And your argument is that I can't criticize it just because it was shot over 12 years? So now this gives it immunity?
He never said that.
Originally Posted by Bluelion
And this is something that becomes clear... when, 20 minutes in?
20 minutes in I got the impression that the Holocaust was a bad idea thanks to the Pianist. That doesn't deflate the rest of the film.
Originally Posted by Bluelion
Are you implying that Linklater left the viewer with something to read between the lines? Something for us to contemplate? I must have watched a different film then, because Boyhood kept explaining itself along the way.
You must have, because not only did you not understand the film, you did not understand Suspect's point. Subverting expectations.
Originally Posted by Bluelion
Does it really? How does it invite you to talk about these things, exactly? It's all done in a way that is generic and one-note, which to me made it seem way too superficial.
I found the film to be pretty profound.
Originally Posted by BlueLion
Personally I thought Birdman was a much more mature, philosophical and thought-provoking work that covers way more ground than Boyhood, and its one take 'schtick' served to complement its themes and ideas nicely. And here's more things I thought Birdman had better than Boyhood: direction, camerawork, visuals, acting, writing, characters, themes, ideas, list goes on.
I enjoyed Birdman, barely. Once I GOT the one take bit...20 minutes in...what else does the film offer? Keaton is okay, he just seems to react to what monologues other actors throw at him.
As for
Boyhood...
I can't pinpoint when I was hooked, but it was pretty early on. The key question of this film is, why do it? Why follow this kid for 12 years, the parents and his sister, beyond it being just an experiment? Well, the answer crystallized for me in culmination of every moment Linklater captured up to the graduation.
Linklater lets us glimpse, as much as possible, at life itself. It doesn't matter what scene it is, but you connect with it, because you've gone through it yourself. For me, the moment that got me was 3/4 of the way through, a Thanksgiving party. She has her students over and the kid asks the other student how his mom is as a teacher. The kid goes on and on about how great she is, this is a dawning moment for him. His mother has another life, she is not just his mother anymore. Boyhood encompasses all these characters, it's not just about the kid, it's all the characters in his life. They are chronicled for 12 years as well.
"Dad is there really magic in the world?" A great scene. Linklater is telling us there is magic in the mundane. This is a key scene. He never tells us the dates, the ages, he just shows us. You're not suppose to be focused on the milestones, it's the moments and the cumulative effectives of those moments. I agree with Suspect about the painting over the growth chart scene. Visual representation of the whole film. Those milestone moments, in the grand scheme of things don't really matter. You can't take them with you, it's heartbreaking. But at the same time it's appropriate. The film captures how childhood is something that happens to us, not with us.
Much like Birdman's play with time (it all being one take but days go by storywise) Boyhood does the same. It's all about transitions, it's always in flux, we as people are in flux. Hawke even makes note of it in the album he gives the kid (something he did in real life to his own children).
I'm not sure if someone mentioned it before, but visually, you can see Linklater progress as a filmmaker as well.
The whole film in a nutshell is what do the next moments mean?
I'd love to talk more about the film, but it's getting late.