"Boyhood"

Title: Boyhood
Director: Richard Linklater
Writer: Richard Linklater
Category: Drama
Duration: 165 min
Rate:



Regarding this critically acclaimed movie I have contrasting feelings. In my opinion, among the many films nominated throughout the past award season, Boyhood was overrated and overpraised by the critic.

Its popularity comes from the fact that Richard Linklater, the director and writer, spent twelve years working on this project and shooting it by involving the same actors throughout these years to make it closer to the everyday life he wanted to portray as realistically as possible.
To me this is the only extraordinary aspect of the movie, however, the result is not worth all the praises and pats on the shoulder that the director/writer got during the award season.
The plot tells the story of Mason's emotional journey and the events in his life from boyhood to adulthood, following him through all the experiences that will shape his personality and help him chose what kind of man he wants to become.
Throughout the film he has to deal with his dysfunctional family. His mother, played by Patricia Arquette, who is trying her best to give a better life to her children, but constantly chooses bad men to share her life with. His father, portrayed by Ethan Hawke, who is completely absent from his children's lives and travels around without a specific purpose. He is the first bad example in Mason's life because he is more concerned with being the "cool" parent than being present for him or his sister during the important moments in their lives.
In the movie, both children learn that they have to grow up quickly in order to survive and that they can only count on their strength.
Because of these difficult experiences, while his sister grows up to become the one who always wants to be at the center of the attention, Mason shapes himself as the quieter boy, becoming more and more detached and independent along the way.
The movie ends with Mason finally deciding what he wants to do with his life and going to college to pursue his dream to be a photographer.
Considering the fact that this is a twelve year long project, I expected more from it, to be honest. The performances were dull and detached. I was not able to make a connection with any of the characters, even though the story was about the ordinary life of a family trying to live through the curveballs that life throws at them.
I believe that Patricia Arquette's Oscar nomination and her victory weren't much deserved because to me she only delivered a great performance in her last monologue, making the rest of her interpretation of the mom character empty.
The cinematography was fragmentary and the editing was rushed and almost too sharp.
One positive note is for the soundtrack used in the film, which was amazing because it was a mirror of the different years in which the movie is set and in many ways reflected the protagonist's personality.
All in all, Boyhood is a movie that was over advertised. It is an ambitious project, however Linklater did not completely took advantage of its full potential.

Till next time,
Fred

Here the trailer: