Boyhood (July 11)
Perhaps due to the “laid back” reputation of his early films, Richard Linklater has never really gotten the credit that he deserves for formal innovation. From the conversational structure of “Slacker” and the three “Sunrise/Sunset” films to the rotoscoped animation behind the philosophical musings of “A Scanner Darkly” and “Waking Life,” the director has always been willing to experiment. This may be his most ambitious effort. He films the same “actor” from age 5 to 18 (with Linklater regulars Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette as parents) to convey the experience of growing up. For those looking for a little meditative vibe to coast through the dog days of July and August, this might be the brainy crowd pleaser of the summer.
