Boyhood

Hello again... Long time no see. 

So I've had a little break (yes, yes a whole YEAR!) 

But baby I'm back and I thought I would start with a little re-invention. As some of you may know, I have two passions in life. Film and baking. So from now on this blog will no longer be purely baking, but I will add a sprinkle of film reviews with a pinch of lifestyle. So henceforth welcome to Shmonn Bakes, my spruced up baking/ film/ culture/ lifestyle blog. Woop!

So now I've cleared that one up... let get on with the film review.

Flying Solo a-la Carrie in Paris

Yesterday I pulled a Carrie Bradshaw and went to see a film solo. Yeah I know, what a loser, but actually it was such a good experience. It's like reading a book, you know that feeling, like what you're reading is your own personal experience. Well it's the same going to the movies alone. You feel fully immersed in the experience. 

On my first 'lone-wolf' film excursion I went to see Boyhood. I'd seen a trailer for this one a couple of months ago and loved the concept. 

For those of you in the dark, the film follows the growing up of one boy, Mason. From the age of 5 to 18. The key thing is, however, that they use the same actor for each stage of his life. So on screen you see young Mason growing up before your eyes. 

The cast, including Ethan Hawke (who also starred in the director, Richard Linklater's Before series), Patricia Arquette, Lorelei Linklater (Linklater's own daughter) and Ellar Coltrane as Mason, gathered together to shoot the film every year for 12 years.

Ethan Hawke, Ellar Coltrane, Patricia Arquette and Richard Linklater

This is what makes the film so magical. 

In the first part of the story, you make a connection with little Mason, a connection that the viewer doesn't have to re-assign whenever a new actor comes on screen. 

It's little things, like the look he gives his mum when he sees her flirting with a man, or that you see his 'puppy fat' stage only to have disappeared in the next scene. 

Mason going through that 'experimental hair' stage

The story appeals to everyone on different levels, whether you've had kids or not, everyone has grown up, thus making the film truly relatable.

So I would say, if you're flying solo (like me... no no this is not a cry for sympathy) or not, I would totally recommend going to see this heartfelt film, you won't regret it.