Why Isn’t Boyhood Talked About More Despite Its Masterpiece Status?

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Let me just start this off by admitting that I love the 2014 movie, Birdman.

Initially, I erroneously declared the best Best Picture winner of the 2010s as something else (now acknowledging that was incorrect and giving that title to Parasite). This is relevant because in 2015, I genuinely hoped Birdman would surpass Boyhood for the award. However, if it had been any other year, I would have wanted Boyhood to win Best Picture instead.

As a fervent admirer of cinema, I can’t help but feel that “Boyhood,” a film we wholeheartedly endorsed with a perfect 5 out of 5 stars, was somewhat overlooked when “Birdman” clinched the top prize. And while I don’t often hear it mentioned these days, I find it peculiar given its extraordinary stature as an unparalleled cinematic experience. Doesn’t it seem odd to you too? If not, let me explain why I believe this remarkable masterpiece doesn’t receive the attention it deserves nowadays.

Boyhood Took An Astonishing 12 Years To Make. Who Does That?

Contrary to popular belief, “Boyhood” doesn’t hold the record for the longest movie production cycle. Instead, that distinction goes to “The Other Side of the Wind,” directed by Orson Welles, which took an astounding 48 years to complete. Sadly, Welles didn’t live to see its release as it was finally premiered in 2018, and he passed away in 1985.

Although “Wind” is exceptionally unique due to its extended production timeline, which you can witness unfold on Netflix right now, I must admit that it doesn’t quite compare to the astounding achievement by Richard Linklater. He managed to capture a child’s transformation from adolescence into adulthood over a span of twelve years in his filmmaking endeavor, leaving me truly awestruck.

To put it simply, most filmmakers typically choose actors of varying ages – children, teenagers, and adults – to depict the progression of time in their films. For instance, consider the cast of “Moonlight”, where three distinct actors portrayed the character Chiron, illustrating my point effectively.

In a more casual and engaging manner: As for Linklater? I’m just joking, he certainly holds his peers in high regard! However, it’s hard to imagine that Boyhood would be the extraordinary film it is if Linklater had approached it like any other director.

Observing both the characters and the backdrop evolve through the decades truly imparts a realistic understanding of the passage of time. Moreover, a 12-year long film production is certainly worthy of recognition, wouldn’t you agree?

Not Only That, But Richard Linklater Didn’t Even Work With A Full Script. He Just Let Boyhood Take Its Course

One intriguing aspect of the movie “Boyhood” that stands out is this: director Richard Linklater didn’t stick to a complete script. Instead, he had a clear idea of where the film would conclude, but for the rest of the story, he relied on reviewing the footage shot annually and then continued writing based on that material.

In the movie, you might wonder, given the significant transformation of the Stranger Things cast from Season 1 to Season 5, it’s nearly humorous how different they look – right? Interestingly, in this film, these changes are captured authentically and deliberately over time.

In the film, Mason, portrayed by Ellar Coltrane, begins at just six years old and transforms into an 18-year-old over its duration. As his divorced parents, played by Patricia Arquette (who won an Academy Award for her role) and Ethan Hawke, navigate multiple relationships and move frequently throughout the story, Mason moves from one residence to another as well.

As we progress through the movie, you’ll have a chance to witness Lorelei, the director’s daughter, maturing, as well as significant cultural events, such as the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at midnight and Obama’s bid for presidency, contributing to the film’s narrative.

It appears that Linklater wrote his screenplay in such a manner that it mirrored real-world events, yet simultaneously impacted children growing up during this era. Thus, his work can be seen as not just a script for characters, but also as a record of the cultural spirit itself. Isn’t it worth remembering such an innovative approach?

The Adult Actors’ Experiences Changed Alongside The Child Actor As Well

For a parent whose 9-year-old daughter has recently started watching “The Simpsons,” one of the most impactful scenes in the show isn’t centered around the main character. Instead, it focuses on his mother, Olivia, as she ponders over the swift passage of time while preparing to send her son off to college.

