHOOD follows 6-year-old Mason, his sister and their divorced parents as they go about their lives from 2002 to 2014. That’s it… there’s nothing more to this movie!

Pluses: excellent acting by Ellar Coltrane (as the free-spirited, intelligent and increasingly likeable Mason), Lorelei Linklater (his sympathetic sister), Patricia Arquette (their well-meaning but luckless mom) and an endearing Ethan Hawke, efficient direction, a sincere and lively screenplay paced by natural dialogues, consistent production values, pretty cinematography, sensible editing and a satisfying ending.

Minuses: none… but do plan ahead because this movie is 165 minutes long.

Comments: BOYHOOD tells a familiar story and holds few surprises but never loses interest because of its accuracy and simple humanity. In a few words… it rings so true! Richard Linklater’s idea to spread out the film shoot over 12 years in order to let his characters breathe, evolve and grow older was quite astute, echoing Michael Apted’s well-known UP documentaries. What makes BOYHOOD so watchable is how it allows us to know, accept and even cherish its characters while they experience triumphs and setbacks like anyone would… with optimism, disappointment, confusion or resilience. Love and relationships, family dynamics, school and work issues, mentors and bad influences are covered wisely in this modest and worthy film. Enjoy!

 

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