Boyhood 2014

     This movie was filmed over a twelve-year period with the same cast.  The focus is on Mason and he grows up over the years on the screen.  His parents are Olivia and Mason, Sr.  The soundtrack also follows the years as they go by with the current music for each year.  There is a lot of drama in Mason’s life!  His parents are not together so he has an absentee-weekend Dad.  He also has an older sister, Samantha.  Mason and his family move many times and his mother is eventually married and divorced three times.

     The premise and the idea of this film are very good.  The character development isn’t.  I think more focus needed to be on Mason and not so much on his parents.  They are raising him and influence him but a lot is left out of his life.  There are events shown that don't seem as important as those left out?  Also, you need to pay close attention to the change in years, there isn’t any notice when the years move up in time?  3* (This movie is OK)

165 min, Drama directed by Richard Linklater with Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette, Elijah Smith, Lorelei Linklater, Steven Chester Prince, Bonnie Cross, Sydney Orta, Libby Villari, Ethan Hawke, Marco Perella, Jamie Howard.

Note:  Imdb 8.1 out of 10, 98% critic 82% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4*.

Special Note:  Lorelei Linklater, the daughter of the director plays the sister Samantha.