BOYHOOD [2014]

BOREHOOD

2014, USA
Richard Linklater
6 // 10

Is it possible to re-write the correlation between the pony and the tricks? Are some universal stories less universal than others? Is Richard Linklater working on a film he'll be finisging in 40 years time? There's only one way to find out!

When BEFORE MIDNIGHT came out it did surprise me for two reasons. First, because I never knew it was going to happen, and second, because it was still good. Do it once and you're lucky. Do it twice and you've pulled it off miraculously. Do it three times, and you clearly have it in you. With that track record BOYHOOD should have been a doddle, right? Well, if you believe the majority of reviews and the general critical acclaim, you'd be excused to think it ticked all the possible boxes. 

I, however, beg to differ. Yes, about the whole filming-over-12-years idea, it's as brilliant as it is, actually, very simple. It works and it does create the sense of authenticity which could not be achieved in any other way. It is, also, a bit of a gimmick I'm afraid. Sure, it's impressive undertaking, the planing and logistics of such project deserve the highest possible praise. But it is what it is, and nothing more. An incredibly clever, but a trick nevertheless. It should compliment the story, not take the limelight. And as far as I'm concerned, there just isn't that much of a story here. Yes, the script is not bad, the acting is fantastic but at the end of it I did feel like I've laboured my way through it. It's just such mundane journey through, you know, a pretty ordinary life and I just completely failed to get excited about it in any way. Turbulent childhood, family issues, coming of age... It has been done before repeatedly and in quite a few cases it's been done better. It's as if BOYHOOD tries to mimic real life so badly, it perfectly succeeds but in the process overlooks the fact, that the real life sometimes is just plain and simple, boring. 

Never mind, only five more years until BEFORE NOON.