MovieChat Forums > Boyhood (2014) Discussion > So, let me bitch about some annoying par...

So, let me bitch about some annoying parts of the film

posted 8 years ago by FrederickWit
3 replies | jump to latest

I kind of liked the film, but there were just a few things I could not get over.

First, I hated how Ethan Hawke's character was given such a biased editing. He is the cool dad, he talks about sex with his kids, he is a musician, he never screams at his kids, they only have fun with him. The one bad thing was to have his kids put signs for Obama... but it is kind of played for laughs in the film. Meanwhile, Patricia Arquette was given the "bitch" treatment. She is always complaining and making bad decisions with men. She ignores obvious red flags from her partners and is terrible at handling money. Her last scene is her throwing am aggressive tantrum at her kid. It ended in such a bad note. It could have perfectly been over with the scene of the Mexican she helped get ahead in life. Likewise, the sister was given almost no redeeming qualities, she was just a petty spoiled brat. It didn't make sense that she would complain about "moving", when she clearly saw her family's life was in danger!

I think some characters got a really rushed exposition. Husband #2 was made into a demon in 2 scenes, first showing him pissed at failing to get a birdie in golf, and subsequently buying liquor. He suddenly has problems with alcohol and violence now. Jim, Husband/Boyfriend #3 was similar; he was first shown as a compassionate veteran, to then screw his character by making him suddenly into an ambiguously homophobic conservative macho. I mean, he clearly was dealing with a family of almost hippies, that part just didn't make sense to me.

I think this film kind of exploited stereotypes too. Mason Sr. leftist lifestyle was just too much. The farmer in-laws giving Mason a bible and a rifle as a present were also kind of exaggerated. Because you know, it is all Jesus and guns in the South!

And finally, some random nit-picky bits. The bullying scene when Mason was in middle school was really unrealistic. First of all, the bullies didn't even look intimidating, they were shorter than Mason! They were too hostile too, it was all very forced. Also, didn't Mason get like 4 makeovers in his senior year? I was just confused about that by the end, I didn't understand how much time was passing anymore.

[–] elgatonegro765 8 years ago

I disagree with, lets see, everything you said. You don't like how the mom character was depicted? That's life.
You thinking its some sort of male conspiracy because women are actually in fact usually great with money, make great choices with men who end up usually becoming great step dads? And you're wondering, since the mom acts bitchy, why on earth couldn't Ethan Hawkes character just.. be bitchy too? LOL.
(Though I'm not too fond of guns myself) The Bible, and Jesus too much for you in Texas and seeing guns used at target practice just got your goat?
And when the kid is in junior high you decry and have outrage about 'homophobic' bullies? What in the ....?

LOL. Wow. Hmmmm sounds like some kind of fleeting inane agenda is afoot.

[–] TheBeardedWonder 8 years ago

Yeah maybe the OP missed the part where the Dad has awkward sex talks the mom doesn't want to, and lets down his son by selling the car he promised him. The whole point is that it's easy to write a character as completely evil or always good. To make it feel real and flawed yet trying takes a lot more nuance and skill.

[–] a_crow_quilled_threnody 8 years ago

All the things that bugged you about this movie are all the things I actually connected with. Totally sums up mine and a lot of my friends dysfunctional childhoods dealing with divorcing parents at a young age.
The cool fun dad you see a couple times a month to go to awesome places with? Check. The mom that yells at you at the top of her lungs despite the fact you're at school surrounded by kids as if she has no shame or care in the world because she's always angry, bitter, complaining, and no one likes being around her ? Check.
Dating really sketchy men with control issues and alcohol problems and constantly moving once the moms couldn't handle them anymore. I've seen lots of moms go insane after a divorce and become verbally abusive and constantly bitter and yelling at their kids (i.e friends of mine and my own mom), so I don't understand your issue with the depiction of her. It's not unusual to meet mom's that need to take a chill pill and make bad choices often, especially rushing into relationships.

Bratty older sibling that constantly didn't pick us up from school or was hours late, never acts appreciative. Check.

And most the bullies at my high-school were practically midgets. They were pretty laughable as I watched them mess with other kids because they were physically so weak looking, but had the most ridiculously aggressive and foul mouths. Almost everything felt genuine and relatable in the movie (not saying I enjoyed it ; a bit too long and I'm not into the slow slice of life type movies)

Only part that felt forced was the girl talking to Mason about her" emo Hot Topic" friend in the hospital for cutting herself in 2008 or so (8th grade for him). Movie tries too hard to make references to trends or current movies/music to let us know what year it is. Comes off us super gimmicky.

The movie crew met up once every year to shoot new scenes, and each year they finished filming within 7 days or less. Thats about 10 to 15 minutes of actual movie time per year. Mason didn't change styles multiple times in senior year; he changed multiple times through out highschool, though. No more than the typical teenager. he mainly just kept alternating between short and long hair, likely to make it easier for us to tell that a new year started.

When the third bf got homophobic about Mason's nails it didn't surprise me; I hung out with tons of scene/ emo kids in 2002 to 2006. I dressed normal, but my guy friends had the androgynous long hair, the tight girl jeans, and the occasional nails and piercings. Trust me when I say the homophobic remarks from their dad's came out of nowhere. That's something they kept locked away until their sons started to embarrass them with questionable appearance choices. He didn't "suddenly" become homophobic in the movie; he always was. He just never had a reason to express it until the sight of Mason with his nails and piercing embarrassed him. If it was bad in California (where I live) I can only imagine the dad's in Texas were A LOT worse about this stuff.

Character changes felt rushed and sudden because you're jumping forward a year in time and never saw what happens in between. A lot can change.