Review of Richard Linklater's "Boyhood"
Another moving picture success by the man who is Richard Linklater. If you don't know the name, I'm certain you will know him by his films.
Did you feel a little "buzzed" after watching Dazed and Confused? That was Linklater. Were you moved to moments of reflection and sadness after his trilogy Before Sunrsie which led to Before Sunset and finished with a twist of Before Midnight? Linklater.
You see, Mr. Linklater is no stranger to story telling; begin at the beginning, fill in the middle and sneak a little bit of an ending. But no too much. You must allow the audience to quietly take away their own piece of the puzzle.
The soundtrack that runs along side of the chronological storyline compliments each period exposing us to the long road of what is Boyhood. Setting the stage with Coldplay's "Yellow"we are guided through the story of with threads of The Flaming Lips, Wilco, The Balck Keys and, many more audio appearances woven seamlessly together year over year representing over a decade of artists.
Filmed over 12 years, the story moves fast cuddling your inner child, releasing your inner teen, then launching you into the experience of a Freshman. The Film is just over 160 mins so be sure to watch your beverage consumption as not a moment is to be missed.
Patricia Arquette… Stellar! Ethan Hawk… Well he's Ethan Hawke. As for Ellar Coltrane (Mason) and Linklater's own Lorelei (Samantha), the two "children soon to be teens" who were followed by the camera over 12 years deliver one helluva performance. Not only do they age in front of us CGI free, but their characters offer moments of life experience that the we can plug into if only for a taste of nostalgic escape.
Maybe the party wasn't the same but the first beer, cigarette or toke of Mary Jane…Pretty memorable. As for the moving assay form a childhood friend, the challenging of a parent after getting home a little late or the introspective moments of silence you may remember, there are some pretty solid triggers to flash you back to a time of less or "different" complication.
If you can forego the fashion soaked, hipster teenage years and far too cool nonchalant behaviour of our lead "teen/freshman boy" than you're in for a solid ride.
