Richard Linklater

Richard Linklater Talks BERNIE, a Third BEFORE SUNRISE, Woody Allen, Favorite Movies, and More

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 25th, 2012 at 11:00 pm

Opening this weekend, in limited release, is director Richard Linklater’s (Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, Before Sunrise) new film Bernie.  The dark comedy is based on a true story and stars Jack Black as an assistant funeral director of a small Texas town who wooed and then murdered a cantankerous, affluent widow.  Black is surrounded by a terrific supporting cast that includes Shirley MacLaine as said widow and Matthew McConaughey as the one person in town who suspects Bernie of wrongdoing.  While I’ve been less than impressed with Black’s recent film choices, I thought his work in Bernie was incredible and it’ll remind you that when he has the right material, he’s a great actor.  For more on the film, here’s seven clips.

Last week I got to sit down with Richard Linklater for an extended video interview.  We talked about putting Bernie together, how the industry has changed over the past decade, casting, his favorite movies, Woody Allen, how the script changes in rehearsal but not as much on set, what’s the status of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset on Blu-ray, and if we’ll see another chapter in the series.  Hit the jump to watch.

7 Clips from Richard Linklater’s BERNIE Starring Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine and Matthew McConaughey

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: April 20th, 2012 at 8:44 am

We’ve been provided with seven clips from director Richard Linklater’s (Dazed and Confused, School of Rock, Before Sunrise) new film Bernie to share with our readers.  The dark comedy is based on a true story and stars Jack Black as an assistant funeral director of a small Texas town who wooed and then murdered a cantankerous, affluent widow.  Black is surrounded by a terrific supporting cast that includes Shirley MacLaine as said widow and Matthew McConaughey as the one person in town who suspects Bernie of wrongdoing.  While I’ve been less than impressed with Black’s recent film choices, I thought his work in Bernie was incredible and it’ll remind you that when he has the right material, he’s a great actor.

Hit the jump to check out the clips.  The film opens on April 27th.

First Trailer for Richard Linklater’s BERNIE Starring Jack Black

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 29th, 2012 at 4:00 pm

The first trailer for director Richard Linklater’s (Dazed and Confused) new dark comedy Bernie has gone online. Based on a true story, the film stars Jack Black as an assistant funeral director of a small Texas town who wooed and then murdered a cantankerous, affluent widow. I’m a big fan of Linklater’s work, and while I was wary of Bernie after getting a look at the first poster, I really like this trailer. It’s strange, it’s weird, and it’s really funny. Matthew McConaughey is in fine form here as the one person in town who suspects that Bernie is in the wrong, and Shirley MacLaine looks to be wonderfully crabby as the victim of Bernie’s crime. I like the almost documentary-like style that Linklater uses to tell the story (not found footage), and I can’t wait to see more.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer. Bernie opens April 27th.

Sequel News: Nicolas Cage Wants to Play a Ghost in WICKER MAN Sequel; Julie Delpy Talks Possible BEFORE SUNSET Follow-Up

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: January 27th, 2012 at 1:46 pm

We’ve got a couple of tidbits regarding sequel news to share today: one sensible and one slightly insane. We’ll start with the sensible sequel. Actress Julie Delpy recently told a Sundance audience (per Deadline) that she’s done with acting and wishes to focus on writing and directing. However, she’s still keeping her options open for a third film in the Before Sunrise/Before Sunset series with Ethan Hawke and director Richard Linklater. She told EW (via The Playlist):

“We’re thinking about [a third film], but the second one we only did because we had a good setup, and ideas. I don’t think we would do it if we find the right thing to say. If the third one’s not good, it’s not good for the two before. We’re careful. We’re thinking about it, but it’s not official.”

The first two films each take place during one day and center on the romantic relationship between Delpy and Hawke. Hit the jump for news regarding a sequel to The Wicker Man remake in which Nicolas Cage would play a ghost. Seriously.

Ethan Hawke Says He, Julie Delpy, and Richard Linklater Plan to Write New BEFORE SUNRISE Sequel Next Year

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 21st, 2011 at 10:10 am

While I think director Richard Linklater‘s fascination with the art of conversation tends to weaken his movies, sometimes it creates their entire soul and works beautifully.  That’s the case with Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, which follow two people (played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) and the emotional bond they form in their short time together.  Hawke and Delpy collaborated with Linklater on the script for Sunset (and did uncredited work on Sunrise), and now Hawke says the trio have been heavily discussing a sequel over the last six months and will try to write the screenplay next year.

Hit the jump for more on the third Sunrise film plus an update on Linklater and Hawke’s long-in-production film, Boyhood.

