Everyone says the movie is boring. And it is mundane in many respects, but that's a testament to good parenting. In real life, drama is super unhealthy.

The most amazing part is that it captured the 1 season jason lane was actually good for the astros.

Fantastic movie.

Lol. Truly a special moment.

Very much so. Deserves all the praise it gets. It's convincing as a depiction of a real family. The Evans really do feel like a real family with real continuity, and in condensing 12 years into 3 hours, it shows you how although life is mundane, it's also epic when you consider what goes into raising a child.

Boyhood moved me deeply.

For me, this is probably a top 5 movie of the 2010s.

One of my faves of all time. The music and production are underrated in that movie as well.

The great Charlie Sexton... I was so surprised... had no idea he was in the movie before watching in the theater.

I loved this movie.

I'll never forget Linklater's depiction of Mason's step-grandparents presenting him with a Bible (with Jesus' words in red) and a shotgun for his birthday. Most directors would have made fun of these people, but not Linklater. He presented them lovingly, almost as though he had grandparents like this himself. These are not people who are "bitterly clinging to their guns and religion". There is nothing bitter about them. It's such a Texas thing, and I'll always love Linklater for this scene alone.

With all the drama in Mason's life, there were always kind people who stepped in to make the way a little easier. Boyhood showed the resilience of children. It was real life with a dose of optimism.

I vaguely remember those types of Bibles. Linklater is definitely a left leaning guy but not the type who would be so out of touch as to belittle people. He has perspective, and he's Texan as hell.

I love how as the boy matures and experiences life his music taste change with him. They nailed that part of growing up. I definitely have better,more refined tastes from when I was 10.

From Blink 182 to Soulja Boy, to Wilco. Bright Eyes gets a name drop as well. The music made for amazing transitions.

There's a big difference from him playing Halo 2 and listening to Soulja Boy and the angry landlord video, and then him as a photographer. And that's something that happened in my life too. All the boys had really similar interests up until highschool, and then they really branched out personality wise.

A very common response to this movie is that parents, especially mothers, think about everything that went wrong for their kids and how these experiences might have screwed up their kids, but the thing is, we see Mason settle into his teenaged years and he's just super well adjusted. Just a really understanding and helpful kid. A dream teenager. Olivia obviously did everything needed to get the message across and Mason was more than ready to run with it too.

It was a running gag that Samantha was more difficult and more affected by the instability at times, but she turned out great as well.

That's a testament to the parenting which was 99.99% Olivia. We don't get to see a lot of the cleanup that she does and we do see some major glimpses of instability, but if we read between the lines we understand what type of work she put into repeatedly bringing everything back together.

**** happens and it simply doesn't matter if **** happened. With someone like that watching over them, they were always going to make it.

the music made for excellent transitions between stages of life.

I haven't seen it since I saw it in the theater. It came out before I was a father so it might be a good idea to watch it again and see how differently it hits.

On a similar note last year I rewatched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. When it came out I was in my 20s and it didn't do much for me. When you're in your 20s you don't worry so much about the passing of time, you've got too much in front of you. I rewatched it in my 40s and it was a completely different movie, especially as a parent. It really makes you think about your choices, things you did right, things you did wrong, the people in your life, and how you never have as much time as you think you do.

Max Power said:

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I haven't seen it since I saw it in the theater. It came out before I was a father so it might be a good idea to watch it again and see how differently it hits.

On a similar note last year I rewatched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. When it came out I was in my 20s and it didn't do much for me. When you're in your 20s you don't worry so much about the passing of time, you've got too much in front of you. I rewatched it in my 40s and it was a completely different movie, especially as a parent. It really makes you think about your choices, things you did right, things you did wrong, the people in your life, and how you never have as much time as you think you do.

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You want a kick in the balls after being a new father, watch Toy Story 3.

Agree on all counts.

After all the instability in Mason's life, at the end of the movie, I felt like he was going to be fine. And yes, Olivia should get all the credit. On my first viewing, I was seeing the story through Mason's eyes and the scene of Olivia breaking down at the end did not ring true for me. I thought she was making Mason's departure all about herself. But on second viewing, I think I saw the story through Olivia, and her heartbreak was an emotional moment for me.

I was surprised at how this film moved me.

Aggies76 said:

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Agree on all counts.

After all the instability in Mason's life, at the end of the movie, I felt like he was going to be fine. And yes, Olivia should get all the credit. On my first viewing, I was seeing the story through Mason's eyes and the scene of Olivia breaking down at the end did not ring true for me. I thought she was making Mason's departure all about herself. But on second viewing, I think I saw the story through Olivia, and her heartbreak was an emotional moment for me.

I was surprised at how this film moved me.

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Yep. I thought she was making things awkward and wasn't sure why she was freaking out. Now I get it. She's going to have to pick up all the pieces, though she will have a lot to be proud of as she takes inventory of everything.

Glad you thought the video rang true.

So many parents "keep score" and wonder about all the instability. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for. They are paying attention to everything, and the reason they turned out so well in this case is because they saw how Olivia handled everything.

Patricia Arquette was amazing in the movie and I was very happy to see her win the Oscar for it.

Never seen it but I need to

Very well deserved. The performance of a lifetime. She carried the weight and exhaustion of motherhood, the tenderness, and the dignity.


