Boyhood
4/4
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Lorelei Linklater, Ethan Hawke
Rated R for Language including Sexual References, and for Teen Drug and Alcohol Use
"Boyhood" is a one of a kind movie. There has been nothing like it before, and it is unlikely that there will ever be anything like it again. This is a movie that took 12 years to make; not because of egos or running out of money, but because it follows one boy and his family from age 5 to 18.
Yes, as you have heard, this movie took 12 years to make. But it's not a gimmick. Writer/director Richard Linklater took this long because there was no other way to make it. Spending less time and using actors at different ages wouldn't have had the same effect.
To do this, Linklater shot what was essentially a 10-15 minute short featuring the same characters each year, then edit them together as a feature film. Naturally, this wasn't an easy sell for IFC, but they contributed $200,000 each year for the film (a total of $2.4 million), and this is the result of everyone's hard work and determination. Believe me when I say this: it is a truly, one-of-a-kind experience.
The film follows Mason (Coltrane), from age 5 to 18. He lives with his mother (Arquette) and sister Samantha (Lorelei Linklater, the director's daughter) while waiting for his bohemian father (Hawke) to grow up.
"Boyhood" works because Linklater doesn't try to force feed the film into a plot. He simply watches as the characters grow up. There was a script, but it was written before each shoot and a collaboration among the four main cast members.
Linklater consciously worked in what Coltrane was going through at the time. We see him as an energetic little boy, a socially awkward pre-teen and a rebellious, artsy teenager. The effect is that we seem to see life itself happen. It's exhilirating, especially in how it mirrors reality. There are some scary moments, sad moments, and more than a few that are very funny.
There are a number of risks that a film like this faced, and Linklater sidesteps them all. One is that it seems more like a trailer for a richer, deeper film. The film doesn't trip up in this way because Linklater follows what is more interesting rather than concentrating on giving every year of his characters lives equal screen time. Some years take up only a few minutes, while other years take up a substantial amount of the film's running time. Other issues, such as a lessening of interest on the part of one of the young cast members, since contracts that last more than 7 years are illegal (Lorelai Linklater actually did lose interest for a time and asked to be killed off, but her father refused, saying it would ruin the film's tone. She did regain her passion for the film).
The performances are astonishing. I saw myself and people I knew in many of the characters. Front and center is Ellar Coltrane, who was not a professional actor when he was cast. Whether he is like this in real life or not, the effect of his performance is entirely convincing; an Oscar nomination would not be out of the question. Patricia Arquette is good, but not great. The role requires more range than she possesses, but when she's on the mark (and she usually is), she's terrific. Lorelei Linklater is also very good as Samantha; her relationship to her brother is very believable. And Ethan Hawke, who has worked with Linklater 8 times including this film, has rarely been better. He loves his kids, but he had them too early in his life.
As impressive as this film is, there are a few issues I had with it. Some plotlines are suddenly dropped and never picked up again. An example is the first marriage, which ends with the family fleeing a domestic violence situation. But we have gotten so attached to the other characters that I wanted to know what happened to them (and a similar situation ends even more abruptly). Also, the film's ending is a little too protracted. Mason is more interesting as an adult than a kid because his personality is developed, but the film seems like it wants to end before it actually does. All things considered, these are relatively small complaints.
The fact that this film was made is amazing in and of itself. But to overcome so much and turn out to be one of the best films of the year (if there's any justice with the Academy, and there often isn't, this will be up for a number of Oscars this year) is astonishing.
Please, do yourself a favor, and see this wonderful film. There's nothing else like it.
Note: The MPAA gave this film an R rating. This is one of those instances where the Ratings Board has made such a stupid decision that it pissed me off. There is nothing in this film, except for a few utterances of the word "fuck," to warrant such a rating. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," another coming of age story that came out two years ago, earned a PG-13 despite being much racier. "Boyhood" is a perfect film for teenagers. In fact, it might mean more to them than it would for adults.
