My schedule has been so crazy these past few weeks, I just haven't had time to go to a 3 hour movie, but today I was finally able to see this. I don't know what more I can add to the discussion that hasn't been said dozens of times already by critics. An absolutely astounding film that will most probably stand alone as a one of a kind for many many generations. I have a hard time believing that a better American film will come out this year or even next.
I saw this a few days ago and agree that it was marvelous in every way--never before have I seen a film that feels so much like watching real life happening.
One moment I particularly liked was at the end of the scene when Mason was in 8th grade and in the abandoned house with his friends and the high school seniors. One of the kids has another hold up a board, and as he's getting ready to punch it, many audience members gasped as they knew what would happen next. And then it didn't. And then a few years later, Ethan Hawke's character told Mason not to text and drive, and then Mason looks at his girlfriend's phone. Everybody was waiting for it to happen. And then it didn't. I really liked what Richard Linklater seemed to be saying in this--that sometimes, bad things happen, but often they don't. Sometimes you get away with doing things you really shouldn't be doing. I found these moments very poignant in a subtle way.
Also, I found the film particularly emotional as my timeline matches up with Mason's--when the story started in 2002, I was in first grade, and I'll be heading off for my freshman year of college in a few weeks. It felt strange and a bit nostalgic to look back on these past twelve years and grow up again. Many of the early scenes brought back unexpectedly vivid memories. I've had a very different life from Mason, but I couldn't help but reexamine my own life journey and the parallels between me and him. But then again, I imagine that's true for all audience members, no matter when they were born.
This is one of those rare films that is a true stand-out.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
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