Ethan Hawke had some amazing moments as well- some of his best work.

mrmill3218 said:

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Boyhood moved me deeply.

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A movie I wanted to like. Loved the premise and concept, generally love Linklater's work, just didn't like the characters. Seemed like the coming of age of a smug humanities major.

I liked him because he was so well adjusted despite going through stepdads and instability. I thought he was a dream child teenager, and that's a testament to the mother.

Some of the stuff in the teenaged years is a little cringey, but I knew a lot of kids like that, and it's supposed to eb cringey.

If you would, check out the video. I try to make a case for how this isn't really about him. It's really about his mother and all of her work.

I get what you're saying but from my cynical mind it just seemed like a tale of a broken family producing an antisocial, maladjusted young man. I know dudes like the protagonist and I don't enjoy being around them. I was just let down because I heard about this movie as it was being made and was hyped for it and just left when the credits rolled feeling meh about it.

Whenever I hear the movie boyhood I think of Red Letter Media.

I can kind of see what you're saying in that his life isn't just soup spoons by the end of his childhood.


He's an excellent kid in that there is a lot for him to process and figure out during his childhood and I think he's definitely done that really effectively. I've heard him described as an "old soul" and I that's pretty apt.

Teacher_Ag said:

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I get what you're saying but from my cynical mind it just seemed like a tale of a broken family producing an antisocial, maladjusted young man. I know dudes like the protagonist and I don't enjoy being around them. I was just let down because I heard about this movie as it was being made and was hyped for it and just left when the credits rolled feeling meh about it.

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I guess how "broken" are they? that's my first question. I mean as compared to what?

and why do you say he is maladjusted? what is your evidence for that?

Probably not a film for everyone but I find your criticisms strange.

Not really strange at all. To enjoy some movies you're meant to like and root for the protagonist, which some, like you, did. I didn't find the guy endearing at all. Really reminded of real life people I know and avoid running into. To me the whole point of the film fell apart if he emerged from boyhood as a ******. But, in general I like Linklater's work and his directing style. I can see how many loved this movie, but like the video posted a few posts above mine, clearly some of us were left unimpressed.

memelord said:

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I liked him because he was so well adjusted despite going through stepdads and instability. I thought he was a dream child teenager, and that's a testament to the mother.

Some of the stuff in the teenaged years is a little cringey, but I knew a lot of kids like that, and it's supposed to eb cringey.

If you would, check out the video. I try to make a case for how this isn't really about him. It's really about his mother and all of her work.

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So, you made the video? I never saw the movie, but you're video critique was first rate.

TJaggie14 said:

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Whenever I hear the movie boyhood I think of Red Letter Media.

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It's about family, and that's what's so powerful about it.

Quote:

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So, you made the video? I never saw the movie, but you're video critique was first rate.

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Yeah it's my video. I do appreciate the kind words. I'm trying to build on being a videoessayist on the side.


I HIGHLY recommend this movie.

bularry said:

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Teacher_Ag said:

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I get what you're saying but from my cynical mind it just seemed like a tale of a broken family producing an antisocial, maladjusted young man. I know dudes like the protagonist and I don't enjoy being around them. I was just let down because I heard about this movie as it was being made and was hyped for it and just left when the credits rolled feeling meh about it.

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I guess how "broken" are they? that's my first question. I mean as compared to what?

and why do you say he is maladjusted? what is your evidence for that?

Probably not a film for everyone but I find your criticisms strange.

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Right? Just because this guy didn't turn into a lawyer, doctor, engineer, banker, it doesn't make him maladjusted. He's exceptionally well adjusted, and has always come across a very grounded kid with a great head on his shoulders.

Aggies76 said:

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Agree on all counts.

After all the instability in Mason's life, at the end of the movie, I felt like he was going to be fine. And yes, Olivia should get all the credit. On my first viewing, I was seeing the story through Mason's eyes and the scene of Olivia breaking down at the end did not ring true for me. I thought she was making Mason's departure all about herself. But on second viewing, I think I saw the story through Olivia, and her heartbreak was an emotional moment for me.

I was surprised at how this film moved me.

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As indicated, definitely saw it similarly the first time around. Another way to look at it. Maybe she was making it about herself in that moment, to some extent, because it was a moment of clarity for her. For 20 years, she hadn't done anything for herself, and in that moment had to start picking up all the pieces of her own life. She probably doesn't recognize herself when she tries to think about her days prior to motherhood.

And I think part of it also is that she's reflecting on all of her moments with her son. She's never going to get to re-experience any of them. There were so many difficulties that had to be dealt with at the time, and when life takes so much out of you, it can be impossible to really appreciate it all at the time. It must feel like a blur more than anything else by the end of it all- both her life and the lives of their children.

"You know what's next? It's my ****ing funeral!"

In my mid 20s, I acted as a guardian to a childhood friend for 4+ years, years of grappling with him and working with him/on him/coaching. We left on very positive terms and it was ultimately a very productive interaction. He had been probably defacto the most stressful aspect and the biggest priority in my life, and when we went our separate ways I suddenly had an enormous amount of time and energy that I had no idea what to do with. I can only imagine what someone like Olivia is going through in that moment. I think she's going to take inventory and hopefully should feel very proud of what she's accomplished as opposed to "trying to keep score" and wondering how it could have gone better. She obviously gave up a lot of herself in very successfully raising her children.