On its surface, it’s a typical coming of age drama. Set in and around Linklater’s home town of Houston, Texas, the story follows the lives of the Evans family. Olivia Evans (Patricia Arquette) is a single mom struggling to provide for her two children; eight year old Samantha (Lorelei Linklater) and six-year-old Mason (Ellar Coltrane) with the latter being the primary focus.
We get the obvious standard fare for this type of movie. Olivia works hard but is always behind with her finances. She attracts a host of suitors. Mason is a typical kid who plays with friends and likes to dream. Samantha is the older sister who enjoys bossing her introverted little brother around. The ex-husband (Ethan Hawke) is a musician who drives a muscle car and is a less than responsible adult.
What’s unique is the filming timeline. The movie was created over a period of twelve years; 2002-2014. Those dozen years depict the maturation of its central character; Mason Evans Jr, from the ages of six to eighteen.
As the years move on, we watch the family evolve through Mason’s eyes. There’s the expected growth and change in every character. Some good, some not so much. Some movement is literal, as in the family constantly relocating and forcing to adapt to new surroundings. Phones, computers, and fashion choices change. The characters predict things in an uncanny sort of way.
The acting is keen. As we literally watch Mason grow before our eyes, you’ll forget he’s played by an actor. Ellar Coltrane is marvelous just being himself. We see him as a pre-adolescent boy, an awkward teenager, and a hopeful young adult. Coltrane mixes well with the other cast members and is highly impressive at every stop in age throughout.
Ethan Hawke is definitely in my top 10 favorite actors list. He’s a staple of Linklater films, and here is excellent as expected. Playing a secondary part to Coltrane, Hawke steps in flawlessly as a loving though only part-time father. This character also goes through tremendous changes in a dozen years, and Hawke ages gracefully on screen like none other.
Patricia Arquette is equally impressive as Olivia Mason. We can understand this characters pain as she works hard and attends college in the hopes of making a better life for her family. “Boyhood” was nominated for six Academy Awards, with Arquette winning Best Supporting Actress. It was well deserved.
What’s amazing about this film is the production itself.
Richard Linklater wrote, directed, and produced it. The script was a constant work in progress as any writer could attest to. As the years went by and filming continued, he incorporated changes that correlated with the changes in the actual actors as they aged and matured. He allowed the talent to participate in the writing process. As a result, the finished product is an organic saga that plays out like time laps photography of a family’s life. That his actual daughter plays an important part only adds to the beauty.
Knowing there would be changes in video technology, Linklater shot on 35 mm film. There’s no de-aging junk. Its real raw growth of actual people. The blending of time is seamless. The planning that would have been required is unbelievable. Linklater told Hawke that he would have to finish the film if Linklater died.
Like anyone’s life, the soundtrack plays an important role in itself. The music selections are a great addition, and Ethan Hawke wrote and performed several of the songs.
“Boyhood” is a literal coming of age movie. It’s a lifetime compressed to 165 minutes. The story flows flawlessly. The actual growth in time makes for a unique and mesmerizing viewing experience.
“Boyhood” is currently available to rent on Amazon.
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