Posted on 08/01/2014 8:42:30 PM PDT by Pharmboy
Mrs. Pharmboy and I saw Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" a few hours ago. It was brilliant.
It took him 12 years to do this movie, following the principles through time with the focus on Mason Jr., who starts out as a 7 year old and finishes with his first day of college. The only actors you would know are Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke, and both are great.
But the reason I am writing this is to let you Freepers know that this movie has a huge surprise: at Mason's small birthday party celebrated at stepmother's parent's house, his step grandma gives him a Bible with his name embossed on the cover. It is also special in that all of Jesus' words are in red. Aha, I thought, how terribly will this woman be made out to be? How many ways will she be made fun of?
But wait: right after that, step granddad enters with a 20 gauge shotgun as his present to the boy, explaining that this gun had been handed down in his family. Oh my Lord--what a set up--I could hardly watch what would be in store.
But no--the next few scenes show the family having fun at target practice, and then in warm loving scenes together singing and laughing.
My wife and I were amazed. I cannot remember a modern movie portraying Christians so wonderfully as well as gun enthusiasts as non-crazies.
One of the critics said this was Linklater's love letter to Texas (he was born in Austin). It was more than that: it was his love letter to America.
Excellent, thank you!
Thanks for your review. I think I’d like to see this movie. It is fascinating how they did it. And kudos to Arquette (whom we love from Medium) and Hawke for being willing to make a commitment like that.
I actually heard him interviewed on NPR about this. It is sort of based on his own life experiences, iirc.
Thanks for the heads up!
we need a movie blog or post of some kind. i’m netfix and no tv and i do watch alot of crap but i would like to post about good stuff to watch or just my comments on some films
Linklater was born in Houston.
I talked to him about this movie when he had only shot “one year”. As usual, he had trouble getting financing. Financing is always the key to getting a movie made and no one wanted to take a chance on a 12 year shoot. Something happens to the kid and the movie is done.
I have to ask is there a lot of “philosophical” tripe? Linklater thinks of himself as a philosopher and always has Hawk’s character dissecting the world. I just can’t get into it.
Another thing. McConaughey thanked God at the Oscars and you could tell Hollywood didn’t like it. I know he’s a Christian. I wonder if Richard is.
Sounds good, it gets great ratings at IMDB.com, but my first impression is why is a movie about “boyhood” rated R?
I can’t go to see a movie about boyhood with my son, because it’s rated R.
Sheesh!
Linklater made “Dazed and Confused”, still the single best movie about high school life and the 70s that I’ve seen. I’ll see any movie he cares to make, and “Boyhood” is getting some great reviews so far.
Great idea! Start compiling a list of Freepers for the movie list.
They use the F-bomb a few times, but I cannot understand why it would get that rating. I do not remember any explicit sex or any sex for that matter. No real violence either.
Yes...thanks for the correction. He was a Houstonian.
They even had a church scene.
Well, I don’t necessarily agree that all his musings have been ‘tripe;’ but in this one, the only thing that comes close would be some of dad’s advice to his son as he grows. And yes, that’s Ethan Hawke. However, it’s generally pretty good advice.
The F-bomb is a showstopper.
They probably left those in on purpose, to get the R rating. They’ll sell more tickets that way, I suppose.
The casual use of the F-bomb is yet another symptom of the decline of civility — and civilization.
Well, it’s used sparingly, perhaps a total of 4 or 5 times. I didn’t realize that was enough to merit the R.
"Free Republic is here to continue fighting for independence and freedom and against the unconstitutional encroachment of ever expanding socialist government...
We believe in the founding principles with all our hearts and mean to defend them to our dying breath..."
~Jim Robinson
Please support Free Republic
click the pic!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.