If you’ve
been paying close attention to any of the numerous independent films released
this year, chances are you’ve heard a lot about Boyhood, the remarkable 12-year
project from Richard Linklater. However, if you’re not one to follow the indie
scene, you may not have heard of this generation-defining film, or what makes
it so unique.
On its
surface, Boyhood sounds like a normal, maybe even boring motion picture about a boy growing up, but if that’s all you know of Boyhood, you’re missing
out. The remarkable thing about Boyhood isn’t necessarily the script, or the
directing, or the acting (although all of these elements of the film are
impressively on point) what sets this film apart is how incredibly long it took
just to film this movie. Instead of hiring several different actors to play the
main character (Mason, who makes for a uniquely interesting protagonist)
Richard Linklater made this film over 12 years, with the same actors as they
actually aged over that time period. Thus, even though Boyhood is scripted,
watching the film is almost like watching an actual boy progress through his
childhood. I can’t stress enough how much of a difference this makes in the
movie; the characters feel like real people and we really feel as if we are
watching these people grow and not just as actors playing fictional parts, but
it feels real. Honestly, I could write a whole essay about just how unique this
aspect of the film is alone, but I’ll just leave it at this: it makes for a
ground-breaking experience.
As for the
story itself, it’s actually very engaging; young Mason goes through a lot of
experiences that many of us have shared and some that maybe a lot of us haven’t,
but through it all I felt as though Boyhood is the kind of film that all of us
can relate to, and not just boys. This is really the story of growing up, and
since all of us can appreciate that on one level or another, it’s the perfect
film to watch and reminisce on your own life; I know I found myself getting
excited when I recognize a few toys in the background that I’d owned myself as
a child (anyone remember Gameboys?). In one scene Mason and his father (a
virtually perfect performance by Ethan Hawke here) have a conversation over a
campfire about whether there’ll be a Star Wars movie, (this of course was
filmed long before anyone knew Disney would milk the franchise to the bitter
end) it’s a simple scene but it made me laugh and reflect on similar
conversations I’d had with my own father. That’s what Boyhood is all about.
Another
thing I like about Boyhood is its objectivity; this isn’t a Disney film where
the parents are/were perfect (dead) role models, but it isn’t a Steven
Spielbierg movie either where the kids rule and the parents are just dumb
bumbling idiots. There’s a delicate balance here as there is in real life and
the film never offers an opinion on who’s right and who’s wrong. Several times
Mason’s mother (his father and mother are separated so he lives with his mother)
makes some questionable decisions, but the film never judges her, nor does it
shy away from showing her imperfection. The same goes for the father, his
relationship with the kids is just as flawed even though it’s drastically
different.
When the
film finally reaches the end, we the audience feel like we’ve been through a real
journey, but it’s not really over; because really, Mason’s life is just
beginning as he leaves boyhood and enters manhood. The way the film ends
perfectly reflects that (I don’t want to give away any spoilers on this one) it
feels like the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new one, and I couldn’t
imagine a better way for this film to end.
Boyhood is a
long film (almost 3 hours), and I could go on for pages and pages, but I’ll
keep it short because this is a film that you should experience for yourself. I
urge you if you see one film this year, make it Boyhood (but also go see Guardians
of the Galaxy because that one’s just too much fun) I promise you it’s an
experience you’ll never forget, just like your own childhood.
-Ryan Maples
Rating: 9.75
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