Shooting a movie over a 12 year timeframe is a daunting task. Richard Linklater and crew not only accomplish this feat, but they hit it out of the park. Boyhood is the only film I've ever heard to be shot in such a way and I wish someone else had the courage to try. Linklater's Boyhood focuses on themes of family and trauma. This film hit so close to home for me. I could probably write 20 pages about it but I'll keep this to my 2-3 highlights.
One scene really stands out in my mind - following the drunken abuse debacle with her second husband, mom and her kids leave the house frantically with nothing, only to arrive at a friends house with the kids playing Wii like they didn't just experience a truly traumatic event. This is what it's like to be a kid and witness such horrific events around you. One moment, you're crying, the next moment, you're playing Wii Sports. Ethan Hawk's role as the father who wasn't ready is relatable, heartfelt and the beating drum of the entire film to me. Linklater's decision to have the biological dad figure be supportive, involved and around as a positive figure to his children is welcome and memorable. Hawk just embodies single dad energy in all the ways.
Having a film like this consistently move throughout time without title cards is a bold choice but perhaps my favorite choice about this movie. Instead of letting you know when we are in time, Linklater beautifully combines pop culture moments, an iconically 2000's score and small visuals to keep the audience aware of where we are in the timeline of a film spanning 12 years in reality and production.
This is one of my favorite films ever. Worth every minute of its 2hr 49min runtime.
One scene really stands out in my mind - following the drunken abuse debacle with her second husband, mom and her kids leave the house frantically with nothing, only to arrive at a friends house with the kids playing Wii like they didn't just experience a truly traumatic event. This is what it's like to be a kid and witness such horrific events around you. One moment, you're crying, the next moment, you're playing Wii Sports. Ethan Hawk's role as the father who wasn't ready is relatable, heartfelt and the beating drum of the entire film to me. Linklater's decision to have the biological dad figure be supportive, involved and around as a positive figure to his children is welcome and memorable. Hawk just embodies single dad energy in all the ways.
Having a film like this consistently move throughout time without title cards is a bold choice but perhaps my favorite choice about this movie. Instead of letting you know when we are in time, Linklater beautifully combines pop culture moments, an iconically 2000's score and small visuals to keep the audience aware of where we are in the timeline of a film spanning 12 years in reality and production.
This is one of my favorite films ever. Worth every minute of its 2hr 49min runtime.