Paul Dano is Karl Rove in COLLEGE REPUBLICANS, Richard Linklater Set to Direct

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: August 30th, 2011 at 6:55 pm

While word has been quiet on College Republicans, the film that tells the story of Karl Rove’s dirty campaign for College Republican chairman, for a quite some time now, the project is moving forward in a big way. The Wrap reports that not only is Paul Dano set to play Rove, but Richard Linklater is now officially attached to direct. Shia LaBeouf had previously been interested in playing Rove, but it looks like Dano ultimately took the role. No word on whether or not LaBeouf will be taking on a different part.

Maya Browne will be producing the film through her Bratt Entertainment. She says the flick centers on the meeting and subsequent relationship between Rove and Lee Atwater in college, where they discovered “dirty tricks” for campaigning. Atwater went on to become chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Rove (aka Turd Blossom) was of course the senior advisor for President George W. Bush. Linklater always makes interesting choices, and Dano certainly has chops, so it’s exciting to see them tackle this material. College Republicans begins shooting this November in Austin, Texas.

Millenium Acquires Rights to Richard Linklater’s BERNIE

by Jason Barr    Posted: July 14th, 2011 at 8:47 pm

Having opening the 2011 LA Film Festival back in June, director Richard Linklater’s (Dazed and Confused) Bernie has now landed a distributor. Deadline reports that Millenium Entertainment is nearing a deal to distribute the black comedy domestically. Starring Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, and Shirley MacLaine, Bernie is set in a small Texas town and tells the story of a beloved mortician (Black) who kills an adoring rich widow (MacLaine) and then plays it off as if she’s still alive. There is no word on when Millenium will release the pic theatrically but I’m hoping it’s sooner rather than later.

As for Linklater, the director is still working on his real-time coming-of-age tale Boyhood (a.k.a. Growing Up), a film starring Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, and Ellar Salmon that he began shooting back in 2002. The completed pic will chronicle a young man’s (Salmon) trek from six years old to the twelfth grade and, as Linklater told The Playlist back in June, will continue shooting through 2014.

Richard Linklater’s BERNIE to Open LA Film Fest; First Images Released

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 23rd, 2011 at 12:12 pm

Richard Linklater’s new film Bernie will make its world premiere by opening this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival.  The film stars Jack Black as the title character, a beloved mortician in a small Texas town who does a horrible thing.  He also has to contend with the town’s richest, meanest widow (played by Shirley MacLaine) even though she adores him.  The film also stars Matthew McConaughey in his first collaboration with Linklater since 1998′s The Newton Boys.

Hit the jump to check out the first images from the film along with the full press release.  No official release date has been announced for Bernie as it is still searching for a distributor. Nevertheless, expect to see it in theaters some time later this year.  The 2011 LA Film Festival begins June 16th.

23 Austin Filmmakers to Remake Richard Linklater’s SLACKER in Honor of Film’s 20th Anniversary

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 3rd, 2011 at 9:37 am

The Austin Film Society and The Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas are getting 23 Austin filmmakers to remake Richard Linklater’s acclaimed 1991 film Slacker in order to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary.  According to the Austin Film Society [via The Playlist] “Each scene will be recreated, using the original dialogue and locations (whenever possible), and individual scenes will then be compiled to create the remake, presenting the city’s changing face while showcasing some of its most exciting talent.”

The production is currently accepting donations to the project, which is set to premiere on August 31st.  Hit the jump to check out a list of the participating filmmakers and click here to donate.  I’m usually not interested in remakes, but this seems like a really cool project and I’ll be curious to see how it plays out.

Synopsis for Richard Linklater’s BERNIE Revealed

by Phil Brown    Posted: April 21st, 2011 at 1:50 pm

With the sad unfortunate mess that was Gulliver’s Travels now finally behind us, it’s time for the world to reignite its love affair with Jack Black. If anything can get the pudgy comic back into the world’s good graces, it’s another project with his School Of Rock director Richard Linklater. The filmmaker hasn’t made a movie as financially successful since (it is really too bad that no one saw Me And Orson Welles, even if it was nice to know that the tide turned on Zac Efron that quickly) and Black certainly hasn’t had a film as well received critically since then either, so the timing could be just right for both of their careers.

Hyde Park Entertainment released an official plot synopsis for the upcoming Bernie today and the good news is that it sounds like a pretty odd and offbeat project even more in tune with Linklater’s sensibilities than School Of Rock. Black will star as kind and awkward funeral home assistant who may or may not have killed a domineering and bitter old woman played by Shirley MacLaine. Based on a true story, it could be the oddest film Black or Linklater has made in years and that’s a damn good thing.  Hit the jump for the complete official synopsis and more juicy details.

Will Richard Linklater Helm THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET?

by Jason Barr    Posted: March 15th, 2011 at 6:02 pm

Oscar-nominated writer/director Richard Linklater (Before Sunset) is reportedly the leading candidate to take over the director’s chair for the Warner Bros. remake of the 1964 animation/live-action hybrid The Incredible Mr. Limpet. While nothing is signed and delivered as of yet, 24 Frames reports that the director responsible for films such as Dazed and Confused and A Scanner Darkly has met with Warner Bros. executives “several times” to discuss his take on the material and is currently their top choice for the gig.

