Boyhood

A coming of age story of young Mason Jr whose mother flits from one messed up partner to another dragging the young boy and sister along. Take The Wonder Years, convert the Arnold family in to a dysfunctional one with a single mother, shoot it over ten years with the actors aging gradually and you will end up with this movie. However the Tv series had a certain depth and charm to it that is missing here. It feels that the use of time rather than make up and different actors to show aging is the only thing that this film has going for it.

Rating: * *

Poster licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia.

The Indian Runner

Sean Penn's directorial debut film - and its got every bit of the 'tragedy' element that Penn, the actor, thrives in.

The movie is apparently inspired by Bruce Springsteen's 'Highway Patrolman'; about 2 brothers, one who is upright and the other who is not. The lyrics of the song is pretty much drives the movie.

Excellent, expansive photography of rural Nebraska and some good strong peformances all around. But, if you take a 6 minute song and make into a 2 hr movie, one shouldnt really expect a gripping plot.

Rating: * * +