Epic. This sprawling tale about growing up in America is epic in scope. Over a span of twelve years, Richard Linklater slowly put together his masterpiece. At the outset of this project, he had major plot points in mind, but the script was not fully written; in fact, it was updated every year, partially based on how the actors developed. A beautifully intimate character study, the movie follows two siblings and their divorced parents. The audience watches these characters (and the actors) grow up. It is fascinating to watch Mason Jr. and the actor Ellar Coltrane mature. It is heart wrenching to watch the parent-child relationships evolve and to watch life progress uninhibited.
The film has been described as a coming-of-age story of a young boy, which it is, but it is so much more. While the focus is Mason Jr., we watch life go by for all of the characters. The experiences the characters go through paint a detailed picture of American life in the twenty-first century. Having the joy of watching their lives unfold is emotionally touching for the viewer. Linklater's narrative lets the viewer empathize, relate, and reminisce.. and this experience is epic.
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