The Criterion Collection

[Rich Pure Doom]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Fair enough. I sorta had that feeling for the first hour or so of the movie. I can't exactly articulate why it started working for me. I felt sort of like I did the first time that I watched "Life and Times of Colonel Blimp" where I was enjoying it alright, but as it got back to the present day in the last act all of a sudden everything that came before coalesced into a greater whole that suddenly hit me and made me feel like I was suddenly watching something truly great. Boyhood's definitely not as good and its structure is much more piecemeal, but it was a similar sort of reaction where the individual bits aren't really anything special but taken as a whole they really became something for me.

You're spot on about Blimp. That is the exact reaction I had when the final third or so unraveled in that movie. It connected everything and added weight to the whole. I can't say the same about Boyhood though.

[captveg]

All this isn't to say one can't like something. Not liking something is part of the film going experience.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Fair enough. I sorta had that feeling for the first hour or so of the movie. I can't exactly articulate why it started working for me. I felt sort of like I did the first time that I watched "Life and Times of Colonel Blimp" where I was enjoying it alright, but as it got back to the present day in the last act all of a sudden everything that came before coalesced into a greater whole that suddenly hit me and made me feel like I was suddenly watching something truly great. Boyhood's definitely not as good and its structure is much more piecemeal, but it was a similar sort of reaction where the individual bits aren't really anything special but taken as a whole they really became something for me.

I have only seen film once and will give it a try down the line, I'm just in no rush now - the cinema I was in had annoying high pitch noises throughout and people talking and they forgot to get someone to turn film on after 30 mins... so I wasn;t in mood tbh after all that so maybe that eluded my judgement.

So yeah I will try again in future but I dunno

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by captveg

I find it hilarious when people try to criticize the technique/process of uniquely made films like Boyhood, Memento, the Artist, etc., as gimmicky. It's part of the point of those films to be made in those particular ways.

Or to criticize them by saying "anybody could've done that". Sure, anyone could've done it, but then again, nobody had done it.

[captveg]

Originally Posted by Rich Pure Doom

It's dull but it's also formulaic. I've seen every scene in the film before in bad films and sitcoms. Many of the segments are like episodes of Boy Meets World. The scene where the girl walks in on him and his GF in the dorm? What on earth does this scene have to do with ANYTHING other than yet another cliche moment for us to endure? The whole movie is basically this ad nauseam.

Well, The Godfather is cliche scenario one right after the other, too. A lot if what matters is making the sameness of a story its own unique thing.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Or to criticize them by saying "anybody could've done that". Sure, anyone could've done it, but then again, nobody had done it.

I'm pretty sure there was a documentary or another film that was filmed over the years as the children grew up, starting as kids and then they resisted as they got older and older.

I can't think what it was though...

Might have been the BBC's 'Child of Our Time'. Not sure...

[captveg]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I'm pretty sure there was a documentary or another film that was filmed over the years as the children grew up, starting as kids and then they resisted as they got older and older.

I can't think what it was though...

You're thinking of the (still ongoing) Up Series

But their purposes are quite different.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by captveg

You're thinking of the (still ongoing) Up Series

But their purposes are quite different.

The purpose may be different but it still using the same idea, everyone banged on about how original and groundbreaking Boyhood is but its been done before (yes I get production size will be very different and stuff) but the idea has already been used.

Also with Boyhood - did they cut a lot? Like do you think we will ever see an extended version (which I think will improve it). My main fault with Blue is the Warmest Colour was how rushed it sort of felt, I hope we get to see extended version of that film because I loved it, it just felt a bit rushed at times.

[captveg]

The Up Series was not planned as a continuing production, or with a fictional narrative.

THAT is what Boyhood has done that has never been done before.

Linklater said they used most of their footage aside from one subplot that they didn't keep throughout. So, no, I think this is it. It's not like they thought it was gonna be some big commercial hit that they were holding back a sell-it-to-them-again cut on.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by captveg

The Up Series was not planned as a continuing production, or with a fictional narrative.

THAT is what Boyhood has done that has never been done before.

Linklater said they used most of their footage aside from one subplot that they didn't keep throughout. So, no, I think this is it. It's not like they thought it was gonna be some big commercial hit that they were holding back a sell-it-to-them-again cut on.

I love the concept and the idea of seeing real ageing, but I just don't think the story/acting did it justice... It didn't really have any memorable moments for me.

I know the film is meant to represent real life and real life doesn't really have the big dramatic explosions like films portray. But Men, Women & Children managed to get it right for me in that aspect, there were no loud/huge moments, but the subtle quietest scenes were so powerful and thats what Boyhood lacked for me.

If that makes any sense...

It's a shame they don't have more to add as other than the acting, a big part that ruined it for me was how rushed scenes were, if they had lingered a little longer or developed further it would have been much stronger... I'll give it another sitting in future and see if my opinions have changed, but I don't know...

Btw not seen that film mentioned much anywhere, its a great little film imo! (still need to see Disconnect so not sure how this film composer with MW&C)

[captveg]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

If that makes any sense...

Sure. Not everyone is gonna like everything, even something that gets mostly universal praise.

