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