Filmanalyse af 'Boyhood'

Boyhood is all in all an entertaining film. It’s quite long, but still charming. The weird thing about it is that it doesn’t seem to have any real meaning or problem, like a climax. Other films (film) usually follow a narrative composition, but not Boyhood. It just keeps having this flow, which actually makes it quite entertaining. However I would never watch this kind of film myself.

The film is written and directed by Richard Linklater. The main character, Mason is well played by Ellar Coltrane, and surprisingly he is the main character during all two and a half hour. That’s possible because the film is filmed over a period of 12 years. Yes, 12 years with the same cast. That is surely quite some time. They must have had a hard time keeping everybody focused during these 12 years, but Richard Linklater managed to do it. The acting is fantastic; especially Ellar Coltrane as Mason and his mother played by the amazing actor Patricia Arquette. But also Mason’s father played by Ethan Hawke does a very good job. At first he really lives into this very childish dad, who hasn’t grown up yet, and at the end where he has got his third child, he is much more serious. You discover how much a person can change over 10 years. They have done a great job. As well has the camera crew. The perspectives and scenes are great filmed, and even though it’s filmed over some time you cannot spot any difference in the scenes and as a matter of fact, the cameras are better now, than 12 years ago. A funny thing about the film is the music. Richard Linklater and his crew also did quite well here. They’ve put some serious work in finding the right tracks that matches the exact year, like they used Lady Gaga – Telephone which is from 2010. This is one of those elements that works well and adds a funny twist to the whole experience. Every time another track plays you get that “oh, I remember this track” feeling, and it’s just great.The film itself doesn’t really work great as a drama. Where is the point of no return? And where is the climax, one cannot seem to find it anywhere. I’m not saying that every single film necessarily does have to follow the narrative composition, but it is a good idea. What you are watching is basically a boy growing up. He moves, his mother finds a husband, she gets divorced, they move, she finds a new husband, she gets divorced, Mason goes to college. That is actually the storyline, but you still fell entertained during the two and a half hour, and why is that? I think it is because of the fact that we have never seen something like this before. Following a boy over 12 years really charts the rocky terrain of childhood like no other film has ever done before. It shows what it’s like to grow up and which ups and downs life can contain. Boyhood is not a documentary, but still kind of realistic – certainly when it comes to life. It gives you a perspective of Mason’s life as a child. The actors are also great, or maybe it’s just the director. It’s not stuffed with action or drama, but it is entertaining and relaxing. So if you kind of want a lazy Sunday where nothing really happens, I would surely recommend you to watch Boyhood, but if you don’t - stay home.