Writer: Richard Linklater (Screenplay)
Starring: Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke, Elijah Smith, Lorelei Linklater
Plot: The life of a young man, Mason, from age 5 to age 18.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Amazing Film Making
Story: Boyhood starts by introducing Mason (Coltrane) at age 5 you can tell early on he is a dreamer and his mom (Arquette) is trying to keep him safe on the right path. When the family ups a moves to Houston to start a fresh, this shows the difficulties child have with leaving friends in an attempt to make new ones. Moving back Mason and his sister get a chance to see their distant father (Hawke). We see how Mason and his sister grow up with a single mother who is trying to move on with her personal life as he grows.
We continue to see Mason grow and the changes that come through his life be it his mother marriage that turned sour. We see the moving of schools, learning to become a man of different students as well as seeing his father only on short appearances weekends and holidays. We watch as Mason has to make the biggest decisions on his life when it comes to first love and eventually college.
Boyhood is something we have never seen before and something we will never see again, it full deserves all the praise it has been getting. It shows how growing up can be both easy and hard because of things outside of one’s control, it also shows that even just after the growing up has finished there is another how life out there waiting for you. We have plenty of references to real life events that were prime talking points at the time of the filming of the section, it also uses the popular music of the time well without it being what was thought to be popular now. On paper it is a very simple story of one boy growing up from childhood to adulthood but the commitment that went into making it actually last the time it did was unbelievable. (10/10)
Actor Review
Ellar Coltrane: Mason we follow Mason from 5 years old right up to he is 18. We have the same actor playing the role because of how the film shots every year for the 12 years. We see how he grows up and is encouraged to express his creative freedom but certain people mess up his dreams but staying loyal with his family who stand by him just like a real family should. Ellar does a great job because once he gets to the old stage we see how he manages to make every scene look natural without it looking like he is acting. (9/10)
Patricia Arquette: Mom starting off struggling to keep things afloat for the family before studying, marrying the wrong guy before becoming a professor of her own. Even with all the studying she keeps her children safe and keeps their futures open to achieve their own dreams. Patricia does a great job as the mom who is always there. (9/10)
Ethan Hawke: Dad starting off as the almost deadbeat dad who over times sorts out his life, cleans himself up and gets married and starts his own family. He does come off as the cool dad because he always takes the children somewhere fun. Ethan does a great job because he gets all the important lesson teaching scenes for both Mason and Samantha. (9/10)
Support Cast: Boyhood has a support cast that shows how easy it is for people to come and go from the lives of others. Each member of the cast looks like they would be part of the next stage only to be gone after the next year of the lives.
Director Review: Richard Linklater – Richard showed the world how brilliant film making can be with this masterpiece of his. (10/10)
Drama: Boyhood is a brilliant drama showing how hard it is to grow up as well as how much effort is put in. (10/10)
Music: Boyhood uses its music to help tell us what year the story is really in. (9/10)
Settings: Boyhood uses the settings to show how a simple family life looks and by filming at the time we get to see a fully authentic look at the time period. (10/10)
Suggestion: Boyhood is an absolute must watch even if it doesn’t sound the most appealing film, it is a masterpiece in filmmaking. (Watch)
Best Part: Realism that the story becomes.
Worst Part: It is very long for the story it is telling.
Believability: This is what people would go through as they grow up and get older. (10/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: Nominate for 6 Oscars including Best Picture.
Box Office: $24 Million
Budget: $4 Million
Runtime: 2 Hours 45 Minutes
Tagline: 12 Years in the making
Overall: Simply Stunning and Inspiring Film Making
Rating