Boyhood is a film directed by Richard Linklater. The peculiarity of this film is that it was shot over twelve years with the same cast. Boyhood was considered revolutionary in the film industry due to the recording time and cast participation. Boyhood brings something special to the cast, but especially to one of the stars, Ellar Coltrane, who plays Mason in the film. We experience Ellar Coltrane grow up on the big screen before our eyes. In the film we not only perceive Mason as he grows up, but also how real time passes. We can see the passage of time using the soundtrack from beginning to end. This gives us an idea of the time and year they were filmed in and also Mason's identity at the time. This film can be nostalgic for the viewer because many may feel connected to certain time periods due to the style of the film and the music played, bringing back memories of the past. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Boyhood is a film that does not have a traditional screenplay. The narrative structure of the film is gradual and cumulative. This film is a time-lapse portrait of Mason growing up from kindergarten to his first day of college. Many key moments happened in the film, such as Mason's first girlfriend, first breakup, moving city, parents separating, etc. But later in the film, the significance of those moments is appreciated later rather than at the time it is shown. In many scenes Boyhood feels like a documentary film, you can't help but relate to the actors because such scenes are so real and close to real life. Many critics say that Boyhood is fascinating because of how real it is, but when it comes to analyzing the narrative the conclusion is that it is not strong or well constructed. Richard Linklater has proven that there are many ways to tell a story, you don't need to be aware of the why, how and what tools to use to make the concept effective. “We watch children grow up and adults get bigger and grey… There is no other work you can directly compare it to without distorting pop culture history. This film is truly unique, as eccentrically unique as Linklater's groundbreaking Slacker." Boyhood is unlike any movie, throughout the movie the viewer waits for that plot that will drastically change Mason's life, but we never get that twist. This film is just a series of small causes and effects that develop Mason's life and personality until the end of his "boyhood". One scene, in particular, is when Mason and his father go swimming and ask him questions about girls, in this scene Linklaters let us in on Mason's personal tastes at the time. Mason is in that part of childhood where he starts to be interested in girls and doesn't find them disgusting, in fact, he now feels attracted. Thanks to that scene we can see the last traces of Mason's real childhood. Later in the next scene Mason is seen talking to the girls and not just asking his father for information. “For a director known for the loquacity of his characters, Mr. Linklater has an almost un-American distaste for over-explaining.” We can set Linklater's style and tone right at the beginning of the film. Mason, 6 years old, lies on the grass and looks up at the sky, staring into space. This scene makes us wonder: Is Mason happy? Sad? What is he thinking? There is no obvious facial expression or supporting story that places us in Mason's real time. Instead, Linklater takes a close-up of Mason's face. “You learn a lot about the characters' relationships from the way they inhabit the space.” Many,.
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