21 Years: Richard Linklater
Directors: Michael Dunaway, Tara Wood.
Featuring: Keanu Reeves, Ethan Hawke, Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Billy Bob Thornton, Zac Efron, Greg Kinnear, Nicky Katt, Jason Reitman, Kevin Smith, Joey Lauren Adams, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Michael McKean, Parker Posey, Julie Delpy.
“Eighteen films. One legend”
They say that a career should never be judged until 21 years have past and although it’s hard to believe, director Richard Linklater has now achieved this milestone. As a result, filmmakers Michael Dunaway and Tara Wood decide to shine some light and appreciation on one of the most inventive and daring of contemporary American filmmakers.
Sadly, Linklater himself doesn’t actually feature in this documentary but we do get contributions from a whole host of reputable actors that have known or worked with him. The enthusiasm from collegues such as Matthew McConaughey, Ethan Hawke and Keanu Reeves on Linklater’s intelligence and approach to filmmaking is infectious and their anecdotes and insights into his work are a joy. However, it’s only really Hawke (his most common collaborator) who seems to fully know what makes him tick. If you’re a fan of Linklater and have a sound knowledge of his work then there’s nothing here that you won’t already know and the film, unfortunately, doesn’t really shed any light on the man personally.
Dunaway and Wood’s primary focus seems to be a brief commentary on all the manner of genres that Linklater has tackled: Sports flick, Bad News Bears; Period piece, Me and Orson Welles; Western, The Newton Boys and Sci-Fi, A Scanner Darkly all get a look in while highlighting his lack of pretension and his ability to dig deeper into more meaningful and intelligent projects. The authenticity of Dazed and Confused and the walk-and-talk theatrics of the Before trilogy get the most focus (the latter being humorously referred to by actor/director Mark Duplass as the lowest grossing trilogy of all time). This focus may, like myself, leave some viewers disappointed that the marvellous work of Waking Life gets very little discussion yet it’s probably his most thought provoking film and shadows the fact that, to begin with, Linklater was a philosopher that just happened to choose celluloid as the medium in which to express himself.
The tidbit of information I found most surprising, however, was the dialogue throughout his films. Although much of it seems like improvisation due to the encouragement he gives his actors – to be free and loose – it’s actually verbatim. This makes it all the more impressively delivered when you look at how his films are structured.
As expected, Linklater’s penchant for the themes of alienated characters and the social constructs of America are also explored and how he effortlessly evolves through his work while working diversely between Independent and bigger productions. It also highlights the effort that Linklater has made in support of Independent filmmaking and how he was influential in helping create the Austin Film Society whereby old film prints could be saved and showed, as well as raising money from filmmakers to help make more films.
Overall, it does little but scratch the surface and a bit more in-depth analysis to his films would have been welcome but to paraphrase Billy Bob Thornton on the outtakes at the end; “Rick Linklater doesn’t need anyone to make a documentary about him. He’s fine“. However, a film that runs a mere 78mins is hardly demanding and although it’s not as informative as it could’ve been, it’s still a pleasant appreciation.
Mark Walker
Trivia: It’s still not known whether this type of documentary will be a regular series but in 2016, Tara Wood will be focusing on another influential director with 21 Years: Quentin Tarantino.
MARKED MOVIES 
November 23, 2015 at 11:54 pm
Very cool. Too bad it doesn’t go into more depth but I’d be curious to check this out as I’ve only barely scratched the surface of Linklater’s filmography myself.
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November 24, 2015 at 9:32 am
If you’re still at the point of discovering more Linklater then this might work quite well for you, man. It’s a pleasant little doc that shows the enthusiasm that some quality filmmakers have for Linklater.
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November 24, 2015 at 12:22 am
Shame this doesn’t feature the man himself. I read your Suburbia review the other day by the way…I wouldn’t say it’s one of Linklater’s best but it is still under-appreciated so it was good to see that get some attention! I’ve seen most of his films but this made me realise there’s a few I need to track down, like the Newton Boys. The only ones I don’t really care for are the Before films, although it’s not like I hate them. I just don’t rate them as highly as other people seem to.
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November 24, 2015 at 9:35 am
Yeah, man! Linklater’s absence is quite glaring but it’s an entertaining little piece nonetheless. It’s a shame that Waking Life doesn’t get much focus, though. That’s the film that requires a bit more in-depth analysis. I’ve still to catch up with Me and Orson Welles but other than that I’ve seen all his films. I hear what you’re saying regarding the Before trilogy. I don’t think it’s as good as many people claim but it’s impressive and I’m actually hoping to catch them all back to back before I make a final judgement.
