Boyhood, a film directed by Richard Lekter that received praise and made headlines from critics around the world, but at the same time many people formed their own opinions and decided which is boring. Yes, people have different opinions, but why did a film receive such opposing reviews from such a wide range of people? The answer to this question lies in the making of the film. Boyhood uses film elements such as setting, sound and transition to construct an engaging mise-en-scène that transforms a so-called boring and somewhat clichéd plot about suburban middle-class life into an extraordinary 12-year project that successfully engages the public. He also disputes the argument that Boyhood wouldn't be a good movie if it hadn't taken 12 years to make. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Filmed over 12 years with the same cast, Richard Linklater's Boyhood is an innovative coming-of-age story, through the eyes of a boy named Mason, who literally grows up on screen in front of the audience. Boyhood is about the rough terrain of childhood and is depicted in a way that no other film has ever seen before. The film shows snapshots of childhood, from family dinners, to birthdays, to trips, to graduations, and everything in between. The film shows the struggles of the main character's childhood, growing up with a struggling single parent, balancing school work and abusive relationships. Mason and his sister grow up on screen constantly moving and learning to achieve their dreams and goals. Boyhood is at once a nostalgic time capsule of the recent past and a film about growing up and parenting. As said in a New York Times article, “It's a face you come to know and love because, even as this child watches the world, you watch him grow. From scene to scene, you see the curve of his jaw change, notice his eyebrows thicken, and witness his slender arms open to embrace the world and its clear, dark skies.” And as said in a Globe and Mail article along with a video essay by Kyle Kallgren arguing that Boyhood deserves all the praise it's received, despite being "a little boring." Linklater uses elements from the film such as setting, sound and editing. to engage your audience. It captures the suburban Texas experience by clearly showing the different homes the family stayed in over the years. The homes Mason and his family grow up in depict Olivia's relationship status as it changes over the years. For example, when Olivia marries her former professor Bill, the audience is led to believe that their lives are changing, the house they live in is semi-luxurious and seems stable, but sadly it doesn't stay that way. Linklater also uses the setting of the father, Mason Senior, as a way to represent his relationship with his children. The first time audiences see the father interact with his children, he takes them to a bowling alley, orders them french fries, and allows them to neglect their homework. The other places he takes his children in the film reflect the laid-back, fun-loving boy he is. At one point, while they are attending a baseball game, his children ask him if he has a job, this question, right in the middle of the excitement of baseball, takes him by surprise and a little shocked, but his answer means no, he doesn't have a job. This certainly shows that the father hides a lot from his children to distance himself from the person he wants them to see. Mason Senior's car, a GTO, also represents this well. A GTO isn't your typical dad car, but it exemplifies the