Boyhood (2014)

The life of Mason, from early childhood to his arrival at college.

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writer:

Richard Linklater

Stars:

Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke

Won 1 Oscar. Another 172 wins & 212 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ellar Coltrane	...	Mason
Patricia Arquette	...	Olivia
Elijah Smith	...	Tommy
Lorelei Linklater	...	Samantha
Steven Chester Prince	...	Ted (as Steven Prince)
Bonnie Cross	...	Teacher
Sydney Orta	...	Elementary School Girl (as Sidney Orta)
Libby Villari	...	Grandma
Ethan Hawke	...	Dad
Marco Perella	...	Professor Bill Welbrock
Jamie Howard	...	Mindy
Andrew Villarreal	...	Randy
Shane Graham	...	Neighborhood Friend #1
Tess Allen	...	Neighborhood Friend #2
Ryan Power	...	Paul

Storyline

Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater's BOYHOOD is a groundbreaking story of growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason (a breakthrough performance by Ellar Coltrane), who literally grows up on screen before our eyes. Starring Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as Mason's parents and newcomer Lorelei Linklater as his sister Samantha, BOYHOOD charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has before. Snapshots of adolescence from road trips and family dinners to birthdays and graduations and all the moments in between become transcendent, set to a soundtrack spanning the years from Coldplay's Yellow to Arcade Fire's Deep Blue. BOYHOOD is both a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and an ode to growing up and parenting.

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Plot Keywords:

coming of age | domestic abuse | 12 year time span | separated parents | growing up | 

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Taglines:

12 years in the making

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language including sexual references, and for teen drug and alcohol use

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

15 August 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Untitled 12 Year Project

Filming Locations:

Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$387,618, 13 July 2014

Gross USA:

$25,352,281

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$48,137,666

Company Credits

Production Co:

IFC Productions, Detour Filmproduction

Technical Specs

Runtime:

165 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cartoon which Mason was watching as a child was Dragon Ball Z. Specifically DBZ Season 8 The Majin Buu Saga. This particular season was not translated into English until 2001.

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Goofs

While Mason Sr. is talking to Samantha and Mason Jr. about the Iraq War, around the time Mason Sr. says, "Listen to me, listen to your father", he raises his right hand with his finger pointing up. When the camera angle changes, he now has his left hand raised with his finger pointing up.

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Quotes

Dad: [while canvassing for the 2008 Presidential Election] Hey, grab that McCain sign, would you?
Mason: Dad, isn't that illegal?
Dad: Just put it in the car. I'm being patriotic.

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Connections

Referenced in De slimste mens ter wereld: Episode #6.19 (2015)

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Soundtracks

Helena Beat
Written by Mark Foster
Performed by Foster the People
Published by Smims Coffee and Tea Music Publishing (BMI)
Courtesy of Columbia Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Not bad, but disappointing

One of the more overrated films lately.

The good: production, shooting, editing, sound -- were all good.

The great: the idea of following the same boy and others for 11 years. Transitions from age to age were beautiful.

The tiresome: the acting. It was OK, but nothing that grabs you. Ellar Coltrane was at his acting best when he was young, but gradually got more stilted. This could have been due to the director more than to him.

The ugly: The script. Existential drivel, over and over. Every character was written in a way that remained two-dimensional, especially his sister and mother. Ethan Hawke as his father did the best job of any of them in bringing some depth of life to his role.