Boyhood/Lucy

The fact that this film exists is pretty remarkable. It doesn't quite live up to the hype but the fact that its essentially plotless and doesn't feel like a drag at almost three hours is quite an accomplishment. The biggest problem is that the actors who play the main character (and his sister) don't grow into their acting ability at the same rate as their physical growth. They're not horrible, but the relative lack of ability becomes more glaring as time passes (particularly as the film casts new friends that are older and better actors). That said I was never bored and left generally impressed.

Lucy, on the other hand, is a completely ludicrous sugar rush that actually sort of works. It's basically Scarlett Johannsen playing a mix of Bradley Cooper's character from limitless, her character from Her (there's a weird sentence), and Leon from the Professional. Director Luc Besson is smart enough to not take the premise that seriously and keeps the whole thing moving at a tight 88 minutes. Look, if you think about the plot at all it doesn't make any sense, but I really appreciate how they acknowledge this fact, ignore it, and keep things moving enough so you don't get many chances to reflect. It's not art, but I admire the economy and self-awareness. I'd be much more likely to watch it again than most of the bloated action films that typically come out in the summer.