Boyhood

Director Richard Linklater filmed this extraordinary coming-of-age saga over 12 consecutive years, following his star—6-year-old Ellar Coltrane—to the age of 18. Mason (Coltrane) is first seen in East Texas, playing with neighborhood kids and squabbling with his older sister, Samantha (Linklater's daughter Lorelei). At the end of this segment, the family moves to Houston, which means a new home, new school, and new friends. Mason's dad (Ethan Hawke) and mom (Patricia Arquette) are divorced; Mason hopes they will reunite, but that's not going to happen, and their lovers come and go. Problem is: whenever mom finds a new man, she marries him—and one (Marco Perella) turns out to be an abusive alcoholic. By age 15, Coltrane the actor has become less stiff on-camera, delivering a wryly humorous and far more self-assured performance, literally maturing before our eyes. An episodic, naturalistic film, Linklater's Boyhood is somewhat reminiscent of the groundbreaking Up series from director Michael Apted, who documented the lives of British youngsters every seven years. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: Blu-ray extras include a Q&A with director Richard Linklater and the cast (53 min.), “The 12 Year Project” production featurette (19 min.), and bonus DVD, digital, and UltraViolet copies of the film. Bottom line: a fine extras package for one of 2014's best films.] (S. Granger)[Blu-ray/DVD Review—Nov. 1, 2016—Criterion, 2 discs, 165 min., R, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $39.95—Making its latest appearance on DVD and Blu-ray, 2014's Boyhood sports a great transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition. Extras include audio commentary by director Richard Linklater along with cast and crew, a “Memories of the Present” discussion with Linklater and costars Patricia Arquette and Ellar Coltrane (58 min.), a “Twelve Years” behind-the-scenes featurette (50 min.), a new conversation between costars Coltrane and Ethan Hawke (30 min.), a “Through the Years” photo gallery (24 min.), critic Michael Koresky's “Time of Your Life” visual essay (13 min.), and an essay by novelist Jonathan Lethem. Bottom line: a characteristically excellent Criterion edition of one of 2014's best films.]