I still can't get into The Searchers despite trying to on multiple occasions. Frustrates me to no end that I just don't like it.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by captveg

Sure. Not everyone is gonna like everything, even something that gets mostly universal praise.

I still can't get into The Searchers despite trying to on multiple occasions. Frustrates me to no end that I just don't like it.

I went into Boyhood wanting to love it, maybe I overhyped it in my head? I don't know... lol

I'm just crap at justifying my reasons/opinions over the interwebs lol it much easer face to face lol!

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I'm pretty sure there was a documentary or another film that was filmed over the years as the children grew up, starting as kids and then they resisted as they got older and older.

I can't think what it was though...

Might have been the BBC's 'Child of Our Time'. Not sure...

Michael Apted's series that started with Seven Up, revisiting the kids every seven years. The difference is that it was a series of documentaries looking to see what's going on with the kids as they grow up. Boyhood was a single film made over the course of a dozen years that used that used it in terms of a fictional narrative.

No one before Linklater used the concept in the way he used it, either in terms of production or narrative.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Michael Apted's series that started with Seven Up, revisiting the kids every seven years. The difference is that it was a series of documentaries looking to see what's going on with the kids as they grow up. Boyhood was a single film made over the course of a dozen years that used that used it in terms of a fictional narrative.

No one before Linklater used the concept in the way he used it, either in terms of production or narrative.

I see, as I said I love the concept and idea, I just don't think it was executed as good as it could have been - but I guess its hard to predict over a 12 year period I guess, I don't know, I probably couldn't do much better myself lol.

[jayembee]

Originally Posted by Polaroid

I love the concept and the idea of seeing real ageing, but I just don't think the story/acting did it justice... It didn't really have any memorable moments for me.

Which means it really wasn't the "gimmick" that put you off, which seems to have been your main complaint.

I don't think anyone here is saying that you (or anyone else) must like the film. We -- or at least some of us -- are simply trying to argue with the point that what you see as a flaw really shouldn't be seen as a flaw.

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Which means it really wasn't the "gimmick" that put you off, which seems to have been your main complaint.

I don't think anyone here is saying that you (or anyone else) must like the film. We -- or at least some of us -- are simply trying to argue with the point that what you see as a flaw really shouldn't be seen as a flaw.

In a way i still find it a gimmick lol - Im not explaining my thoughts properly lol, I think ti came across gimmick because it didn't work (in my opinion) - had it worked better it wouldn't have felt gimmicky, plus marketing did overhype it.

Im not explaining the best I can but never mind lol

[TJS_Blu]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Or to criticize them by saying "anybody could've done that". Sure, anyone could've done it, but then again, nobody had done it.

Does anybody remember a rumor of a movie that David Carradine was shooting, like a scene or two every five years? Urban Legend? False memory syndrome?

[Polaroid]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Does anybody remember a rumor of a movie that David Carradine was shooting, like a scene or two every five years? Urban Legend? False memory syndrome?

I remember that :P

Wasn't Lars Von Trier doing something similar?

-

Lars von Trier: Dimension (1991-97) - YouTube

I think Criterion should do a release of 'Medea' and have the 27 minute short as a bonus

Alos a list of films filmed over several years:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._several_years

[RojD]

Originally Posted by jayembee

Michael Apted's series that started with Seven Up, revisiting the kids every seven years. The difference is that it was a series of documentaries looking to see what's going on with the kids as they grow up. Boyhood was a single film made over the course of a dozen years that used that used it in terms of a fictional narrative.

No one before Linklater used the concept in the way he used it, either in terms of production or narrative.

Jay, you peg the exact point that I like in Boyhood so much. One of Linklater's common topics is the way film can intersect, er, "reality." I got little rush out of the way the "documentary" aspects in Boyhood (time, reality, aging) fit into a fictional story with fictional characters, a story that deals with the same themes as the form. That was what my response to the film was mostly about.

I think of Boyhood as a flipped version of Stories We Tell (why, god, is this movie not on Criterion?). Broadly, Polley uses some techniques of fictional filmmaking in her documentary while Linklater uses some techniques of documentary filmmaking in his fictional film.

And I get a little thrill every time I recognize those two very different sets of conventions and expectations intersect, especially when their overlap develops the idea both directors are interested in: how cinema and "reality" crisscross.

I think Boyhood hits an extraordinary sweet spot in being able to deal with theoretical issues without being as dense as Godard can be, and I'd say the general public's response to the film bears that out. I'd be more than happy to have an art film carry away the Best Picture award instead of Argo reboot.

[joie]

They should create a new Oscar: Best scoreless picture. I recently rewatched "Once Upon a Time in the West" and noticed that each major character had a musical theme, like the poor, bereaved, unfortunate widow theme played whenever Claudia Cardinale's character appeared.

Aren't scores a throwback to the silents? Some of them could be b-o-r-i-n-g without their music. Antonioni made several movies with little or no scoring. I suppose that music emanating from a cafe or car's radio could be used, but not deliberately selected or written music whose purpose seems to be provoke an emotional reaction. Isn't using music rather than dialog or action to create an impression of a character a crutch?