You won't be disappointed!

the audience applauded

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Spending 12 years making something doesn't absolve you of the basic requirements of story and plot. Essentially, it provides you with more time to rewrite your script. A completely boring, cliche story, whose only redeeming aspect - and the reason everyone is raving - is because it took so long to make. Which is never a good reason to like anythin.

I loved Richard Linklater's approach with filming the movie. The audience literally sees a kid grow up on screen. This movie is not for the average movie goer. Most people these days watch movies to either see explosions or to get a laugh. I can see how some may think of Boyhood as boring, but I found it interesting. During the movie I felt attached to the characters and I would say that the characters are the most important part of this film. I am not an emotional person, but I found myself tearing up at a scene where Ethan Hawke's character is playing football with his two kids in a park. The scene was simple yet touching. It's these little moments that make Boyhood special. The only disappointment I had with the film was the acting, particularly with Lorelei Linklater (who plays Samantha). Lorelei Linklater was bland.

There were many times I laughed out loud in a theatre full of people opening weekend. Especially at the hilariously overacted abusive stepfather throwing things at the main character, and yelling:"I DON'T EVEN LIKE SQUASH!"I was the only one laughing.

(Minor spoilers possible)The worst part of the movie was for me probably the ending, as it was open-ended and I feel like many of the lifelines demanded a stronger closure. Especially the protagonist's sister's life got left out of the story starting halfway.It had a potential esp. thanks to the longterm recording, but the main idea isn't quite there. What this movie does right at places is leading us through the contrast of how people change through growing up and how exactly the situations change around them. The characters felt flat at times (the mid part gets us the most involved) and towards the end even out of nowhere nihilistic, which struck me as overdone at places. I must say I loved the part with the teacher about the art giving him the waking-up call.The movie ends as the protagonist enters the college and I feel like it could've been better if they just waited for him to enter the stage of a working adult (how did his career and personal life turns up after everything he's gone through, hm?)So all in all, watch for the minor events that show life contrasting during different periods while growing up, but be ready for rather a slow movie with boring passages and mediocre ending.