After making cult classics such as dazed and confused and waking life that raised profound existential questions, director richard linklater offers us a scanner darkly, a complex, layered and deeply personal meditation on drugs and the loss of identity, friends, direction, and life. A scanner darkly, directed by richard linklater film the. Linklater is an engaging and earnest interviewee and there are refreshing and honest contributions from ethan hawke, julie delpy and other collaborators. Richard stuart linklater born july 30, 1960 is an american filmmaker based out of austin, texas. In a futuristic society, the war on drugs has essentially been lost.
I havent read any phillip k dick novels or short stories, but according to my reading around, a scanner darkly was what he considered to be his best and the work his had been. Jul, 2006 a scanner darkly 1977 has a scifi framework and powerful themes personal vs. A scanner darkly is easily one of linklaters best films, and one of the best science fiction films ive ever seen. Richard linklater biography life, childhood, children. Richard linklater celebrity profile check out the latest richard linklater photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Director richard linklater filmed it as he would any other movie, but then converted it into animation using interpolated rotoscoping and this is not first time he used unconventional method of story telling. Dick, whose sciencefiction writing inspired such films as blade runner and minority report. In a scanner darkly he was going for a similar dynamic. Dick novel ubik, but decided to film dicks a scanner darkly instead, after wiley wiggins, who played the main. We do other interviews also, check us out at austindaze. Since his breakthough feature slacker in 1991, writerdirector richard linklaters career has been peppered by interesting work a scanner darkly, me and orson welles, bernie that, with the. Linklater is known for his realistic and natural humanist films, which revolve mainly around suburban culture and the effects of the passage of time. I havent read any phillip k dick novels or short stories, but according to my reading around, a scanner darkly was what he considered to be his best and the work his had been building toward all his life.
Richard linklater biography, movie highlights and photos. Jan 21, 2005 inside the production of richard linklaters a scanner darkly a note to readers. Linklater was not interested in turning the book into a big budget action thriller as had been done in the past because he felt that a scanner darkly was about these guys and what theyre all doing in their alternative world and whats going through their minds. A scanner darklys head of animation talks about the film. Liveaction footage is overlaid with an animation technique first used in linklaters 2001 film waking life. July 30, 1960, houston, texas filmography bibliography articles in senses web resources richard linklater emerged at a vital, if dubious, moment in american film. The film tells the story of identity and deception in a nearfuture dystopia constantly under intrusive hightech police surveillance in the midst of a drug addiction epidemic. A scanner darkly is a 2006 american adult animated sciencefiction thriller film written and directed by richard linklater.
Just when you think youve got him figured out, he makes something completely different to his last project. Linklater is a selftaught director and his other films include slacker. He studied at sam houston state university and left midway through his stint in college to work on an offshore oil rig in the gulf of mexico. Hey folks, harry here just came back from the premiere for the final print of a scanner darkly, the latest animated feature film from richard linklater, that happens to kick a lot of ass and be the best literal adaptation of philip k dick. Richard linklater on his adaptation of a scanner darkly richard linklaters a scanner darkly is so trippily in touch with the current cultural zeitgeist that it rattles you to your core. This might make a scanner darkly sound like a message film, which it most assuredly is not. Before slacker, an experimental narrative revolving around 24 hours in the lives of 100 characters, garnered acclaim in 1991, richard linklater had made many shorts and completed a super 8 feature. May 26, 2006 a scanner darkly is an adaptation of philip k dicks paranoia thriller of the near future, animated by bob sabiston, using his unique and instantly identifiable digitalrotoscope technique, in.
This concludes our movie of the week look at richard linklater s a scanner darkly, which opened on tuesday with scotts keynote about the films animation and intention, and continued with keith and tashas forum about philip k. Richard was among the first and most successful talents to emerge during the american independent film renaissance of the 1990s. Dicks novel of the same name, is a consistently distressing and disturbing film. Read the book, see the movie, but dont plan on playing the board game anytime. Bob and his friends are addicts of substance d a narcotic that will eventually kill them or give them permanent brain damage. The interpolated rotoscoping techniques, which cloak liveaction photography in a graphicnovel haze of animation, seems more. A scanner darkly linklater gets pkd right bright lights. Apr 21, 2016 richard linklater recommends 3 books every film lover should read. Austin daze interviews richard linklater about a scanner. Tommy pallotta, producer of richard linklater s forthcoming animated scifi film a scanner darkly, is a visionary storyteller who creatively blends technology with.
