Barring any last-minute, Hail Mary releases over the next three weeks, Boyhood will officially be my top film of 2014. In my four years of critiquing and reviewing films, Boyhood is the only new release I’ve actively had to consider giving a perfect score (I ultimately gave it a 9.75 out of 10 at this year’s Sundance). Richard Linklater’s always taken cinematic risks with his films and has found critical success because of his desire to push the boundaries of what film can be. Boyhood, as it stands, truly is his greatest film to date, and with its VOD release yesterday, many of those who weren’t able to see it during its festival circuit run or at arthouse theaters can now see what the hype is about.
To commemorate the film’s VOD release, IFC has released a behind-the-scenes featurette documenting Boyhood‘s process over the film’s 12-year production. The 10-minute long video features interviews with Linklater and film stars Ellar Coltrane and Lorelei Linklater at the beginning of production, throughout the ensuing 12 years, and just as the project was wrapping up earlier this year. It’s an informative look at 2014’s best film, and one fans of Linklater and Boyhood won’t want to miss.