What struck me most about the film was not just the transformation of the boy into a man, but the growth of his parents too. Over the course of 12 years, we didn’t only witness Mason and his sister growing up, but also Richard Arquette and Ethan Hawke aging as well.

This version preserves the original meaning while using simpler language that is more natural and easy to read.

Ponder this: When Linklater began shooting in 2002, Hawke was fresh from collaborating with Denzel Washington in the 2001 film “Training Day,” and Arquette had recently wrapped up a project based on one of Charlie Kaufman’s less acclaimed screenplays, titled “Human Nature.

As I sat down to watch “Boyhood,” I was well aware that Patricia Arquette had made a name for herself on the hit TV show “Medium,” and Ethan Hawke had starred in numerous films, some of which were undeniably excellent, such as “Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead,” “Sinister,” and “The Purge.” Over the span of 12 years, both actors experienced significant personal and professional growth, and their transformation is evident on-screen. It’s truly captivating to witness this evolution throughout the movie!

And Yet, It’s All Still Really Good!

As a film enthusiast, I must confess that initially, one could perceive a film such as Boyhood as merely an elaborate trick. But, oh contraire! This masterpiece is the genuine article! It’s not just about the unique way it was made; it’s about the raw, authentic storytelling that resonates deeply with viewers.

Watching a child’s raw emotions as his parents begin new lives with different partners deeply affected me, a feeling I didn’t fully understand until I rewatched the movie. It was striking that I saw this film when it was first released, but viewing it years later has given me a fresh perspective, as I too have changed and grown over time.

Currently, I’m living in a home, raising two children, and recently lost my mother. These experiences have made me ponder my own mortality more deeply. Watching this movie, though, feels peculiar because it allows me to relate from both a child’s perspective and an adult’s standpoint.

My fellow team member, Philip Sledge, recently penned down his thoughts on how viewing “Malcolm in the Middle” as a parent offers a unique perspective, and I concur with this sentiment regarding “Boyhood”. The way time is utilized to narrate this story isn’t merely a fleeting cinematic technique; it captures the authenticity of life itself. It portrays the journey from childhood into adulthood for the child, but also the transition into middle age for the adult viewer.

The whole experience is unbelievable, and I just find it strange that if I didn’t start talking about it in this article, you might have forgotten that this movie even existed, which is so bizarre to me when a film is of such high quality.

The Fact That It Didn’t Win Best Picture Should Have Cemented It As Being A Modern Classic, And Yet It Still Feels Forgotten

To conclude, it’s worth noting that some films which didn’t receive the Best Picture award are often believed by many to deserve it more.

Examples of unexpected Oscar wins include ‘Citizen Kane’ losing to ‘How Green Was My Valley,’ ‘Saving Private Ryan’ losing to ‘Shakespeare in Love,’ ‘Pulp Fiction’ losing to ‘Forrest Gump,’ ‘Star Wars’ losing to ‘Annie Hall,’ and ‘Brokeback Mountain’ losing to ‘Crash.’ These results are still hard to swallow for many film enthusiasts.

In each instance, the mentioned films’ financial shortcomings actually served to enhance their status as timeless classics, instead of weakening their influence.

Some individuals might experience a Mandela Effect and believe that either “Goodfellas” or “The Shawshank Redemption” were awarded the Best Picture, but in truth, it was “Dances With Wolves” and then “Forrest Gump” that won. However, it’s commonly thought that “Goodfellas” should have been the winner of Best Picture; similarly, many feel that “Shawshank” should have outranked “Gump”.

It’s puzzling to me why neither Boyhood nor Birdman, two films I hold in high regard, are not more widely recognized as classics. Given the acclaim Birdman received, one might expect Boyhood, a movie of similar quality, to be remembered as the Goodfellas or Shawshank Redemption of today – masterpieces that were overlooked but should have won the top award. However, it seems both films have faded from memory, which I find hard to understand.

Do you also think it’s weird? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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2025-06-02 13:09