While the Linklater story may very well have legs, the remake of the 1964 original starring Don Knotts has been kicking it in development hell for some time now and, back in June 2009, had Kevin Lima (Enchanted) attached to direct. Fast-forward to June 2010, and reports were filing in that Zach Galifianakis was in talks to star in the remake. It has been a while since we last heard anything about Galifianakis’ potential involvement in the film so, perhaps, the Linklater talks will bring that side of the story to the forefront once again. Linklater’s most recent directorial work comes in the form of the comedy Bernie which is currently in post-production and stars Matthew McConaughey and Jack Black. He also directed Zac Efron and Claire Danes in Me and Orson Welles.

Shia LaBeouf Interested in Playing Young Karl Rove in COLLEGE REPUBLICANS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: October 8th, 2010 at 8:34 am

Even though he’s one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, Shia LaBeouf has nothing lined up after Transformers: The Dark of the Moon comes out.  24 Frames is reporting that the actor is “very interested” in playing a young Karl Rove in the comedy-drama Young Republicans.  The film has a young Rove “vying for the position of chief campus conservative under the guidance of one Lee Atwater, who’s his campaign manager.”  No director is attached but Richard Linklater’s name has surfaced in connection to the project.

LaBeouf’s name has also been mentioned in connection to an adaptation of John Grisham’s The Associate, John Hillcoat’s Triple Nine, and Peter Morgan’s Riptide.  Personally, I’d like to see LaBeouf go after the comedic role in Young Republicans even if I find it impossible to believe that Rove ever had the charm or looks of someone like LaBeouf.

Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine Will Star in the Coprse-Centric Richard Linklater Comedy BERNIE

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: August 6th, 2010 at 4:40 pm

Taking a look down Jack Black’s resume, School of Rock is the most critically acclaimed movie that the comic actor ever toplined.  So, in what has the makings of a savvy career move, Black will reunite with Rock director Richard Linklater for the dark comedy Bernie.  According to THR, the legendary Shirley MacLaine will likewise get top billing with a role that… heck, I’m gonna call it now: this will be her memorable performance since Terms of Endearment.  Maybe even The Apartment.  Here’s a brief plot outline:

“Bernie is set in the small town of Carthage, Texas and follows a Renaissance man-community leader-mortician Bernie (Black) who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a wealthy but very particular widow (MacLaine).  When he kills her, he goes to great lengths to maintain the illusion that she is still alive.”

Any titular/thematic relation to Weekend at Bernie’s is (unfortunately) coincidence, as the script appears to be inspired by the life of funeral home assistant Bernhardt “Bernie” Tiede, instead.  Details after the jump.

Exclusive Jay and Mark Duplass Interview CYRUS – The Writer/Directors on the Influence of Austin, Jason Reitman as a Guardian, and Jonah Hill as a Cheerleader

by Ron Messer    Posted: June 19th, 2010 at 4:59 pm

Jay and Mark Duplass’ steady professional climb just hit another peak.  Their first two features, The Puffy Chair and Baghead, won enough critical praise and independent film fans to get a green light for their first studio feature, Cyrus.  The aforementioned peak comes this weekend as the film kicks off its national rollout in New York.  It is a fitting sign of their upward mobility then, that Cyrus’ executive producers are a pair of blockbuster sibling filmmakers; Ridley and Tony Scott (Gladiator and Top Gun, respectively).

The Duplasses tracked their career path for Collider during a busy breakfast-time interview at New York’s Gramercy Park Hotel.  Hit the jump for the full audio and transcript, including their transition to life with a film studio, the guilty pleasure of having a Google alert for yourself and why Jonah Hill was like their mascot, onset.

Ethan Hawke on a 3rd BEFORE SUNRISE/BEFORE SUNSET Movie

by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub    Posted: January 4th, 2010 at 11:38 am

At this morning’s press junket for Daybreakers, I was able to ask Ethan Hawke his thoughts on doing a third film in the Before Sunrise/Before Sunset universe.  If you’re a fan (like me) of these two amazing movies and are hoping they’d do a third film, it sounds like they aren’t against it, but don’t expect to see it anytime soon.  That’s because even though people constantly give Hawke ideas for the film, he says, “My thought is we will make one as soon as everybody has forgotten about it.”

He also revealed, “We had a version of that movie that happened two years later.  But once it took us five years and we can’t get the money to make that movie we have to rethink it. So elements or lines from that script stayed.  When we first finished Before Sunset there was an idea that we would do.  Julie and I wanted to do a short film the next year that we thought would be really fun to do like a five minute short and then put it in the vault so to speak and then fifteen years later make another film.”

Much more after the jump:

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design