From Slacker (1991), a foundational work of independent American
cinema, to the Before trilogy, Richard Linklater's critically
acclaimed films and aesthetic ambition have earned him a place as one of
the most important contemporary directors. In this second edition of
The Cinema of Richard Linklater, Rob Stone shows how Linklater's
latest films have redefined our understanding of his work. He offers
critical discussions and analysis of all of Linklater's films, including
Before Midnight (2013) and Everybody Wants Some!! (2016), as well as
new interviews with Linklater and a chapter on Boyhood (2014), hailed
as one of the best films of the twenty-first century.
Stone explores the theoretical, practical, contextual, and metaphysical
elements in Linklater's filmography, especially his experimentation with
cinematic representations of time and growth. He demonstrates that
fanciful lives and lucid dreams are as central as alternative notions of
America and time to Linklater's films. Stone also considers Linklater's
collaborative working practices, his deployment of such techniques as
rotoscoping, and his innovative distribution strategies. Thoroughly
revised, updated, and extended, the book includes analysis of all of
Linklater's films, including Dazed and Confused (1993), Waking Life
(2011), and A Scanner Darkly (2006) as well as his documentaries,
short films, and side projects.
