Boyhood was filmed once a year for 12 years with the same cast. It focuses on Mason (Ellar Coltrane) and his family, his Mom (Patricia Arquette), Dad (Ethan Hawke) and his Sister Samantha (Lorelai Linklater). It is basically a coming of age drama following Mason from the age of 5 to 18 and the trials and tribulations of growing up as well as abusive step-fathers, falling in love and getting heartbroken.
I was really surprised that I enjoyed this, it appeared like it would be boring but it was paced so well that although I was aware of how long it was, it never felt like it was dragging. In fact, at more than one point I thought it was going to end and when it didn't I was pleasantly surprised. It almost felt like numerous episodes of a TV series rather than a movie, which was so different to anything I've seen before.
Ellar Coltrane was really good as Mason and to be able to play this character over 12 years while still maintaining the little personality traits of the character over such a long period of time. Personally, Ethan Hawke was the highlight of this, his development from absent father to committed family man and the ups and downs in between was one of my favourite parts of the film. There are no big budget scenes, no major revelations but that's almost what makes it so good, its just normal life with normal people and how they change from one year to the next.
One of these highlights of this for me was the little cultural references to remind you that this was filmed over such a long span of time, various technology comes and goes, as well as popular moves, books and trends. This small additions were something I found myself looking out for and enjoying the moment when I recognised something that meant we had moved forward a year!!
Really great movie that I'm sure will get the Best Picture Oscar on Sunday. <--- Scrap this as my post went out after the Oscars and it DIDN'T win Best Picture! Although, I'm kind of glad Birdman took it because no one expected it...
You posted this too late, at least with regards to your last statement (since, you know, it lost the Oscar). I didn't like this one at all, but I'm glad that it has an audience. Hawke was the highlight for sure, and the touches that show the years in passing are neat in retrospect. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteHehe! Thanks for the heads up, I have now made a slight amendment (it was initially intended to go out before the Oscars but we had a re-jig of the schedule!). Did you really not like it? I just found myself engrossed in the normality of it all!
Delete- Jen
Great review Jenna (as always) I really enjoyed this film, and as you said watching the cast grow over the years, was what i really liked about this film. You felt like a fly on the wall of a families life. Very well acted, and very believable too. Its a long film but very entertaining, I couldn't watch it again though.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could watch it again either, my guess is it would be boring the second time round. I also don't think this is going to age very well, part of the charm is the fact that remember all the little tidbits they put in (book signings, certain songs) which probably won't be as memorable in 10 years time.
Delete- Jen
Nice review! I'm glad you enjoyed it, I obviously didn't since I've been bitching about it for months. lol
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