Boyhood
review by
ANIZ FILMVALA
*****
A unique approach to film making!!
Director Richard Linklater and his cast Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater and Ethan Hawke have shot for a period of 12 years to show the real transition of a family. A benchmark in history of cinema, surely to be remembered for years to come it’s not a easy task for a director or the cast to be assembled for such a long period and give a performance with fine distinction of what the script demands.
Year 2002 Mason Evans Jr. [Ellar Coltrane] and his older sister Samantha [Lorelei Linklater] are being raised by Olivia [Patricia Arquette] a single parent in Texas. Mason's father, Mason Sr. [Ethan Hawke], often takes the children’s for vacation. Meanwhile sometime in 2004, Olivia takes a decision to get married to her professor Bill Welbrock [Marco Perella] as they try to blend their two families; Bill obnoxious behavior endangers the children, therefore Olivia files for divorce.
Mason Sr. is always the guiding spirit to the children’s and he also gives Samantha some growing tips about using contraceptive while dating her boyfriend. While some years passed, Olivia teaches psychology at a college where she meets an ex military veteran and gets married to him. Mason Sr also remarry’s and has a baby.
In 2012, Mason has his first crush on Sheena but in a short instance has a painful breakup. The film leaves us at a stage where Mason begins his new innings leaving her mother alone and distressed as he forays into further opportunity in life.
The engaging part of the film lies in its basic proposition of showing the routine growth of human relationships, the complexity and the emotions what coerce the married life and raising their children’s.
Ellar Coltrane as Mason has done an incredible job by giving a realistic performance which grows with the time and days. Richard Linklater deserves a standing ovation for his endurance, this kind of endeavor which is not easily taken by a film maker.
Cast
Ellar Coltrane as Mason Evans, Jr.
Patricia Arquette as Olivia Evans
Lorelei Linklater as Samantha Evans
Ethan Hawke as Mason Evans, Sr.
Libby Villari as Mason's grandmother
Marco Perella as Bill Welbrock
Brad Hawkins as Jim
Jenni Tooley as Annie
Zoe Graham as Sheena
Charlie Sexton as Jimmy
Jamie Howard as Mindy Welbrock
Andrew Villarreal as Randy Welbrock
Elijah Smith as Tommy
Nick Krause as Charlie
Tom McTigue as Mr. Turlington
Steven Chester Prince as Ted
Evie Thompson as Jill
Jennifer Griffin as Mrs. Darby
Tamara Jolaine as Tammy
Taylor Weaver as Barb
Ryan Power as Paul
