I was not a huge fan of Richard Linklater's "Before" movies. I found them too self-consciously precious for my taste and, frankly, Julie Delpy just annoys me. Still, the notion of the passage of time and how we all change, even though we so often deny it, is fascinating. It's why Michael Apted's "Up" series of documentaries have been so compelling.
In that context, I approached Boyhood with mixed feelings, but there was no need to be ambivalent. I have very rarely had a more rewarding experience in the movie theatre. Virtually everything about this film is pitch perfect. The concept itself was pretty audacious. So much could have gone wrong and ruined the whole thing - Ellar Coltrane could have simply abandoned the project or he could have turned out to be a lousy actor (as could Lorelei Linklater). The producers could have lost faith in what must surely have seemed a fool's errand. The fact that is is just so beautifully, and believably, put together is nothing short of a small miracle.
I watched the film with my 21 year-old son and we lost track of the number of times we turned to each other in silent recognition of our own journey together as father and son. As with life itself, Boyhood has its moments of unintended humour, of awkward attempts to connect, of unexpressed anger, alienation and love. There are no artificially manufactured scenes of overt drama. Nothing really bad happens, despite what I found to be a prolonged sense of foreboding.
In short, this is a movie that know I will watch again and again, each time taking something more away from it. It is an unforgettable experience.
In that context, I approached Boyhood with mixed feelings, but there was no need to be ambivalent. I have very rarely had a more rewarding experience in the movie theatre. Virtually everything about this film is pitch perfect. The concept itself was pretty audacious. So much could have gone wrong and ruined the whole thing - Ellar Coltrane could have simply abandoned the project or he could have turned out to be a lousy actor (as could Lorelei Linklater). The producers could have lost faith in what must surely have seemed a fool's errand. The fact that is is just so beautifully, and believably, put together is nothing short of a small miracle.
I watched the film with my 21 year-old son and we lost track of the number of times we turned to each other in silent recognition of our own journey together as father and son. As with life itself, Boyhood has its moments of unintended humour, of awkward attempts to connect, of unexpressed anger, alienation and love. There are no artificially manufactured scenes of overt drama. Nothing really bad happens, despite what I found to be a prolonged sense of foreboding.
In short, this is a movie that know I will watch again and again, each time taking something more away from it. It is an unforgettable experience.