Are you here alone?
We are generally everywhere alone.
Quite an intriguing film that has just managed to slip under the radar despite having such a high profile cast of Christoph Waltz, Matt Damon, Tilda Swinton and David Thewlis (Lupin from the Harry Potter series).
When you first hear that Boyhood was 12 years in the making, it seems only natural that people (critics included) would be raving about this movie. Jen and I both came into this with quite high expectations and while it had its moments, I found it a little lacking in the emotional department.
Boyhood is a true coming-of-age story that follows Mason (Ellar Coltrane) from the age of 5 to 18. Through him we also come to meet his sister Samantha (Lorelei Linklater), his divorced parents (Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke) and various other family and friends.
Set in the not-too-distant dystopian future where humanity’s efforts to ‘solve’ global warming resulted in a second ice age of sorts. This resulted in all of earth’s inhabitants being frozen in popsicles with the sole survivors on board a train with a self-sustaining engine and no destination. The train is divided into distinct classes which are physically separated by their respective carriages. The lowest class (the ‘tail end’) live in squalid poverty and a diet of ‘protein’ bars that resemble blocks of blood jelly while the first class enjoy a life of luxury and excess with a night club, sauna and sushi bar.
*Disclaimer: I know very little about the original comic so please don’t expect any references to or comparisons with the comic or you will be bitterly disappointed. You have been warned.*
This movie was not a highly-anticipated movie of mine because simply-put I didn’t see how a film with a group of misfits including a talking Raccoon and a Vin Diesel-voiced tree thing could have any appeal to anyone but children and comic geeks (and I say that with the utmost affection as I have many friends in both categories).
I know this kind of alluded to a but-boy-was-I-wrong opening for the next paragraph but it would only half tick that box. Most of the movie was as expected including a very simple plot and a few warm fuzzy moments of camaraderie and belonging. I did enjoy the back stories to each of the characters although only Quill’s (Chris Pratt) was really fleshed out which was a shame but also understandable due to the risk of deviation from the main plot. Also, the relationship between Quill and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) was very shallowly developed and there wasn’t enough basis in my opinion why Quill would risk his life to save hers after sharing only very brief moments with her.
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