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Movie Review: A Meandering Yet Remarkable “Boyhood”

by | Feb 5, 2015 | Arts and Entertainment

Boyhood is nominated for six Oscars.

By Chad Alexander, who is reviewing each of the films nominated for the Academy Awards Best Motion Picture of the Year 2015

“Boyhood,” like many of Richard Linklater’s films, deals with the human condition. Characters long for something greater and search for meaning in their life, aimlessly experimenting in the meantime. The infamously rotoscoped (an animation technique in which animators trace over footage) “A Scanner Darkly” and the dark comedy “Bernie” both speak to a nihilist perspective of life, where it seems that nothing is sacred.

Richard’s “Boyhood” – which follows the 12-year journey of a boy growing up – follows these same longings for purpose. While the film presents a nihilist worldview, it tells enormous truths in quick scenes and lines. If you are not paying attention, you may miss a nugget of wisdom. Or, more importantly, you may miss the theme in the story about “growing up.”

Acting
The charm of the film is in how the actors evolve over of the years. Although Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke are both accomplished thespians, how they “grow up” as the divorced parents of Mason Evans, Jr., can be considered the highlight of the film. They become veterans in the film world; so with each take, they command more and more of the “stage.” It is no small wonder that Patricia is up for Best Actress in the Academy Awards.

With that being said, it is a shame that the main character of Mason (played by Ellar Coltrane) doesn’t really shine. We are merely on the ride with Mason throughout his youth. Each scene is a capture of time where the boy experiences something new. Mason merely exists in the film as a result of his environment. His mother constantly searches for a husband to find completion. Mason Sr. pursues rock and roll mixed with his GTO. Friends enter and leave Mason’s life as his family continually moves. The summation of this boy’s life can be found in the Mom’s tearful reply to her daughter Samantha: “I don’t have all the answers.”

Sound
I regret that a score isn’t present in the film; the soundtrack is only previously released, licensed music. However, the music for each scene makes an intentional point to either kick up some nostalgia from the past two decades or to complement the scene. I usually prefer movie scores over lyrical songs in a film, but this was a refreshing way of conveying a mood for the scene. When Ethan Hawke’s character, Mason Sr. plays his guitar and it feels sincere and undiluted. The music is essentially the glue that helps hold the scenes of the film together by tying up separate events and places.

Cinematography
The film, much like the boy, grows up through the years. Shots in the beginning of the film are very static, minimalist in depth. As Mason grows up, Richard’s style grows up with dynamic shots that help better visualize the boy’s struggles with how he fits in the world.

The dolly shot where Mason walks with a friend stands out as being particularly remarkable for the film. Sure, it’s basic. However, the length of the shot, coupled with the changing scenery, gives off the impression that the teens’ moods are changing along with the environment. It reminds me of the film in miniature: life goes zooming by while the conversation goes on and on about the same party, but in a different place.

Sets/Locations
Overall, the Texas locations are not bad. Nothing seems like a set, which is good for this documentary-style film.

It almost seems like Richard was “winging it” with these settings. No disrespect to Richard here at all. It’s like he didn’t know what exactly he wanted the film to be (it was originally titled “12 Years,” and to be several separate scenes that would then be edited together.) Being a Houston native, I can see that he saw an interesting location while growing up and retained it for future film projects.

In essence, the settings convey the theme of the film: everyone is “winging it.” Even the parents, the ones who are supposed to have it all together, don’t know whom they want to be when they grow up.

The variety of shots, the guerilla style of shooting, and the inclusion of sports events with POV footage really make the film seem real. Nothing seems scripted or continuous, but much like real life, the film is a series of events. For that reason, “Boyhood” is a piece that is nihilistic in execution and doesn’t have all the answers. And yet, it is powerful in sending the message that no one has this all figured out. Nor should we.

Boyhood encapsulates the journey of a young boy. It chronicles a loss of innocence and a longing for meaning. The film also demonstrates Richard Linklater’s “growing up” in the film industry. As a film experiment, it does a brilliant job of conveying 12 years of change. And for that reason, “Boyhood” deserves the spot as an Oscar nominee for Best Picture.

Boyhood is also nominated for:

– Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Ethan Hawke
– Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Patricia Arquette
– Best Achievement in Directing, Richard Linklater
– Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen, Richard Linklater
– Best Achievement in Editing, Sandra Adair

The eight films nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year are:
– The Grand Budapest Hotel — Read Chad’s review here.
– Boyhood — Read Chad’s review here.
– American Sniper
– The Imitation Game
– Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
– Selma
– The Theory of Everything
– Whiplash

The Oscars will be broadcast live on Sunday, Feb. 22, beginning at 7 p.m. on ABC.

Chad Alexander is a mild-mannered government contractor by day and a pretty normal sleeper by night. He has been dedicated to freelance writing for the last decade — writing scripts, short stories, and blogging in his spare time. He reads constantly, plays board games in his spare time, and enjoys a fine 20 oz of Cherry Coke whenever he’s feeling dangerous.

Read more Movie Reviews by Chad Alexander

Follow Fredericksburg.Today on Facebook, and on Twitter at @Fxbg2day

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