Better Get This Over With

I saw Boyhood last night and I feel like I wasted my life. Yes, I am being completely serious about this. A lot of people have already accused me of not liking it because it's so long. I've watched Once Upon a Time in America about four times and that's almost four hours. My favorite film of all time is Seven Samurai. This goes to prove that I didn't think it was too long. Boring? Yes, very much so.

Here's the problems I had with it. Linklater's daughter needs to join a club with Sophia Coppola and Asia Argento of director's daughters who cannot act. Guys, I know you love your daughters; I have a daughter and I can totally relate. However, if she says, "Dad, can I be in your movie?" I will shatter her dreams...only if she cannot act.

My next complaint is it dwelt on a lot of really stupid crap from the years. I honestly thought it would dwell on things that are big parts of a kid's life. I would have loved to see the first kiss, the first time having sex, the first time getting drunk, the first time getting high, maybe discovering photography as opposed to "Oh, he just does it now" (maybe I fell asleep during this part). Going golfing with step dad who then picks up booze does not feel like a huge part of life. 

At first, I hated how there was no transition but then I got over it and just dealt with it. 

My biggest complaint has to do with the story, it just felt so boring and cliche. If it had the balls to have the kid look forward to college and consider maybe it wasn't for him or something, I would have probably liked it a lot more. Especially since there were several allusions to this possibly happening. Instead, it was just a normal movie of a kid growing up and heading off to college.

The kid was decent at acting for the most part but it was obvious that everyone (except maybe Ethan Hawke) grew tired of production at times. Despite No Tomorrow being a prequel to A Final Hit, I'm well aware that actors want to play different people and grow tired of being the same character all the time.

The thing I liked the most about it probably has nothing to do with the movie at all. It was watching Richard Linklater grow as a director. 12 years is a long time and if he didn't grow at all, I would be extremely disappointed. Watching the first segment and then the last segment was like watching two completely different films. The way they were shot was different. It was absolutely beautiful. The writing was even different. Despite disliking the movie and finding it a waste of time, I did absolutely love this aspect of the film.

Overall, I found Boyhood to be extremely overrated and rather dull. If it took more chances, I would have liked it more. Taking 12 years to make a movie is not taking a chance, it's just taking a long time to make a movie. I hate Through the Devil's Eyes and that is the longest production I've had so far. It didn't take any chances though.