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Lorelei Linklater, Ethan Hawke
Rated R for Language including Sexual References, and for Teen Drug and Alcohol Use
"Boyhood" is a one of a kind movie. There has been nothing like it before, and it is unlikely that there will ever be anything like it again. This is a movie that took 12 years to make; not because of egos or running out of money, but because it follows one boy and his family from age 5 to 18.
Yes, as you have heard, this movie took 12 years to make. But it's not a gimmick. Writer/director Richard Linklater took this long because there was no other way to make it. Spending less time and using actors at different ages wouldn't have had the same effect.
To do this, Linklater shot what was essentially a 10-15 minute short featuring the same characters each year, then edit them together as a feature film. Naturally, this wasn't an easy sell for IFC, but they contributed $200,000 each year for the film (a total of $2.4 million), and this is the result of everyone's hard work and determination. Believe me when I say this: it is a truly, one-of-a-kind experience.
The film follows Mason (Coltrane), from age 5 to 18. He lives with his mother (Arquette) and sister Samantha (Lorelei Linklater, the director's daughter) while waiting for his bohemian father (Hawke) to grow up.
"Boyhood" works because Linklater doesn't try to force feed the film into a plot. He simply watches as the characters grow up. There was a script, but it was written before each shoot and a collaboration among the four main cast members.
Linklater consciously worked in what Coltrane was going through at the time. We see him as an energetic little boy, a socially awkward pre-teen and a rebellious, artsy teenager. The effect is that we seem to see life itself happen. It's exhilirating, especially in how it mirrors reality. There are some scary moments, sad moments, and more than a few that are very funny.
There are a number of risks that a film like this faced, and Linklater sidesteps them all. One is that it seems more like a trailer for a richer, deeper film. The film doesn't trip up in this way because Linklater follows what is more interesting rather than concentrating on giving every year of his characters lives equal screen time. Some years take up only a few minutes, while other years take up a substantial amount of the film's running time. Other issues, such as a lessening of interest on the part of one of the young cast members, since contracts that last more than 7 years are illegal (Lorelai Linklater actually did lose interest for a time and asked to be killed off, but her father refused, saying it would ruin the film's tone. She did regain her passion for the film).
The performances are astonishing. I saw myself and people I knew in many of the characters. Front and center is Ellar Coltrane, who was not a professional actor when he was cast. Whether he is like this in real life or not, the effect of his performance is entirely convincing; an Oscar nomination would not be out of the question. Patricia Arquette is good, but not great. The role requires more range than she possesses, but when she's on the mark (and she usually is), she's terrific. Lorelei Linklater is also very good as Samantha; her relationship to her brother is very believable. And Ethan Hawke, who has worked with Linklater 8 times including this film, has rarely been better. He loves his kids, but he had them too early in his life.
As impressive as this film is, there are a few issues I had with it. Some plotlines are suddenly dropped and never picked up again. An example is the first marriage, which ends with the family fleeing a domestic violence situation. But we have gotten so attached to the other characters that I wanted to know what happened to them (and a similar situation ends even more abruptly). Also, the film's ending is a little too protracted. Mason is more interesting as an adult than a kid because his personality is developed, but the film seems like it wants to end before it actually does. All things considered, these are relatively small complaints.
The fact that this film was made is amazing in and of itself. But to overcome so much and turn out to be one of the best films of the year (if there's any justice with the Academy, and there often isn't, this will be up for a number of Oscars this year) is astonishing.
Please, do yourself a favor, and see this wonderful film. There's nothing else like it.
Note: The MPAA gave this film an R rating. This is one of those instances where the Ratings Board has made such a stupid decision that it pissed me off. There is nothing in this film, except for a few utterances of the word "fuck," to warrant such a rating. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," another coming of age story that came out two years ago, earned a PG-13 despite being much racier. "Boyhood" is a perfect film for teenagers. In fact, it might mean more to them than it would for adults.
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