‘Boyhood’ then is a true gem, and a bold, brave experiment that’s as intimate as it is expansive. It’s an emotionally affecting film with a big beating heart, and Linklater shows us that indeed life is in the little details. Don’t miss it.

Go, get to know Boyhood. Soak it in and let it enrich you, amuse you, hold you close. Let it open your mind a little bit more toward the possibilities great cinema holds. Live it. Let this film be your jam.

To paraphrase John Lennon, life is what happens when you’re busy watching other films.

We have already seen Linklater’s love for letting his characters drive the story rather than the other way around. However, in Boyhood — beginning with the first shot of Mason (Coltrane) lying on the grass, his arm stretched at an odd angle behind him, looking up at the sky — the biggest presence is the absence of a “driving force”, quite like in real life. It’s because life happens when you are busy doing other things…

…it is truly ‘a historical moment in cinema’ and not just because of Linklater’s courage to even take up a behemoth like this but also for the masterful execution of the same.

So let the ‘moment seize you’ and make sure you don’t miss out on being a part of the history.

Boyhood is long; it dawdles and somehow ends up fine and independent.

Once the initial wide-eyed worship of the filming process fades away, all that Boyhood leaves you with is a faint sense of nostalgia and not much else.

In spite of being presented in an unhurried, episodic manner, you will not find this over two-hour long docu-style indie film sluggish, for it showcases the minutiae of everyday life beautifully. No wonder Linklater said, “You’ve never seen a movie exactly like this, and you may not again. It is a life project.”

I do not know what alchemy Linklater performed to pull off such a project, but he somehow did it. And for a film buff, it’s a reason to rejoice. It’s a reason to rediscover your love for cinema. It’s a reason to take everyone you know to the nearest theatre and return home with some seriously fond memories.

Boyhood is a long, meandering film, but it’s masterful and elegant. Time ticks away and with every scene, your curiosity about what lies ahead for Mason intensifies. By the end of the film, the rest of Mason’s life has begun and we’re longing to be part of it all over again.

Boyhood is a beautiful film that explores both the simplicity and the complexity of life. No matter who you are or what you’ve been through, you will be able to relate to some aspects of Boyhood. Watch it if you’re looking to enjoy a coming-of-age film that explores the beauty of life.