Boyhood

A brilliantly observed slice of Americana about rites of passage, examining what it means to grow up. As much as I adore 'Before Sunrise', this unique, ambitious work about being a child and becoming an adult might top even that gem. Linklater's auteur traits are authenticity, recognizability and an ability to be moving and resonant in unforced ways. 'Boyhood' triggers our memory, thereby (like madeleine cakes and a portion of ratatouille before it) bending time and space, and makes us reflect.

The ultimate coming-of-age movie, always feeling painfully authentic. And that's before it réally sinks in that, yes, we're actually going to follow this kid through all of his formative years. Perhaps not that thrilling or immediately profound (but was your life any different growing up?) but a fascinating look at the experiences we all go through as we stumble through life: the disappointments and lucky breaks, the moments of joy and pain. All in an attempt to discover who we really are.

catastrophic. am i supposed to be impressed that richard dragged around a kid for 12 years to be a prop in a film about nothing whatsoever? oh sorry, it's about life. maybe life is indeed uninteresting and trite, but that ought to spur indictment and motivation to achieve more, not celebration of mediocrity delivered by scene after scene of the most ridiculous cliche imaginable. also, it seems richard sent DNA of his prospective actors to 23andme to determine optimal future photogenicity.

or as African Americans refer to it - Boy in da Hood

It's hard not to compare this to The Tree of Life; where Malick leads the viewer on a grand search for meaning, Linklater contents himself with fleetingness. I've never seen a movie capture pop culture or life's little moments quite like this. And when it comes time to explain what the point was of the film (and possibly life itself), Mason's dad balks and his mom can only sadly wish for more. It's left to the pseudo-philosophical teen we've seen grow up to guess "It's, like, always right now".