Critic finds Boyhood a ‘masterpiece’ by underrated filmmaker ‘

Since the early ‘90s, one of this generation’s most underrated filmmakers has been hard at work putting out one great film after another.

Richard Linklater’s films include Dazed and Confused, the Before Sunrise trilogy and his most recent film Boyhood. His name  shamefully isn’t brought up as often as it should be among other filmmakers.

Linklater specializes in humanist films that are light on plot or narrative, but beautifully convey everyday, seemingly mundane life. There’s no car chase or plot twist, which is more than likely the main cause of his lack of star power, but his films take you on a ride nonetheless.

Linklater’s most incredible ride so far is the film Boyhood, released in 2014. The movie was filmed every year since 2002. It follows a young boy named “Mason” from age 6 to 18 as he grows up in the midwest. Ellar Coltrane plays “Mason,” with Patricia Arquette and Ethan Hawke as his divorced mother and father.

The loose narrative focuses on Mason as he deals with typical childhood problems, such as moving to a new school or adjusting to different father figures.

What makes this film so successful is that it is an incredible phenomenon to watch someone grow into another person. Linklater captures it in such a way that you almost don’t notice until the end that the little child you’ve been watching is suddenly all grown up.

“Mason’s” parents do a significant amount of growing themselves, making it apparent how growing up is a process, one that never  stops, even as we grow into our advanced years. Arquette and Hawke’s personalities and psyches are shaped and formed just as much as “Mason’s” throughout the film, but it’s so subtle it may take multiple views to notice.

While Hawke puts on a great performance, Arquette stands out in the film, and was awarded the 2015 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Boyhood captures the essence of what it’s like to grow older. All of our successes, failures, dreams and experiences shape who we are, and affects every one of us differently, yet in similar, universal ways.

If possible, watch some of Linklater’s other films before seeing this masterpiece, but you should experience this movie.