Film No. 62 (2014) August 31st. 11 AM LUNA Leederville.
I watched Boyhood open mouthed. I did laugh a few times, mainly because some scenes brought home a truth or two. The reason for my open mouth was that I felt in awe of Richard Linklater and the original method by which he has created this film. A truly excellent film.
To watch the actors Linklater chose for this brilliant project age over twelve years as he subtly melded the time changes from year to year gave me a greater sense of my own childhood and the observations, sometimes similar, I made as I matured over time. It is a clever film maker who can capture an audience using total fiction but with such realism we recognise ourselves and others via the flickering image. Every exchange of dialogue by the film's characters has a future bearing on what comes next. We certainly ponder that future but have a pretty good idea of what's to come.
We meet Mason (Ellar Coltrane) in the first scene. From the moment we set eyes upon him we know we are going to like him. It's just we don't realise how much. He lives with his sister Samantha (Loreiei Linklater) and his Mom (Patricia Arquette) in a run down rental property. Dad (Ethan Hawke) is no longer part of the family unit as he wrestles with accepting responsibility and loving his kids at the same time. The early scenes set a solid foundation for the path each character will follow over twelve years.
Mason grows into the young man we say farewell to in the final scene. We say it sadly because of the things he's seen, the battles he's fought, the advice he's listened to, the love he's shared and the quiet way he has dealt with his anxiety about life and what it all means. Arquette's final scene with her son is heartfelt and sums up a journey we have all experienced as parents. Boyhood is not to be missed; but only if you are in the mood to experience all your emotions in a film so unique I can't stop thinking about it. 11GUMS
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