This movie deserves points just for the innovation, for bringing a story that truly develops characters in front of your eyes. It's not every day, when a movie takes 12 years to make. A movie that retains it's cast and crew for 12 years, and continues to make that movie. That's what Boy Hood does, and does it beautifully. And it does with a brilliant screenplay and some excellent performances by Patricia Arquette, Ethan Hawke and others. Boyhood is a true coming-of-age drama, a movie about the boy Mason (played by Ellar Coltrane) who grows from 6 to 18, on your screen. It's also analysis of complex family relationships of father-son, mother-son, husband-wife and siblings too.

When Mason's parents get divorced, his sister and him continue living with mom while the father is part of their life with occasional visits only. Through years, as Mason and his sister Samantha are growing in front of you, you also see their mom Olivia struggling through relationships, not able to find her perfect man, but never distracted from the mission of protecting her kids. Mason Sr. is only a visiting father but he's till able to provide his kids with love, guidance and fatherly affection that a kid needs. It does show the difficulties of a divorce and separation, but also shows that there is hope as long as the parents love and care for their child.

You may not like this movie if you do not like emotional family dramas or scared about idea of seeing someone actually growing into an adult in 2 hours, in front of you. You'll like this movie if you enjoy sensible movies which can represent complex family relationships and dynamics. And if you want to see the adult and young boy in the movie, actually being the same guy!