MOVIE REVIEW - Boyhood

The new nostalgic drama Boyhood is a small Indy flick that has been around for a few weeks now, with some nice success.  This is an award winner, and has enjoyed wonderful critical reviews in very limited release.

Boyhood might be the best example in years of how you will potentially receive this movie, as it is dependent on where you are in life, and who you are.  Up front, with its length, and its subject matter this is clearly not for everyone.

Boyhood is the story of a young boy and his sister who are growing up in the early 2000's culminating in the modern day.  They are being raised in Texas by a young, single mother, who has a long history of making bad decisions in life.  Their dad, is also a non-qualified parent who shows up a few days a month to see his young kids and be a Disney dad on a shoestring budget.  

We watch these kids grow up before our eyes, and see all the really lousy stuff many young people have over the past generation or so. Constant mistakes being made my self-absorbed parents, who insist on putting their needs ahead of the kids.  This movie is a very loud commentary of the state of some parenting today, and it's not pretty.  This movie is not saying that all parents and all situations are this bad, or complicated.  But it's nearly impossible to watch this and not feel like you are, or know someone in the movie. And that's great movie making.

This movie gives parents and grandparents more than a quick glimpse, it gives you a full on stare into the parts of typical kids lives you may be afraid to confront.  But it's worth it.  If you've ever had a real question about why some kids are the way they are, this movie goes to great lengths to give you the reasons why.  The whole time you are wondering if these kids are going to be alright despite all the junk they've been through.  Will they be?  Who knows?  It's still a work in progress.

This is a groundbreaking movie that takes the time to tell an interesting story. And that is also part of the problem. This is 2 hours and 45 minutes.  This is a movie goers movie.   Meaning, if you go to the movies twice a year, this is no your flick.  But this is powerful, effective and eye opening.  For some this will be a horrible indictment on modern parenting. And for others, they will see themselves as the kids, trying to grow up in a world or turmoil, drama and insane decision making.

Again, this movie will say very different things to different people.

Boyhood.  Well done.  A very strong movie, told very well. Tough story, great movie making.