The Film
You can't accuse director Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, Before Sunrise) of just slapping together a coming-of-age story. Boyhood has been about 12 years in the making.
Out of those 12 years, only 39 days was spent on the actual production. That's because Boyhood offers snippets of its characters over a 12-year period. So instead of having Boyhood's boy played by several different actors, Ellar Coltrane takes on ages 6 through 18. The actors were obviously dedicated to putting this film together, but does it really matter?
Maybe not, but Boyhood is still an entertaining film. On paper, it really shouldn't be. Over two hours' worth of days in the life of one family over a 12-year period may sound sort of meh. However, it's actually quite gripping.
Coltrane plays Mason, Jr., a boy from Texas and a product of divorce. He's the focus, but there are plenty of other characters to relate to as well, including a mom (Patricia Arquette) who can't seem to get ahead, a sassy sister (Lorelei Linklater, the director's daughter), and sometimes-dad Mason Sr. (Ethan Hawke). However, the film is really about the boy, who we see do just about everything, from flipping through the Victoria's Secret catalog and camping to developing a passion for photography and experiencing heartbreak.
Several of the moments and milestones will really hit home, since Boyhood offers a realistic peek at what boys (and girls) do and say when they hang out and grow up. However, it's not going for shock value; just value -- period. The acting is also top-notch, particularly from Arquette and Hawke.
Just don't be put off by the film's length. At 164 minutes, Boyhood seems like it would be an eternity. However, like life itself, it's enjoyable and really flies by.
Want another peek at this movie? Check out David Kempler's theatrical review of Boyhood.
The Picture
Boyhood isn't as sparkly as other new movies, but it's not supposed to be. Shot entirely on 35mm film to preserve continuity, the colors are often dim and detail doesn't always pop. However, that doesn't mean that the 1.78:1 image is bad. It does have plenty of eye-catching moments, most notably when the action takes place outside. Overall, Boyhood offers an enjoyable experience and the consistency is pretty darn impressive to look at, considering how long it took to make the movie.
The Sound
Besides the movie itself, the real surprise here is this film's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. Like life itself, this track is mostly dialogue-driven, but has several great immersive moments. School, a baseball game, camping and several parties offer up some of the audio's most interesting surround sounds. The film also has a pretty fun pop soundtrack, which comes though quite nicely as well.
The Extras
Final Thoughts
Boyhood isn't the type of movie that a lot of people would be clamoring for as a day-one purchase, but it should be. It has a pleasurable enough AV experience and collection of extras to make it worth picking up. However, it's the actual film that makes this one to own. Besides all of the effort put into the film, Boyhood offers a realistic view of life -- one actually worth viewing. It has sweet, sad and funny moments and just works on every level, from beginning to end.
Product Details
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