As a fan of Richard Linklater I was pumped to finally get a chance to view Boyhood back in July. Since then, I have kept my thoughts regarding the film to myself. However, with the talk of Oscar buzz, it's time to go public with my unpopular opinion.
Boyhood was good. But, Boyhood was not great.
To borrow a term from the corporate world, it is important to "manage expectations." The adjectives being carelessly thrown around to describe the film (masterpiece, epic, astonishing) have done nothing to keep movie-goers expectations in check.
Independent film is important for the art world. It is something that not everyone wants to be a part of, however it is welcoming to those who do want to give it a shot. So when film critics declare that an independent film is a "must-see" and it is the "best movie of the year," movie-goers that typically will not spend their money at an art-house theater suddenly have a reason to give a small film their attention. Imagine their disappointment when two hours into the movie, they are wondering why it hasn't ended yet. Or why they know only surface information about a main character. Or worse, when they leave and are still unsure of the point of the film. What are the chances that the next time a critic raves about an independent, they will give it a second thought?
I make a conscious effort to support independent film and because of that, I take issue with the way Boyhood has been spotlighted as I believe it is working against the industry by promising things to an audience that it doesn't deliver.
There are four major issues with Boyhood:
- There is a lack of depth in the film. Because we cover so much time in Mason's life, we never really get to know him. Watching Boyhood is like seeing a visual representation of someone's diary or better yet an in-depth calendar. All the main events in this person's life are documented, however unless this stranger is highly self-aware it is doubtful that you would get a real understanding of how these events shaped their psyche and contributed to their future actions. We should have seen how Mason's broken family affected his actions. How the horrible treatment of his mother throughout the film affected his relationships. What drives Mason to do the things he does. We are along for the ride, but most times when riding shotgun you are provided a map. Linklater dropped the ball on that.
Do I think Boyhood should win an Oscar? No. Do I think Boyhood will win an Oscar? It is possible. I just hope that if it does, movie-goers don't think that it is the best that independent film has to offer.