lol, you're recommending a documentary?

Boyhood is a coming-of-age film. A great one at that. It just has the added realism of being shot over 12 years. But the main highlight is that it's a very well-told drama of a boy's life with his single mother - something that doesn't get told all that often and certainly spoke to me. I don't believe the 12-year shoot is a gimmick. It's the icing on an already delicious cake.

I really loved it , just like everyone else. What I liked most is how it didn't focus on or force the usual emotional coming-of-age tropes. The death of a parent, losing your virginity, the big break up, etc... Things just happen, as they do, and what seemed very significant at the time loses most of its meaning only a few scenes later.

The best scene was his birthday party. All film long Ethan Hawke was one of those guys, the Bush hater, the Obama lover, oil is blood, fur is murder. His advice on girls all along was if they're worth, its worth it, no matter stupid shit they are into. This fully glorified as his new inlaws give Mason Jr. a gun and a bible for his birthday. I couldn't stop cracking up at this. AWKWARD as the kids (and funny bot) would say.

My only big complaint was that some of the scenes were grainy in the middle of the film. As if Linklater wasn't fully concentrated halfway through, thinking this might have been a mistake that will never see the light of day. The cinematography is back to being top notch a few scenes later though, so I'll let it slide.

I also think, for once, that I made the right call watching this at home over the theater. It's obviously very episodic in nature, and being able to take a short break every half hour or so was nice and the never became dull or overwhelming because of it.

I'm also now concerned for its oscar chances though. We all know the oscars exist solely to upset me, so a smart man would now put his money on Birdman for Picture and me being like WHHAAAAAA T F.

Too one-toned. yeah so I saw patricia arquette gain weight and ethan hawke get old; big whoop.
So if i take a bunch of 20-minute old family videos and throw them together into one 3-hour video without any connecting plot I'd be up for best director and best picture? sweet!

The movie didn't have a point of view or a voice. the main character was a whiny millenial. I wanted to reach into my tv a bunch of times and just punch him.

And really, all men are abusing drunkards except if your a cool liberal absent father? ugh. great concept. horrible story.

I think Boyhood is only a special film if it speaks to the particular viewer. Perhaps if the viewer had experiences that mirror the main character's experiences. I don't see why a film has to have a voice to be considered worthy. What's wrong with reflection?

There wasn't a whole lot I had in common with Mason, besides becoming a smart-ass teenager who thinks he's figured it all out by the ripe age of 16, but I still felt a lot for everything else. Reminds me of my love for Bruce Springsteen. Sure, I bet you feel something a little more if you're working class American (from Jersey), but that doesn't mean I still don't feel something.

One of the most well made films I've ever seen. I can't judge its emotional punch, if it had any, as I watched it at home and can rarely ever get into a film emotionally at home.

But once Mason turned... 14? I stopped having anything in common with him.

A/A-

This is not the type of film I usually enjoy, but I loved this. I was completely drawn into these character's lives for the entire 2 hours and 44 minutes. Regardless of how long it was shot over, it is so masterfully made that you are completely engrossed. I really enjoyed the references to stuff like Harry Potter and the presidential elections; I remember that stuff like it was yesterday. I was not a huge fan of Patricia Arquette's mother character. She was really annoying, even though she played the part well, I guess. Ethan Hawke was an awesome character; the film would have been even more fun had he been their main guardian. Many of he characters make such dumb mistakes throughout the course of the film, and it was rather frustrating to watch at times. But then I realized, that is how life really is.

A-

This is where the tide turned!

Hah, Richard Linklater, take those 12 years and shove them up your ass.

lol, WTF?

I don't hate Linklater, in fact I gave Boyhood a B+ and would rank it 4th in the BP-race. What I am annoyed by are the Linklater fans, which appear to be on Facebook and on here in disproportionally high numbers (compared to the rest of the world), so I am just glad that they did not get the satisfaction of Linklater winning for his gimmick-y project. The better gimmick-y film won.

I really enjoyed the film, as evidenced by my review, but in retrospect, it's about a dozen short films tied together by time and little more. I know, in the moment of viewing, it's a bit more captivating than that, but if that's stripped away and only hindsight is used, it's just a few above-average short films. So I'm glad it was recognized as an achievement but not as the Best Picture of the year.

lol not sure why there is such vitriol for such amazing films.

The pair of Boyhood and Birdman are better than most of the shit that's nominated and wins. Argo? Give me a break.

I still love the movie. But I was just pulling for Birdman more.

And yes, this and Birdman are much better films than Argo.

Isn't it human nature to want to find fault in things that are held up on a pedestal?

Those people are called critics.

All the rest are called sheep.

One year later, Boyhood is a really great enjoyable movie, but very forgettable and I have no urge to ever watch it again.

Replace the word great with good and zwack, you have a good point