Informed by a series of original interviews with the artist, in both his hometown and frequent film location of austin, texas, this study of the director who made dazed and confused 1993, a scanner darkly 2006, and bernie 2011 explores the theoretical, practical, contextual, and metaphysical elements of these works along with his. Linklater keeps a scanner darkly as close to dicks original as possible, but his use of the style of characters as well as the cartoonish effects incorporates contemporary themes, such as a blend of sixties culture with post eighties realism. Richard linklater s filmmaking choices seem to defy basic patterns of authorship. Jul 07, 2006 scanner darkly looks odd and thats good director richard linklaters adaptation of the philip k. Next up is his adaptation of philip k dicks paranoid scifi masterpiece a scanner darkly. Writerdirector richard linklaters film, a scanner darkly, is now out on dvd.
He is known for humanist films that revolve mainly around suburban culture and the effects of the passage of time. In 2006 linklater had two films at the cannes film festival. Dicks 1977 novel, right down to the inclusion of the authors postscript rollcall of drug casualty comrades, a scanner darkly finds richard linklater journeying deep into the spooky, lonesome badlands of the psyche. His fictional adaptation of eric schlossers nonfiction book fast food nation competed in the main competition, while his rotoscoped adaptation of philip k. The film was met with critical acclaim, and kevin smith says it. Richard linklater s decision to film his adaptation of philip k. Nov 07, 2014 if you judge by the encomiums for this director in the documentary 21 years. This week you may get a chance if you look hard enough to catch a scanner darkly in limited release.
A scanner darkly is probably the most accurate adaptation of a philip k dick novel. Oct 18, 2017 richard linklater is baffled by old pal alex jones rise. Dick a haunting tale of drug addiction, paranoia and surveillance set in. In adapting the book, linklater has made a beeline not for sciencefictional elements but for the eccentric characters around the edges of the story voicing wacky theories. Jul 10, 2006 richard linklater, directing darkly richard linklaters new film, a scanner darkly, is based on the book by philip k. Austin daze interviews richard linklater about adapting.
A scanner darkly, his 2006 rotoscope animated adaptation of philip k. The tough love book about money you lack money because you dont know sht about money. Richard linklater s a scanner darkly holds the distinction of being both the most faithful adaptation of a philip k. Its impossible to learn to plow by reading books 1988 director woodshock 1985. Dicks a scanner darkly in an animated style similar to his earlier film waking life exemplifies everything good about him as a filmmaker. Jul 08, 2014 this trailer for richard linklater s 2006 film, a scanner darkly, was edited by peter butler and awarded 1st place audience award for originality and creative excellence by res media group and. His career began with slacker, a very lowbudget ensemble film about twentysomething misfits in austin.
If you judge by the encomiums for this director in the documentary 21 years. The semi autobiographical story is set in a dystopian orange county, california, in the thenfuture of june 1994, and includes an extensive portrayal of drug culture and drug use both recreational and abusive. Jones, who also popped up in linklaters a scanner darkly five years later, can be seen in waking life driving down the street and speaking into a microphone that projects his voice into two. Richard linklater, directing darkly richard linklaters new film, a scanner darkly, is based on the book by philip k. The latest offering from richard linklater takes what he. For a filmmaker best known for amiable hangout stories, richard linklater can direct a damn good wideawake nightmare. By forcing viewers to constantly assess what and who they are looking at, linklater is able to underscore the paranoid and big brother surveillance aspects of the story elements further. Inside the production of richard linklater s a scanner darkly. While working on the rig he read a lot of literature, but on land he developed a love of film through repeated visits to a repertory theater in houston.
Working with the cast and crew was very stimulating for him. From his debut with the inventive independent narrative slacker, the austinbased directors divergent films have included the scifi noir a scanner darkly, the socially conscious fast food nation, the kidfriendly the school of rock, the teen ensemble dazed and confused, and the twin romances before sunrise and. Jun 05, 20 6 filmmaking tips from richard linklater. A scanner darkly, directed by richard linklater film. Eric linklaters most popular book is the wind on the moon. Elder in an interview for the film that changed my life.
