Linklater always excels at handling character and relationships, and Boyhood is one of his very best. As a viewer, it is necessary to remind oneself occasionally that this is not a documentary, so overwhelmingly convincing is the USP of watching Ellar Coltrane as Mason Jnr grow up over a dozen years (alongside Linklater's own daughter as Mason's older sister) with terrific supporting character performances led by Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as the estranged parents, who also handle their roles development over time superbly. The movie's biggest gamble - the casting of the likeable Coltrane and investing in his development over the years - pays off beautifully, as the audience initially basks in the glow of a nostalgic (but not perfect) childhood before the harsh reality of spousal abuse hits home in a sudden shocking scene, and the ensuing awkward teenage years are negotiated honestly and with thoughtfulness. A couple of early scenes feel somewhat staged, perhaps owing to the lead's very young age, but the director does not spoon-feed the audience, allowing the transitions of passage of time from year to year to flow naturally on-screen, marked by the simple reality of physical and fashion changes. The soundtrack aptly reflects the changing 2000s and the whole lo-fi faux-indie middle-class experience reflected here, but the successful characterisations drive this hugely engaging movie. The film acts as a pertinent and thought-provoking reminder of the impact of adults on children's lives and the inherent potential of every child. For the adults, Arquette's final pay-off is something of a brutal slap-in-the-face, but for teenagers Boyhood is a massively reassuring and optimistic film.
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