Boyhood

New Age of Filmmaking Has Begun

            What were you doing 12 years ago? I was 11 years old and getting ready to start 5th grade. Now, I have a high school diploma and a bachelors degree. 12 years is not a long time at all compared to the average human life, but, so much can happen and it seems to go by in the blink of an eye. In the summer of 2002, director Richard Linklater began an experiment that was so risky it could have wasted over a decade of his life as well as all those involved. Boyhood is the result of how a big risk can take you further than you can ever imagine. It is now easy to say that the maturing process of what it means to be an American cinematic classic has reached a new height. Boyhood completely opens the door to a new age of filmmaking and redefines what it means to be a "work of art."

This is that "next best thing" that everyone has been waiting for.

            Back in 2002, Patricia Arquette was beginning filming as Kissin' Kate Barlow in the adaptation of the book Holes. In the same year, Ethan Hawke was just getting through with all of his attention from the critically-acclaimed action-drama Training Day alongside Denzel Washington. Little did we know, both Arquette and Hawke had teamed up with Linklater to portray the separated and struggling parents of Mason and Samantha Evans.

            Ellar Coltrane plays Mason Evans Jr. His older sister, Samantha, is played by Lorelei Linklater (daughter of director, Richard). Boyhood begins with Mason at age 5 living with his sister and mother in the middle of a transitioning period of moving. Arquette needs to further her education in order to support her children so the three of them pack up and move to Houston. Dad shows up from time to time to spoil the kids and take them on little trips despite the reluctancy of Mom's new love interests.

           Given its indie film status, it appears as a documentary but it is very important to keep in mind that these are all actors playing the same role for over a decade in real time. It can't be understated how groundbreaking and moving that is. Boyhood is the boldest move by a filmmaker in the past 50 years.
         
            There are parts that are light-hearted and funny. There are times in the maturing process that are difficult to watch and even appalling. And then there are moments that push the awkward limits when you just can't wait to see what comes next for this family. As Mason Jr. tries to figure out life little by little, Mom, Dad, and Samantha have their own growing up to do in the mean time.

            This is literally a trip through a 12-year time capsule. The fashion, the music, the video games, the movies, the athletes. Everything. The world around is constantly changing and these characters are just adapting through and through.

L to R: director Richard Linklater, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater, and Ethan Hawke attend a screening of Boyhood in July 2014. 

            The complete transformation physically and emotionally of these characters is so entrancing because it's so believable. There are a lot of cliche and cheesy moments that are just there to let the audience know that it's all a part of life; nothing is left out. Richard Linklater has cemented his place in the pages of film history with this one and has proven to the world just what dedication of the highest form means. Boyhood pulls off coming full-circle and still leaving some of the blanks to be filled in by the viewer. This film perfectly nails the movie-going experience and doesn't hit the brakes once. GRADE: 9.8/10

The Man, The Myth, The Everything.

            After hearing such shocking news, I went on Twitter and the first thing I saw was that John Stamos and myself had the exact same reaction. Word quickly got out and social media, along with the rest of world, exploded with grief as we all were stunned by the loss of one of the greatest comedic actors to ever live. Robin Williams is dead. I still can't believe those words as I type them.

         

Writing reviews and posts on here has become one of my favorite things to do and I really try my best to be as analytical as I can, giving a straight and unbiased opinion about what I saw on the screen. There are some exceptions, though. This time, I can't help but make it personal. No one can replace him. No one can imitate him. Robin was the best.

             When I was in 8th grade, I gave a biographical speech for English class about the late actor Christopher Reeve (best known as Superman). While researching and writing it I came across the fact that while he was studying at Julliard in New York City, his roommate was none other than Robin Williams. I remember being amazed that two big names had known each other from the beginning and it really brought out the "human" in these figures we see as only "celebrities." Then I thought, "Wow, what could it have possibly been like to live with Robin Williams?"


            Myself and everyone else right around my age first thinks 2 roles after hearing his name: "Genie" and "Mrs. Doubtfire." These are from amazing and classic movies that are only good because Robin added his own charm to light up everyone around him. But it's true, you cannot just say one character or movie when people bring up the name of Robin Williams. More will always follow because he showed the world that the art of acting comes at you from every angle.

            "Did you hear the news?!"
            "I know! Man, Mrs. Doubtfire! Good Will Hunting! Jumanji!
Dead Poets Society!"
            "Oh, have you seen One Hour Photo with him??"
            "I did a long time ago, though! Weird movie! You ever watch the Mork and Mindy reruns?"
            "Nanu Nanu!... Wow...So sad."
            "Yeah, so sad."

Sound kind of like a conversation you've had in the past week?

