Review of Boyhood (2014) by Stefano S — 23 Jul 2015

It's very rare that a movie deserves five stars...this is one of those rare movies. Out of all the movies nominated for best picture of the year, this was by far my pick(certainly not Birdman-still a good film though). This is a groundbreaking film. It was filmed with the same cast over twelve years! This is the first time this has ever been done!

Mason's young years-.

Boyhood is filmed through the eyes of young Mason. He goes from around the age five or six, and the movie finishes with him around his mid twenties or so. When the film starts, it picks up with Patricia Arquette's character "mom". She is picking young Mason up from school. Mom is divorced, with two kids Mason and Samantha. She is (still) trying to pull herself together after being a single mother with two kids. Mason is just like any other kid his age. He has problems doing his homework, or he wants to play outside with his best friend, Tommy. Then, there are the days when all he wants to do is play video games. Tommy is a few years older than Mason, and he is not that well of an influence He teaches Mason how to do graffiti. But none the less, Mason loves hanging out with him.

Durning breakfast one morning mom tells the kids that they will be moving to Houston, Texas. She needs to make more money and provide a better life for them as she says. They will be living with their aunt. Mason never really gets to say goodbye to his friend. As they pool out of the neighborhood they just...wave. What were they thinking?

When they get to their aunts household and have settled in, mom heads back to college. She meets a professor named Bill, and they end up getting married...

Mason's teen years-.

Bill has two kids, Mindy, who is around Samantha's age, and Randy, who is around Masons age. This is the roughest time in all of the kids life. Bill ends up being an alcoholic. He constantly buys, drinks, and repeats. One beautiful day, Mason and Randy come home after riding bikes...and find mom on the floor of the garage crying. She immediately yells at them to get inside.

The next scene takes place in the kitchen as they all eat dinner. Bill assured all of them he is having a drink with his dinner. He then stares at Mason...then throws a glass at him. Then yells and yells.

There is obviously a divorce and the two families go their separate ways.

Mason's college years-.

After high school, Mason heads to college and he meets his roommate, and his soon to be girlfriend.

Overall this movie is BEYOND fantastic! There are too many amazing things to say about it. I would recommend this to anyone. Such a outstanding film!