Richard Linklater spent over twelve years creating the movie Boyhood — twelve years well spent. Centering on a boy starting at the age of six, the film traverses the major events of any childhood and encapsulates them all in a three hour movie.

Mason is your regular six year old. He loves video games, he thinks his sister is annoying, and he loves to hang out with his friends. His single mother moves the family very early on into the movie so that the mom can finish getting her degree to provide and make a better life for her children.

A lower income family trying to get by, they move around a lot, with the mother entering into a series of very troubled marriages. Mason gets up to hijinks, goes to parties, finds an interest in photography, and grows into a young man.

One of the best parts of the movie is when Mason and his sister get to spend time with their father. Ethan Hawke, who plays the father, is thought of as a slacker at first, but throughout the movie it is interesting to see him grow up with the kids and make a better life for himself as well.

Most likely done purposely by Linklater, the story is never the same for more than 30 minutes. Constantly moving from topic to topic that a child might face in their young life, it is perfect to keep the movie interesting and keeps you wanting more.

Ellar Coltrane, who plays Mason, gives a not-so-innocent look into the life of a child growing up. From first love to going to college, it is always a treat to see what mischief he is getting himself into. His performance going through some of the best and worst times of his young life is amazing. Anyone can say that he does so well because he is just acting as himself, but Coltrane does a great job in any way you think about it. He captures what it must feel like to grow up in such a convoluted and sometimes dysfunctional family situation and puts it on the screen.

What Linklater has done in Boyhood is something that will be applauded for years to come. Not only should it be regarded as a masterpiece, but the style that is done in is something that we might not see again for a long time.

Should you see it? Yes! Boyhood is the best coming of age story that has ever been on the big screen. I don’t usually make Academy Award predictions this early, but I would not be at all surprised if this movie received Best Director and Best Motion Picture.

This article was originally published in the September 2014 Print issue of The Rubicon.  The story can be seen in its original form by clicking on the “In Print” tab or at ISSUU.com.