Boyhood (2014)

Release Date: 11 July, 2014


What's It About: Follows the story of Mason and Samantha Evans and their parents as they grow up across 10 years


The Good: For a film that was made in parts over the course of a decade, I'm impressed that the tone and pacing remains consistent. It would have been very difficult to organize the actors' schedules and plan them 10 years in advance. There's alot of life in this film and the story does a great job of accurately depicting how young people in this day and age grow up. I even find myself relating to parts of it here and there, and more than once was I nodding in agreement with some of the things Mason said or did.


The Bad: There are times when the story gets a little bogged down and begins to sidetrack, but this could just be a way of showing how real life doesn't always follow a singular path. I felt that the character of Samantha is receives less focus of Mason, and some of the things in her life were something I would have liked to see more of (although it really is all about Mason).


Best Performance: Patricia Arquette as Olivia Evans, Mason and Samantha's mother. Olivia faces obstacles on all fronts, including raising her children and the presence of other men who enter and exit her life, as well as the pressures of her career. Arquette has a very real, grounded feel to her character, as if what she goes through is something many mothers can relate to on at least some level. Her emotions are displayed for everyone to see and we are able to understand the struggle she goes through as the world pulls and twists her in multiple directions.


Should I Watch It: Many of the films accolades seem to be hung up on its extraordinary production length, which is definitely an impressive feat of filmmaking - and something that industry experts are probably looking at moreso than the finished film itself. Boyhood manages to retain its entire cast throughout the 11-year production period and they manage to grow in their own ways as the production moves forward. Overall, if you can handle the running length and are interested in seeing the equivalent of time-lapse photography for a human being's life, this is a solid choice of film.


Post-Credits Scene: No


Similar Films: Tree of Life (2011), Nebraska (2013), Whiplash (2014)


Trailer: