1050. Boyhood

Boyhood
2014
Directed by Richard Linklater

I am once more stuck in bed recovering from yet another surgery/biopsy. Oh well, it gives me a chance to catch up on movies. I put on Boyhood thinking it would at least help me sleep. To my surprise, I ended up loving it.

Boyhood follows the life of Mason and his sister Samantha from the age of around seven to his graduation from high school. Mason's parents Olivia and Mason Sr. are divorced. Olivia attempts to fill the void by giving her children a stepfather (which in movie language roughly translates to alcoholic rapist monster) while Mason Sr. lives a bohemian, less responsible life.

This was a bizarre experience for me. Mason Jr. is only a little bit younger than me, so our childhoods were marked by many of the same staples. I too intended Harry Potter release parties, had a Gameboy SP (although mine was red), and lived through those horrible High School Musical days. It was odd seeing my childhood play out on screen; I guess that is the first sign of getting old.

Anyway, I thought the concept for this movie was brilliant. Still, I am not sure it would have been quite as interesting to me if I didn't share my "girlhood" years with the main character. It had slow pacing and not much happened. On the other hand, the acting was incredible, and I still think it is worth a try.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Ellar Coltrone was seven when filming began and nineteen when it finished.

Mason is only absent in two scenes.

Favorite 2014 film of Barack Obama's.

839. Slacker

Slacker
1991
Directed by Richard Linklater

As someone who hangs out with a lot of stoners (not that I would ever engage in such debauchery...ahem) it is impressive how real this movie seems.  I almost feel like I have had the same conversations that are presented here.  Whether or not I actually enjoy watching high people muse for 100 minutes is another matter altogether.

There is no real plot here.  The film will mostly follow a character, have them interact with another character, then follow that character around for a little while, have them interact with another character, then follow that character around for a little while...and so on and so forth.  It is an interesting idea for a film, although I confess I got tired of the format near the forty five minute mark.

I don't really care what happens in a movie if the dialogue is good.  While not all of these moments were winners, enough were to make this film worth a watch.  I particularly enjoyed the conspiracy theory conversation, having just reviewed JFK.

Not necessarily a stand out movie, but still decent.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

The movie that inspired Kevin Smith to be a filmmaker.