The versatile American director Richard Linklater has an impressive filmography, ranging from classics like Dazed and Confused to School of Rock, Before Sunrise to Boyhood, which was filmed over 12 years with the same cast. His latest film, Hit Man, was released earlier this year to critical and audience acclaim and is now available on Netflix. This comedy-thriller tells the somewhat true story of a college professor (played excellently by Glen Powell) who moonlights as an undercover operative for the New Orleans police, posing as different hitmen to catch criminals. Linklater, who is 64 and resides in Austin, Texas, will release his next film, Nouvelle Vague, entirely in French next year.
In an interview discussing his latest film, Linklater talks about the myth of hitmen and other beloved film tropes that don’t exist in real life. He also reflects on his career, the advice he gives to young filmmakers, and his willingness to explore different genres in the future. Additionally, he shares insights into his filmmaking process, including the challenges and joys of shooting projects that span many years, such as Boyhood and the upcoming Merrily We Roll Along adaptation.
Despite the physical demands of filmmaking, Linklater expresses a strong passion for the craft and hints at continuing to make films well into the future. His latest project, Nouvelle Vague, a recreation of the making of Jean-Luc Godard’s Breathless, shot entirely in French, represents a fun and exciting challenge for the seasoned director. Er sitzt in einem Stuhl, der mit einer Sauerstoffmaske verbunden ist und dreht seinen letzten Film und ich denke: „Das sieht ziemlich gut aus!“ Ich bin nicht einmal Raucher, also brauche ich vielleicht keine Sauerstoffmaske. Um in meinen 80ern zu sein oder lass uns für 90er gehen… aber wer weiß das schon? Ich habe viele andere Interessen, aber es war eine lustige Art, die Welt zu verarbeiten.