Release date: 11 July 2014
Run time: 165 minutes
Certificate: 15
The most recent release from the master of suburbia, Richard Linklater, is the result of 12 years of filming. Beginning with a 6 year old Mason Evans Jr. (Ellar Coltrane) and following him to his first day of university aged 18, it is vintage Linklater in his portrayal of the passage of time within the backdrop of everyday life. Coltrane, along with all other cast members, portrays the same character throughout the film. It is a technique that helps add authenticity and keeps the film (generally) grounded in reality. But moreover it very quickly becomes nothing more than a gimmick. Boyhood does have strengths but too often becomes a victim of its own story, the near 3 hour runtime helping ram home the mundane lives of the characters and saying very little of note.
A film does not need a strong or rigid narrative to be considered great. Dramas such as The Tree of Life (2011) also depicts an American family as their children grow up, and as such has a similarly loose and experimental narrative. However it brims with such humanity and beauty, and sends such epic messages on themes such as spiritualism and life, that the loose narrative is welcomed and necessary. Boyhood, meanwhile, falls short of such heights. It attempts lofty commentaries on growing up, on moments in life, on fate, on circumstances, but ultimately fails. There is nothing new here to connect with, despite the film's best efforts. Arguably Linklater's Dazed and Confused (1993) better captures that essence of growing up; it is quite simply not trying as hard as Boyhood and shines all the brighter for it.
Much like a teenager's life, there are highs and lows in terms of the acting. Ethan Hawke plays Mason Evans Sr. brilliantly, perfectly capturing the fun but irresponsible father who only shows up on occasion to bring the children presents or take them bowling. The character arc is well-rounded and builds over time into a believable and relatable person. The same cannot be said for Olivia, mother to Mason and his sister, and played by Patricia Arquette in what is a slightly baffling performance that never really feels alive or authentic. Ellar Coltrane falters slightly in his central performance as the years go on, a risk that was always there when casting from 6 years old.
Linklater's fluid approach works well for the screenplay, which was incomplete when filming began and incorporated the changes of each actor every year. It is sublime at times, from the immature bickering of siblings Mason and Samantha to the 17 year old Mason's pretentious musings on life. This is a teenager we have all met (likely in the mirror), who thinks he knows everything about the world and thinks everyone wants to hear about it too. The script is a real driving force for the film and grounds the reality of it in a sweet and affectionate way.
Boyhood is by no means a bad drama. Linklater's vision should be commended, but the vision is not strong enough to hold the film together for such a long runtime. Along with the other characters, Mason Evans Jr. is just figuring out what all 'this' is really about. Which is sadly what we the audience are left thinking too.
3/5
Whilst unique and grounded in reality, Boyhood is a muddling, puzzling film with too many thoughts and an inability to convey them well.