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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Boyhood: six quibbles with Richard Linklater's masterpiece | Boyhood: six quibbles with Richard Linklater's masterpiece |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| To speak of spoilers in relation to Boyhood is, on some level, counterintuitive. The film is about 12 years in the life of a boy, played by Ellar Coltrane. Spoiler: he grows up. Nothing too bad happens to him along the way. You can tell this from the trailer, the posters and the interviews he and director Richard Linklater have given. | To speak of spoilers in relation to Boyhood is, on some level, counterintuitive. The film is about 12 years in the life of a boy, played by Ellar Coltrane. Spoiler: he grows up. Nothing too bad happens to him along the way. You can tell this from the trailer, the posters and the interviews he and director Richard Linklater have given. |
| But given the number of people going to see Linklater's latest (second highest site average of the year so far in the US) and the Oscar buzz it's building (supported by a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes) we thought we'd offer a forum in which people might air dissenting views without fear of spoiling it for others. | But given the number of people going to see Linklater's latest (second highest site average of the year so far in the US) and the Oscar buzz it's building (supported by a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes) we thought we'd offer a forum in which people might air dissenting views without fear of spoiling it for others. |
| Here's some possible talking points – feel free to pitch in with your own. | Here's some possible talking points – feel free to pitch in with your own. |
| Does it make a difference if you have kids already? | Does it make a difference if you have kids already? |
| There seems to be a schism opening between those who found the structure a little on the snoozy side, and those who found it simply moving to watch a child mature. How much of an advantage is parenthood in terms of getting the most out of the movie? | |
| Was it too coincidental that both stepfathers became alcoholic? | Was it too coincidental that both stepfathers became alcoholic? |
| Linklater has spoken about how booze was like another character in the film – but was it given too much screen time? The deterioration in relations between Mason and both his stepfathers followed a similar path. The level of staggering and raving of the first of these lent the movie what some saw as drama; others, soap. | Linklater has spoken about how booze was like another character in the film – but was it given too much screen time? The deterioration in relations between Mason and both his stepfathers followed a similar path. The level of staggering and raving of the first of these lent the movie what some saw as drama; others, soap. |
| Could it have ended earlier? | Could it have ended earlier? |
| The final scenes in which Mason bonds with his dad at the gig venue seemed to suggest that he would proceed to have a good time at college and – just as his teacher predicted – find likeminded folk with whom to hang out. Did we need to actually witness this? Did it risk reducing Mason's soulful, laid-back personality to just another college stoner? | The final scenes in which Mason bonds with his dad at the gig venue seemed to suggest that he would proceed to have a good time at college and – just as his teacher predicted – find likeminded folk with whom to hang out. Did we need to actually witness this? Did it risk reducing Mason's soulful, laid-back personality to just another college stoner? |
| Was Arquette's character short-changed? | Was Arquette's character short-changed? |
| At the graduation party, there's the hint that she might regret not having been more patient with Hawke before, now he's cleaned up his act and she finds herself single. Was her final scene, in which she sobs and anticipates death, too harsh or just clear-eyed? | At the graduation party, there's the hint that she might regret not having been more patient with Hawke before, now he's cleaned up his act and she finds herself single. Was her final scene, in which she sobs and anticipates death, too harsh or just clear-eyed? |
| Was there enough of the sister? | Was there enough of the sister? |
| In one review that detracted from the chorus of praise, the Sunday Times' Camilla Long expressed the opinion that Lorelei Linklater acted Ellar Coltrane off the screen. Richard Linklater has suggested that his daughter at some point wished her character could have been killed off – and though she wasn't exactly phased out, there did seem to be less of her as the years went by. Was this inevitable, given the film's focus and her departure to college? Who else might you have liked to see more of? The grandmother, for instance? | In one review that detracted from the chorus of praise, the Sunday Times' Camilla Long expressed the opinion that Lorelei Linklater acted Ellar Coltrane off the screen. Richard Linklater has suggested that his daughter at some point wished her character could have been killed off – and though she wasn't exactly phased out, there did seem to be less of her as the years went by. Was this inevitable, given the film's focus and her departure to college? Who else might you have liked to see more of? The grandmother, for instance? |
| Did we need more resolution to some of the plot threads? | Did we need more resolution to some of the plot threads? |
| It was a bit of a shock to see the Puerto Rican guy whom Arquette's character encouraged to go to college turn up again as a slick and successful waiter. Isn't that what happens in regular movies? Why was that cameo given an ending, while other threads, such as the estranged step-children, left hanging? | It was a bit of a shock to see the Puerto Rican guy whom Arquette's character encouraged to go to college turn up again as a slick and successful waiter. Isn't that what happens in regular movies? Why was that cameo given an ending, while other threads, such as the estranged step-children, left hanging? |
| More on Boyhood | More on Boyhood |
| Xan Brooks's first look review from SundancePeter Bradshaw's reviewMark Kermode's reviewObserver interview with Coltrane and LinklaterVideo interview with Coltrane and LinklaterXan Brooks on movies with age with their actors | Xan Brooks's first look review from SundancePeter Bradshaw's reviewMark Kermode's reviewObserver interview with Coltrane and LinklaterVideo interview with Coltrane and LinklaterXan Brooks on movies with age with their actors |
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