Production began in 2002 and finished in 2013, with Linklater's goal to make a film about growing up. The project began without a completed script, with only basic plot points and the ending written initially. Linklater developed the script throughout production, writing the next year's portion of the film after re-watching the previous year's footage. He incorporated changed he saw in each actor into the script, while also allowing all major actors to participate in the writing process by incorporating their life experiences into their characters' stories.
Boyhood premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically (U.S.) on July 11, 2014. The film also competed in the major competition section of the 64th Berlin International Film Festival, where Linklater won the Silver Bear for Best Director. It was declare a landmark film by many notable critics, who praised its direction, acting, originality and scope. The film was nominated for 5 Golden Globe Awards, winning Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress (Patricia Arquette). It also received 6 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress for Arquette, which she won.
Right from when I saw the trailer for this movie, I was desperate to see it. I love the whole concept, and to have that sort of time, dedication and patience as not only a director, but as a writer as well, is truly incredible. Following the same 'family' for 12 years takes bravery and it's such a clever idea. It also plays with your mind when you're watching the film, because you just cannot get your head around the fact that it's the same people, not just dodgy lookalikes from the next state along or whatever.
The story of the movie is a pretty normal one in some respects. Somebody out there is going through the things this boy and his family are going through. Parents divorcing, vicious stepparents, domestic abuse, isolation and growing up to be a high school graduate. I'm so glad it became a 'normal' film, and it wasn't one of those far fetched sci-fi dramas with aliens coming out of nowhere and their being a murderer wherever you turn. That would've seriously ruined it.
I saw this movie over a year ago, so it's pretty hard for me to remember what exactly happened, but I do remember a specific scene which just made me fall absolutely head over heels in love with the whole film. When [Mason] is all grown up and off to college, a scene takes place for around 2 minutes where there is absolutely no dialogue. It's just surrounding sounds of the environment and it makes the picturesque side so endearing.
The song in the background of this clip just gives it a peaceful feel, and it's the sort of thing that would happen in real life. You'd turn on the radio, listen to a song and just drive for miles and miles listening to it, wondering where the road is going to take you. Two lanes of freedom. With this scene being at the very near end of the film, it sums up the whole experience throughout. A pretty hectic life, but it turns out okay in the end. He's off to college. He's happy. Marvellous!
In an interview with thedissolve.com, Richard Linklater discussed the differences between the real life and character version of lead actor, Ellar Coltrane.
Q: Was the character of Mason a fusion of sorts between yourself and Ellar?
A: Yeah, I think so. It's very personal, but it's filtered through all of us if you think about it. The adults, too: Patricia, Ethan, and myself, we're collaborating with our parents and who they were, and ourselves as kids, ourselves as parents at this moment, and kind of figuring that out so there's this kind of triangulation at all times. We're filtering our ideas through these kids who are in the moment as kids growing up. There's hardly anything in this movie that wasn't real to some degree, that didn't happen to myself, or one of my collaborators. Pretty close to everything is based in somebody's reality or memory or something, pretty much across the board. That's a good place to start.
This. THIS ANSWER. Oh my gosh. Amazing. I love it when we find out little things like this. When there's hidden facts that make the film better. It's so good to see a director channelling himself and his colleagues when it comes to the storyline/plot/script of a film. How he or one of his colleagues has experienced the events in the film just makes it so much more humbling. Very good job, sir.
Overall. Good film. Awesome film. Highly recommend checking it out if you haven't already.
- Olivia.
{Sources:}
https://thedissolve.com/features/interview/666-interview-richard-linklater/ - accessed on 18th May 2015
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyhood_(film) - accessed on 18th May 2015
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