It’s nice to see director Richard Linklater getting his due. A few years ago circa “Me and Orson Welles," the filmmaker was having a rough time: he wasn’t able to finance a picture and the aforementioned indie film barely received a release (and its box-office gross was one of his lowest ever). His comeback started quietly with “Bernie” in 2011, but by the time “Before Midnight” arrived in 2013, Linklater was back in a big way. And now, his “Boyhood” is seen by many as one of the best movies of the year.
So if it seems like it’s time to tip our collective hats to the filmmaker, a new documentary has arrived like clockwork. Featuring folks like Ethan Hawke, Jack Black, Keanu Reeves, Billy Bob Thornton, Matthew McConaughey, Jason Reitman, Julie Delpy, Zac Efron, Billy Bob Thornton, Mark Duplass, Kevin Smith, Parker Posey among others, “21 Years: Richard Linklater” is a celebratory tribute to the first half of the director’s career. Here’s the official synopsis:
It’s been said that the first 21 years defines the career of an artist. Few directors have single-handedly shaken up the film establishment like the godfather of indie, Richard Linklater. From the groundbreaking SLACKER to his innovative BOYHOOD, Linklater has reached the 21-year mark and has unapologetically carved his signature into American pop culture.
Get a raw and honest perspective on Richard through candid conversations with Ethan Hawke, Jack Black, Keanu Reeves, Billy Bob Thornton, Matthew McConaughey, Jason Reitman, Julie Delpy and others, and see their stories brought to life through hilarious animated sequences. For a man who became famous for celebrating the cool and casual, Linklater emerges as a surprisingly strategic and visionary director who has already established a legacy and perfected a style that can’t be denied.
Directed and written by Michael Dunaway and Tara Wood, “21 Years: Richard Linklater” is due in theaters and On Demand November 7th. The new trailer is admittedly a little bit goofy and not the tone we’d associate with Linklater’s laid-back, Buddhist-like demeanor (the music is dreadful), but we’ll give the doc the benefit of the doubt for now. Watch the trailer and check out the new poster below.
