Boyhood...and adulthood
Creating a feature film is an insane quest. Most people entering their local cineplex have no idea how complex and daunting the task of creating a film is, and therefor, are in no place to judge the merits of any film they view. Art is, at it's core, subjective. People are free to love or hate anything they want. But, remember, the fact that you can sit and watch a finished film that is in any way enjoyable is a miracle.
"Boyhood" is the highest of cinematic miracles. A 12-year project of love and dedication from its filmmakers. Richard Linklater has several projects that span generations, including the "Before Sunrise" trilogy.
Linklater seems deeply interested in human maturity and growth. He is patient; something often absent in a day of high-intesity comic-book movies and Michael Bay futurism. He is one of the few filmmakers that is willing to take the time to watch real people grow.
"Boyhood" follows the story of Mason as he grows from 5 years old to a young man of 18. His parents are divorced polar opposites and he often finds himself caught in the middle of the consequences of other people's poor decisions. He turns into a pensive and sweet guy right before our eyes.
The film is riveting throughout. There are no battles or special effects. It borders on documentary in its realism and the performances by Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and Ellar Coltrane (Mason) are fantastic and heart-wrenching.
I've thought about the movie often since I watched it. We watch twelve years of this boy's (and his family's) life flash by in a little over two hours. Life is so short and fragile. Our relationships are precious and last just a blink of an eye. Our children will soon grow and have children of their own. I hope we can treat those around us with the same wonder and love we would if we knew we only had these few brief moments with them.
I also hope we can do what we can to capture these precious moments. Write these things down. Take pictures and video. I hope we can all become a society of story-tellers like Richard Linklater. If we view each other as humans with stories, we will surely come to love, respect and care for each other.
Linklater seems deeply interested in human maturity and growth. He is patient; something often absent in a day of high-intesity comic-book movies and Michael Bay futurism. He is one of the few filmmakers that is willing to take the time to watch real people grow.
"Boyhood" follows the story of Mason as he grows from 5 years old to a young man of 18. His parents are divorced polar opposites and he often finds himself caught in the middle of the consequences of other people's poor decisions. He turns into a pensive and sweet guy right before our eyes.
The film is riveting throughout. There are no battles or special effects. It borders on documentary in its realism and the performances by Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and Ellar Coltrane (Mason) are fantastic and heart-wrenching.
I've thought about the movie often since I watched it. We watch twelve years of this boy's (and his family's) life flash by in a little over two hours. Life is so short and fragile. Our relationships are precious and last just a blink of an eye. Our children will soon grow and have children of their own. I hope we can treat those around us with the same wonder and love we would if we knew we only had these few brief moments with them.
I also hope we can do what we can to capture these precious moments. Write these things down. Take pictures and video. I hope we can all become a society of story-tellers like Richard Linklater. If we view each other as humans with stories, we will surely come to love, respect and care for each other.
Comments
Post a Comment