            When it was confirmed that he had indeed committed suicide after decades of struggling with deep depression and drug addiction, an incredible outburst of ways to control every kind of depression have been flying all over the place and his death has sparked a wave of self-help campaigns throughout the world. It's eye-opening for all the wrong reasons. It's quite a shame that something of this magnitude had to happen in order for everyone to clearly see the results. Robin Williams had hit the bottom and still kept a smile on.

            Some amazing and hilarious quotes from Robin have been floating around in the past few days and this is raw footage of how much he meant to the world. His flawless improvisation tactics and voice characterizations have revolutionized the way we see comedy and even relieved some writers of extra work as they just ended up literally putting in margins of the scripts, "Robin can go off from here..." He is gone--taken, actually--but what we are left with is the greatest advice anyone can give: never be afraid to embrace life's goofiness. And don't forget to smile.

My favorite story about Robin Williams:

            Before he was discovered in his role as "Mork from Ork" in an episode of Happy Days, the producer of the show, Garry Marshall, was holding auditions for the zany, intergalactic character. Robin walked in the room and stood in front of the table and Marshall asked him to "please have a seat." So, without saying a word, Robin bent down and sat with his head on the seat first. He was immediately offered the role. Later on, when Marshall was asked about his decision, he simply responded with, "He was the only alien that auditioned."

Thank you, Robin.

           

           
 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Go Ninja Go!

Blue. Red. Purple. Orange. Cowabunga dude!

           

There are a few quartets that have appeared throughout history that can pull off the iconic reputations they've established. The Beatles, The Four Gospels, The Four Seasons, The Renaissance Artists, if you know anymore just shout 'em out. Now, out of the sewers, four completely radical reptiles have reappeared taking on the big screen in the coolest way possible. Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo are their names and keepin' it real is their game--- along with some sick karate moves and pizza on the side. You don't need me to tell you twice, it's the Ninja Turtles and they've been revamped for a new generation but still never seem to disappoint!

        Woahhh bro, hold on for a sec!    Let's not get too ahead of ourselves because the money-bags Michael Bay (director of the incredibly declined mishaps that became the Transformers Saga) wore the hat of Producer for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles this time around and it shows. BUT. Luckily the turtles themselves make up for his "flawless" taste with great added humor and zany comments that never seem to get old!

        Roll the credits, my shellular friend!   There are a lot of totally awesome things about this cast, though. Let's get the humans out of the way first. Megan Fox. She's April O'Neil, struggling rookie news reporter and the turtles' closest confidant.  For once, she has been granted as the top-bill in a major blockbuster and holds her own pretty well, surprisingly. Besides a few instances where she pushes the dialogue or takes her acting to a Shakespearean level of drama, her presence works but her chemistry with co-star Will Arnett (Arrested Development) lacks a some desired fluidity. Arnett is Vernon, April's cameraman. I'll just throw it out that it is safe to say he has been typecast into his own personality. The superficial, pathetic, douchy-voiced smooth man is pretty much what he does best and brings it into this film as well. Although his jokes and one-liners are funny at times, it would be nice to see him branch out in future roles.

         Turtle Time, dude!    The main attractions are green and ready to be mean. With their rival, the kingpin of the Foot Clan, Shredder is out on the streets of New York ready to takeover, it's time for Splinter (a wise Tony Shaloub) to reveal what all their preparation has built up to.

        Leonardo. The Leader. Johnny Knoxville takes his jackass once again to the big screen but in rare form this time as the voice of the blue mask. His comedic gravelly voice and cool intonation is refreshing and he leads the pack perfectly.

         Raphael. The Attitude. Alan Ritchson has the dumb jock persona down pat as Thad Castle on Blue Mountain State and shows up for work as well while wearing the red bandana and flexing his muscles.

         Donatello. The Brains. Tech saavy and donning four eyes, the goofy Jeremy Howard (The Grinch Who Stole Christmas) rocks the lingo that comes with the purple mask but it seems his voice was a bit distracting being a little too high for the part that Donny takes as one of the brothers.

         Michelangelo. The Kid. Sweet-talking, pizza-loving, nunchuck-wielding, and heavy-hitting. Noel Fisher (Max Keeble's Big Move, Hatfields and McCoys) steals the show as the fun loving orange masked brother steals the show. His young voice and upbeat dialogue make him the best-cast one of the four and he never fails in every scene.

         The cinematography is hard to keep up with at times and Bay's god-awful love for glare effects is something I'll never figure out (and he wasn't even in the director's chair this time!) but you'll have a good time watching it. For a new generation being exposed to the camaraderie and brotherly love that these four promote just proves that they have met icon-status and will never die as the masked-vigilantes that bring out the fun in all of us! GRADE 6.8/10