Boyhood brilliantly captures pop culture milestones of the Millennial Generation

The film Boyhood is the first must-see movie of the year. Released a bit early for Oscar contention, this modern-day masterpiece is sure to receive an Academy-Award for Best Picture. A revolutionary effort, the film chronicles the life of a young boy named Mason as he goes from childhood to college, all the while experiencing the staple elements of suburban life in the 2000's: divorced parents, lost friendships, and failed romances. It took over a decade to film the movie, and we watch the same actor who plays Mason at the beginning grow into his young adult self by the end of the near-three-hour saga. The other actors also age along with their characters, making for an extraordinary cinematic event.

I would say that Boyhood is easily one of the most remarkable films I have ever seen. What makes it so particularly touching is not only the universality of its theme, but also how it is able to capture landmark moments of the Millennial generation. Like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2 and Toy Story 3, Boyhood signals the end to the Millennial generation's childhood, yet also reminds us of the fundamental aspects of the 2000's, a decade that shaped who we all are today. The film captures our generation by using pop cultural milestones to invoke feelings of nostalgia and to indicate the astounding passage of time.

While Boyhood never tells the audience what year each time progression takes place in, the music and film references help indicate to us where in the decade we are. Boyhood is riddled with the popular trends and manias that accompanied our own journeys to adulthood. Where the film begins, video games are unsophisticated and played on small devices, computers are bulky, a young girl sings along to Britney Spears, the main character Mason watches Pokemon on T.V., and both kids curl up in bed to listen to their mother read to them Harry Potter. The mid-2000's are ushered in with discussions over General Grievous in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and the continuation of Harry Potter-mania, as kids, all dressed as their favorite characters, line up to buy The Half-Blood Prince. The end of the decade is indicated with the introduction of the iPhone, Lady Gaga, and discussions over social media. In addition to this incorporation of pop culture, the film also includes world events that reflect the uneasy, turbulent politics of the 2000's: 9/11, the War in Afghanistan, the War in Iraq, President Bush, and Obama-mania.

Boyhood is a flawless piece of cinematic work. At no point does the film lose steam. In fact, you want more when it ends. It almost feels unfinished. But intentionally so. It's a massive masterpiece that covers a lot of ground, but still manages to feel contained and intimate. To engage an audience for three hours is a feat on its own; to do so and also provide a moving insight into the life of a fellow Millennial---without ever feeling forced or cliche---is a triumph.

5/5--Masterpiece

Concert Review: Perry is an Exceptional Entertainer

Many people doubted Perry's ability to last in the industry. The former Christian singer and daughter of two evangelical pastors caused controversy in 2008 with her breakout single "I Kissed a Girl" which reached #1 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Critics were divided on the performer. She had earned fame at the tail-end of a decade dominated by more respected pop-stars. To them, she was just a wanna-be. Flash forward a few years, Perry has nine #1 hits, 11 Grammy nominations (including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year), and in 2011 she became the first artist to tie Michael Jackson's record for most number one hits off of one album. The star least likely to succeed took over the world.

To everyone's surprise, Perry gracefully transformed from pop's most controversial newcomer to the genre's most mature, self-empowering performer. Thanks to hits like "Roar," "Part of Me," "Wide Awake" and her signature song "Firework," Perry and self-empowerment have become synonymous, and the singer once known for her dirty mouth and irreverent lyrics is singing to little kids and teeny-boppers. She went from crowd-surfing at the Warped Tour and screaming "It's my f***ing quinceanera" on MTV latinoamerica to bringing toddlers on stage with her and giving them pizza.

Her Prismatic World Tour is the best medicine to any Perry-doubters. From the minute she stepped on stage at the TD Garden in Boston, she captivated the audience with her humor, talent, and stage presence. She sang, danced, and sweated for two hours, constantly engaging with audience members as she changed from Egyptian clothes to a sunflower dress to a neon, smiley-face skirt. Her hair also changed, going from black to pink to green, and back to black. She sang all the classics---"Teenage Dream," "California Gurls," "Firework"--and impressed with her vocals on beautifully written ballads---"By the Grace of God," "The One That Got Away" and "Thinking of You."

No other star has her versatility. She can bop around the stage to the party anthem "This is How We Do," powerfully belt on the bridge of "Walking on Air," and take out a guitar and play "Thinking of You" as if at a coffeehouse in LA. Perry's voice can at times get lost in the chaos, but when it's just her and the guitar, you hear the raw beauty of it.

Perry is a hard worker. Whether you like her or not, this can't be denied. And this hard work has certainly paid off. She gives it her all on stage, and whether you buy the hype or brush her off, she'll keep doing what she's doing. She is an exceptional entertainer who has far exceeded anyone's expectations and has raised the bar for what a pop-star can do and what a pop-star can mean.

5/5