Boyhood (2014) - Movie Review
I guess I'll be adding Boyhood to that list as well.
However, unlike the other films on this list, what makes Boyhood unique is not its story, its characters, or its themes: it's the production. As some of you may know, Boyhood was shot in less than fifty days over twelve years with the same cast and crew. Talk about a gamble. There was no telling what would happen if one of the principal actors just suddenly died or if the director's own daughter, playing Mason's sister, decided not to be in her dad's movie anymore. Thankfully, the entire cast and crew stayed together for all twelve years of production, making one of the most unique films of all time. Without this method of production, we wouldn't have the unique story, deep characters, or the rich themes present in Boyhood.
So, what is the unique story of Boyhood? Believe it or not, the story in itself is not unique at all: the film's plot consists of a traditional coming-of-age story about a boy (Mason) growing up with a constantly changing dysfunctional family unit. However, the specifics of what Mason would be interested in and what challenges he would deal with were developed throughout production, making it appear like we are not as much watching a movie as we are real life. Director Richard Linklater said that he was "totally ready to adapt the story to whatever he [Ellar Coltrane, the actor who plays Mason] is going through." This really shows in lots of little moments like when Mason being bullied or when he starts hanging out with the wrong crowd. Yes, these may appear to be a little clichéd, but they are perfectly placed in the grand scheme of things.
That is another area where Boyhood really succeeds. It has this second, more complex layer that underlies its seemingly simple story and characters. Most of the characters may seem archetypal at first: Olivia, the single mom struggling to make ends meet; Mason, Sr., the absentee biological dad who just seems to want to have fun. However, they change drastically throughout the story, with all of them undergoing many transformative experiences. For example, Mason, Sr., really gets his life together by the film's conclusion. I can't go into many more details because they could spoil the ending, but I can tell you that there are countless examples of this second, deeper layer to Boyhood.
The acting of this film is also incredible and natural. Granted, this is to be expected with the production method of the film. However, both Patricia Arquette as Olivia and Ethan Hawke as Mason, Sr., do award-worthy work. Arquette shines through in many of the more jarring scenes, especially when dealing with an abusive, alcoholic husband. Hawke, meanwhile, is a chameleon, constantly reminding us that his character is not who we think he is. The rest of the principal cast is highly deserving of acclaim as well, as Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater do phenomenal work, never once letting us believe that they are not their characters.
Thematically, Boyhood will resonate with almost everyone who watches it. Why is this, you ask? Simple: it is dealing with the universal process of growing up. It also covers both genders well, as we watch Mason and his sister Samantha grow up simultaneously. The process of growing up deals with many themes in itself such as sibling rivalry, addiction, dysfunctional families, teen substance use, sex in high school, and going off to college. I don't think that any other movie covers all of these in one sitting and does it this well.
Boyhood is one of the most unique films I have ever seen. There's a lot of technicality to it that distinguishes it from the crowd, but what makes it actually stand out is its rich themes and beautiful construction of Mason. It is one of the very few films in which we feel like we are watching real life and not a film. And that's the reason to watch it.
Rating: 9/10
Comments
Post a Comment