Richard Linklater’s last three films since 2013’s “Boyhood” didn’t exactly win over audiences completely. Sure, all three of those films had limited theatrical releases. And yes, “Everybody Wants Some!!” is “Dazed And Confused” for Millenials, while “Last Flag Flying” had a niche audience as a sequel to 1973’s “The Last Detail.” But the target crowd for “Where’d You Go Bernadette”? It did not connect, even with critics, despite starring the wonderful Cate Blanchett.
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In any case, Linklater’s latest sees him return to animation for the first time since 2006’s “A Scanner Darkly.” “Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood” has its world premiere at SXSW next week. The new film scopes out NASA’s moon landing in the summer of 1969 through the starry-eyed outlook of a kid in nearby Houston.
Here’s the film’s official synopsis:
APOLLO 10 ½: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD tells the story of the first moon landing in the summer of 1969 from two interwoven perspectives – the astronaut and mission control view of the triumphant moment, and through the eyes of a kid growing up in Houston, Texas who has intergalactic dreams of his own. Taking inspiration from Academy Award-nominated® filmmaker Richard Linklater’s own life, APOLLO 10 ½: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD is a snapshot of American life in the 1960s that is part coming of age, part societal commentary, and part out-of-this-world adventure.
“After the years of work on Apollo 10 1/2, I think everyone involved is excited to take folks on these intermingled journeys – one a young astronaut’s trip to the moon, and another that runs hand-in-hand with him and his family in the suburbs near NASA,” Linklater said in a statement. “I wanted it to be many things at once: a re-creation, a fantasy, and a memoir of ephemera, and making a large portion of the film during these dark and unsettling last two years only sharpened our focus as to what were primarily trying to share in this story, namely the hope, optimism, communal spirit, and creativity of that time.”
“Apollo 10 1/2” boasts an ensemble cast led by Milo Coy, Lee Eddy, Bill Wise, and Natalie L’Amoureaux. Josh Wiggins, Sam Chipman, Jessica Brynne Cohen, and Danielle Guilbot also star. Linklater regulars Glenn Powell and Jack Black are also on board, as is Zachary Levi.
“Apollo 10 1/2” hits Netflix on April 1 after it premieres at SXSW. After that, Linklater embarks on “Merrily We Roll Along,” a project he’ll be busy with for at least two decades (though yes, he’ll shoot other films in between, don’t worry). Check out the trailer for the new movie below.