Boyhood – Blu-ray Movie Review

Boyhood (Blu-ray) – Reviewed by Jim Milton

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Synopsis

Filmed over the course of 12 years with the same cast, this is the story about growing up as seen through the eyes of a child named Mason. Boyhood touches something deep and true, which is that we all grow up to be the person we are by letting every life event mold us. This is perhaps one of the most extraordinary movies of the decade.

Specifications

  • Paramount Pictures
  • 2014, Rated R, 2 hour and 36 minutes
  • 5.1 Dolby TrueHD Master Audio, 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Starring: Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Ethan Hawke, Lorelei Linklater
  • Directed By: Richard Linklater

Rating

  • Entertainment:
  • Video:
  • Audio:
  • Extras:
  • Violence: No
  • Sex: No
  • Language: Yes

Commentary

I went into this review with only the thought of following a boy over a 12 year period sounding, well, boring. I’m glad to say that my preconceived notions were without merit. This was one of the few movies I have reviewed this year that actually made me reflect and think about life afterwards. The events that shape our childhood can help determine the type of adult we will become. No, this is not an action movie. No, the dialog is not memorable. However, the acting was excellent, especially when you have to maintain character for a twelve year time period. There are many poignant moments throughout the film, and if you are a child that grew up with divorce and moving around a lot, these things may strike a chord with you. Just think of the logistics of filming for 12 years. Would all of your actors still be alive by the end of this project? How would they be able to remain in character, even as they grow up and live  out new experiences? How does the director keep the film quality and style the same over that many years? What if Mason (Coltrane) decided to move to Europe and finish college overseas? I mean, the whole process just seems too crazy…yet… Linklater pulls it off and leaves us with, perhaps, his magnum opus. This is not a short movie at over 2.5 hours, but I will tell you the time spent watching it just flew by, just like life sometimes does. Watching everyone change over the 12 year time span will leave you affected, perhaps even profoundly so. At the very least, it will make you ponder your own childhood. Recommended!

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Technical

In spite of the years in the making, this film maintained  pretty consistent picture quality. The only scene that suffered from shadow crushing was a brief point during the “Harry Potter” scene, but it is not enough to detract from the overall experience. Otherwise the picture looked excellent and the sound quality was very good as well. Nice music tracks (from each time period) pop up throughout the movie and the dialog stayed focused and clear. Colors are solid and well saturated. Not a lot of subwoofer activity, but this isn’t that type of movie.

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Extras

Included is a standard def DVD version, The 12 Year Project and some Q&A with Linklater and the cast and a digital Ultaviolet copy.