Richard Linklater and “Boyhood”

Movie fans in NYC and LA, do me a favor. Go ahead and see Dawn of the Planet of the Apes on Friday night when it opens. But after you’ve given yourself Saturday to cleanse your mental palette, go to one of the 5 theaters that is screening Boyhood on its opening weekend and see this film which currently has at 100% rating among film critics.

That’s right: 100%.

Several people I know whose judgment I trust have seen the movie and told me it is truly special. But then, you don’t have to look much further than its writer-director to know that. Richard Linklater is a treasure to those of us who love stories with richly detailed characters and emotionally resonant narratives.

Some propaganda to compel you to get off the Barcolounger and deposit your derriere in a theater somewhere over the next month as Boyhood expands its run.

First, Peter Sciretta from /film with this: 107 Reasons You Need to See Richard Linklater’s Boyhood.

Actually Peter doesn’t provide 107 reasons, but he does include this nifty behind-the-scenes video:

Then check out this fantastic Grantland feature on Richard Linklater.

A 50+ minute interview with Linlater [video].

Rotten Tomatoes with Richard Linkater’s 5 favorite films.

A Variety essay on why Linklater deserves a Best Director Oscar for Boyhood.

A heartfelt and thoughtful open letter from a /bent contributor to Richard Linklater about Boyhood.

Here is the international trailer for Boyhood:

Listen. We complain about the state of contemporary movies. Fine. We can do that and justifiably so for many reasons. But when something special comes along like Boyhood by someone like Richard Linklater, one of the finest contemporary independent filmmakers who has brought us such terrific films as Dazed and Confused, Bernie, Me and Orson Welles, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight, it is an obligation to support this effort.

Go see Boyhood. If you love it, spread the word.

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