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November 24, 2015 at 5:34 pm
Rather you than me Mr W, rather you than me! Haha. I’m being unfair, I love or like most of his films and I agree with you re Waking Life. I was stoned when I watched that and it made perfect sense. His next one sounds good…possibly closest thing he’s done to a Dazed and Confused follow up, but I don’t want to jinx it.
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November 24, 2015 at 6:50 pm
Man, I used to get stoned on a regular basis to Waking Life. It’s the perfect film for those who enjoy partaking in such a thing. I must dig out the shrooms for my next viewing. 😉
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November 24, 2015 at 11:31 pm
Excellent! I miss those days. It was always Blade Runner and Koyaanisqatsi for me.
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November 24, 2015 at 11:57 pm
I dig your style, Stu. A man after my own heart. Blade Runner and Koyaanisqatsi are masterpieces. Great flicks to get nutted with 🙂
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November 24, 2015 at 6:50 am
Hmmmm, this looks rather interesting!
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November 24, 2015 at 9:38 am
It is quite an entertaining little documentary, Zoe. I was hoping for a bit more personal details on Linklater but I enjoyed it all the same and it’s good to hear some great actors give their opinion on the man.
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November 24, 2015 at 12:06 pm
Great review, Mark! I’m a very big fan of Linklater so I really need to watch this one, even though it sounds like I won’t learn a lot. An in-depth documentary would be nice as well. I mean, his real-life involvement with the guy from his Bernie film is nuts! That story alone would make for an interesting documentary. 🙂
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November 24, 2015 at 6:46 pm
An in-depth documentary on the man is well overdue but in the meantime this’ll do. I didn’t learn much from this but I was still entertained. If you like Linklater this is an easy 70 odd minutes to spend.
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November 24, 2015 at 1:23 pm
I saw this on the other night and had no idea what it I was. I kinda wish I had DVR’d it.
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November 24, 2015 at 6:48 pm
It’s worth a peek, man. It doesn’t shed much light on the man himself; it’s mainly concerned with his films. That said, I still enjoyed it.
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November 24, 2015 at 7:09 pm
I’ll definitely check it out. Big Linklater fan which kinda makes this a no-brainer.
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November 24, 2015 at 11:56 pm
Sounds like you might enjoy this then, bro. I should have rated it higher as I liked it. I gave it a slightly above average score only because I didn’t learn much (which I expect from a docu) but I still had fun with it.
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November 25, 2015 at 9:30 am
It was alright, but like you say it does lack depth…still a fun little timewaster
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November 25, 2015 at 10:58 am
Absolutely Nostra. “A fun little timewaster” is the best way to describe it.
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November 25, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I wonder why they wouldn’t get him involved?
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November 25, 2015 at 6:15 pm
Yeah, not including him stinks a little to me. Possibly cashing in just before the arrival of Boyhood?
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November 27, 2015 at 4:13 pm
Well alright alright alright! This one passed me by like a ship in the night so will add it to the growing list. Top notch Mark.
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November 28, 2015 at 11:30 am
It’s decent little commentary on Linklater, buddy. Nothing more. But still pleasant enough.
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November 28, 2015 at 10:57 pm
One of my favourite directors. Definitely want to see this.
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November 29, 2015 at 8:51 am
He’s a real favourite of mine too, Abbi. This doc could have provided a bit more info on him but it was still fun nonetheless.
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December 3, 2015 at 11:04 am
Never heard of this, but can’t wait to catch it. Linklater fascinates me as someone that’s always striving to push his films and do WHATEVER IT TAKES to make his visions come on the screen.
It’s a shame he’s not in this, and somewhat surprising, as he’s quite charismatic and enthusiastic in docs like Side by Side.
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December 3, 2015 at 1:03 pm
Yeah, Linklater’s absence is a strange one, man. I reckon it could have been a cash-in as Boyhood would have been around this time. That’s actually the film’s biggest flaw. It doesn’t shed any light on Linklater personally and that really could have added another level of enjoyment. Sadly, it wasn’t to be but it’s a fun little appreciation anyway.
Apparently a Tarantino one is next and it’ll be interesting to see if he appears.
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