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Boyhood
2014 165 min United States of America R 18+
★8.7
Drama
Director: Richard Linklater
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Description
The film tells a story of a divorced couple trying to raise their young son. The story follows the boy for twelve years, from first grade at age 6 through 12th grade at age 17-18, and examines his relationship with his parents as he grows.
Budget:
$4M
US Gross:
$25.35M
Worldwide:
$48.14M
Starring
Ellar Coltrane
Actor
Patricia Arquette
Actor
Ethan Hawke
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 2015
— Best Picture (Drama)
Academy Awards 2015
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 2015
— Best Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2015
— Best Supporting Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2015
— Best Cast Ensemble
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2015
— Best Picture
Golden Globe 2015
— Best Screenplay
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2015
— Breakthrough of the Year
César Awards 2015
— Best International Feature Film
Academy Awards 2015
— Best Supporting Actress
Academy Awards 2015
— Best Picture
BAFTA 2015
— Best Picture
Golden Globe 2015
— Best Director
Berlin International Film Festival 2014
— German Arthouse Guild Prize
MTV Movie & TV Awards 2015
— Best On-Screen Transformation
Academy Awards 2015
— Best Screenplay
Academy Awards 2015
— Best Film Editing
Golden Globe 2015
— Best Supporting Actress
Academy Awards 2015
— Best Director
Berlin International Film Festival 2014
— Silver Bear – Best Director
Berlin International Film Festival 2014
— Berliner Morgenpost Prize
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2015
— Best Supporting Actress
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2014
— FIPRESCI Prize – Best Film of the Year
Berlin International Film Festival 2014
— Golden Bear
BAFTA 2015
— Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA 2015
— David Lean Award for Direction
BAFTA 2015
— Best Supporting Actor
BAFTA 2015
— Best Original Screenplay
Key opinion
Boyhood is widely celebrated as an ambitious, time-lapse cinematic experiment that captures the authentic passage of childhood and adolescence through the visible aging of its cast. While many viewers find its naturalistic, low-stakes approach to be a poignant and immersive masterpiece, others argue that the innovative 12-year premise masks a hollow script and a lack of traditional dramatic depth.
| Originality | The 12-year filming process provides a unique, unmatched sense of realism by showing the characters' genuine physical and developmental growth. | |
| Acting | Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke deliver grounded, compelling performances that anchor the family dynamics through the years. | |
| Screenplay | Linklater's focus on small, observational moments rather than traditional dramatic plot points creates a divisive experience: some find it deeply immersive and relatable, while others find the lack of narrative stakes frustratingly dull. | |
| Runtime | The near three-hour runtime is a point of contention; supporters praise its meditative and flowing pace, while critics label it an exhausting, uneventful, and overinflated viewing experience. | |
| Screenplay | The film’s lack of a clear, structured dramatic arc leads some to perceive the characters as underdeveloped or the overall story as aimless. |