1:50 am - 01/21/2014

Sundance Review: Richard Linklaters Ambitious Boyhood Starring Ethan Hawke & Patricia Arquette

Last night in Park City, director Richard Linklater made cinematic history with the groundbreaking Boyhood, a time capsule-like exploration of childhood and family shot over the course of 12 years. And its unlike anything youve seen before, though the closest analogue might be the ambitious Up Series," Michael Apteds documentary series that revisits the same family every 7 years to catch up with where they are in life. Evincing many lucid and extemporaneous qualities, Linklater doesnt do catching up though, as Boyhood feels much less like a greatest hits package and more analogous to being in the moment, watching the sprawling, occasionally dull home videos of family over more than a decades time. Warm, soulful, funny and quietly insightful, Boyhood shines in its engrossing, experiential understanding and its a special achievement that should be cherished and acknowledged. Centering on Mason (Ellar Coltrane) and Samantha (Lorelei Linklater, the filmmakers daughter), Boyhood chronicles the mostly small and intimate moments of the family's life, beginning in medias res with the pains of divorce already having occurred. Olivia (Patricia Arquette) is a struggling, single mom living in small town Texas trying to orient boyfriends to the fact that she has obligations and responsibilities they just dont really understand. Mason Sr. (Ethan Hawke) is an absentee father who hasnt seen his kids in a year, taking off to Alaska to clear his head after the break-up, though hes trying to make up for lost time and stay involved in the lives of his kids.

While the notion of reconciliation is something that the kids and dad are open to, Boyhood matter-of-factly moves to logical next steps as if watching a well-staged documentary. Going back to college to get her degree, Olivia eventually marries one of her professors, Bill Wellbrock (Marco Perella). And while the film is generally focused on the macro and less movie-like moments, the Bill storylinehe turns out to be an abusive, shit-head alcoholicprovides "Boyhood" with some of its biggest drama (Olivia quickly leaves him and displaces the family to yet another small Texas town much to her childrens chagrin). But if youre looking for the confrontation between Mason Sr. and Bill for his dangerous nature towards Olivia and the kids, youve come to the wrong place. Boyhood fast forwards ahead year by year detailing little minute growths and changes in the entire familys life (haircuts, schools, new loves, various moves, quality times with dad, etc.). Olivia eventually remarries (to another jerk), Mason and Samantha explore the things that pre-pubescents, adolescents and teenagers explore (love, relationships, sex, alcohol, drugs) without too much melodrama, and even Mason Sr. eventually trades in his vintage 70s muscle car for the family life with a new wife and child. But ultimately, Boyhood is Ellar Coltranes movie, following Mason's evolution from boy, to teenager to young man, leading up all the way to his high school graduation and his first day of college. Boyhood also has a summative Linklater effect to it as well. The picture begins disarmingly light on its feet, sweet, funny and playful in the early years not unlike the directors movies about kids (School of Rock, Bad News Bears), but as the kids mature, so does the movie, eventually in the later years revealing Mason to be a thoughtful, deep-thinking teenager who wouldnt be out of place in Waking Life or Before Midnight," discussing some of the more philosophical dilemmas and obstacles about life. Shooting 3 to 4 days every year for 12 years, Linklater scripted much of the movie in advance and its perhaps because of this schedule that Boyhood doesnt focus on major life milestones, instead picking up year over year in seemingly banal spots, only to keep you absorbed each time. Linklater has always had a relaxed and Tao-like approach to life and filmmaking and his tranquil persona is reflected in a patient, almost 3-hour movie that never feels like its in a hurry to get anywhere and make major, phony statements about existence. Perhaps being a father himself and reflecting on life during this period, the filmmaker has come to realize its the little things that define us and we grow incrementally, almost subconsciously. Using music as cultural signifiers, Boyhood subtly places you within each year via song, opening with 2000s Yellow by Coldplay, hitting 2002 with The Flaming Lips track Do You Realize?, and heading up all the way through the years until arriving in the modern era with contemporary cuts by Arcade Fire and Daft Punk. (Linklater warned in the Q&A that all the songs werent cleared, but with music supervisor Randall Poster working the gig, securing them shouldnt be too hard). Incredibly naturalistic and low-key, Boyhood does sag a little bit in the unremarkable

yearsadolescent mundaneness isnt very cinematicbut its all arguably part of the master plan. Boyhood couldve perhaps used some bigger moments to really emotionally hook the viewer, but then that would be going against its raison d'tre. Linklater isnt interested in big swelling, dramatic moments but instead finds an overall snowballing sinew in the overlooked corners. The cumulative result of Boyhood is rather touching and stunning and while Linklater is seemingly interested in the slighter, less trafficked moments of life, he uncovers a lot of sublimity overall (the fact that he somehow entrusted the entire movie with an unknown, then six-year-old boy, reveals just what kind of cinematic Buddha he is). The whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts, and the collective power of it all is quite moving, as a strange, almost unexplainable melancholy and pride hits you as Boyhood comes to its conclusion. Weve watched Mason on his voyage to becoming a young adult, and we have a deep sense of gratification in the knowledge that hes going to become a fine young man one day. And theres a sadness in that you just dont want Boyhood to end, with the film a remarkable accomplishment that wont be forgotten anytime soon. [B+] Source. Read more at ONTD: http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/85012424.html#ixzz2t4D2kgOw