Eric linklater has 76 books on goodreads with 3825 ratings. Dick a haunting tale of drug addiction, paranoia and surveillance set in the america of the near future. The dialogue and form also twist between the absurd and the philosophical. Waking life and a scanner darkly both used rotoscoping animation techniques. Dicks counterculture classic, a scanner darkly feels much more like the earnest theorizing of richard linklater in waking life mode. A scanner darkly is a richard linklater photo negative. Though a scanner darkly is very faithful to the philip k. It is my favourite novel of his, a mind bending, deeply emotional and autobiographical science fiction novel and i guess thats why i never bothered with this adaptation. Discuss the rotoscoping technique used in the richard. Set seven years in the future, it is rife with little digs at authority and the antidrug. A scanner darkly looks sweet, but its scarcely penetrating. Richard linklaters a scanner darkly slant magazine.
Hes done two experimental animated films waking life and a scanner darkly, studio comedies school of rock, bad news bears, smaller indie movies fast food nation, before sunrise and before sunset, and an ambitious project called boyhood, which was filmed over a period of over 10 years, detailing one young mans childhood from elementary. Selftaught writerdirector richard stuart linklater was born in houston, texas, to diane margaret krieger, who taught at a university, and charles w. He have used same rotoscope animation techniques for his 2001 film. Back in the early 2000s, filmmaker richard linklater reintroduced animation fans to the art of rotoscoping with both waking life 2001 and a scanner darkly, an adaptation based on the novel of the same name by philip k. With its trembly animation and manicdepressive comic turns by robert downey, jr. A scanner darkly richard linklater and the separation of. Find similar and related movies for a scanner darkly 2006 richard linklater on allmovie. He is, along with steven soderbergh and kevin smith, considered one of the most important figures in american independent film. Inspiration for linklater s work was largely based on his experience with the film raging bull, linklater told robert k. Jun 24, 20 a scanner darkly is easily one of linklaters best films, and one of the best science fiction films ive ever seen. A scanner darkly was written and directed by richard linklater who is taking a departure from recent mainstream films such as school of rock and bad news bears back to a more surreal project using the same animation technology he used in his 2001 film waking life, called interpolated rotoscoping developed by fellow austenite and pal, bob sabiston. A scanner darkly 2006 richard linklater related allmovie.
A scanner darkly 2006, directed by richard linklater film. The cinema of richard linklater by rob stone overdrive. It is a period i am inclined to describe as the rick schmidt era of the american independent film. Ndaa alex jones scene a scanner darkly film arrested arrest fbi cia mossad secrete service. A scanner darkly interview daniel robert epstein july 2006 suicidegirls before sunset interview daniel robert epstein july 2004. Linklater was nominated for an academy award for best adapted screenplay for his film before sunset. A scanner darkly play video rated m tells the darkly comedic, caustic and tragic tale of druguse in the modern world, based on the sciencefiction author philip k. Dick novel for the screen calm down blade runner cultists, ridley scott took. Currently reading for a phd in scottish literature, he lives in scotland with his family. Thank heaven it was linklater who finally made the film. A scanner darkly 2006 directed by richard linklater. Bold and uncensored, the austin chronicle has been austins independent news source for almost 40 years. This compliments the animation which ultimately augments the lucid dream effect.
Screenplay by linklater, based on the novel by philip k. A scanner darkly is perhaps the most faithful philip k. E ven though scene for scene it sticks very close to philip k. A scanner darkly is much more talked about for its unconventional visual style director richard linklater has used. A native of texas, linklater helped found the the austin film society and started making his own movies in the early 1980s. The interpolated rotoscoping techniques, which cloak liveaction photography in a graphicnovel haze of animation, seems more appropriate in this.
Richard linklater great director profile senses of cinema. A scanner darkly is a science fiction novel by american writer philip k. In a futuristic society, the war on drugs has essentially been lost get the latest movie times, trailers and. A scanner darkly is an adaptation of philip k dicks paranoia thriller of the near future, animated by bob sabiston, using his unique and instantly identifiable digitalrotoscope technique, in. When, towards the end of a scanner darkly, a character conspiratorially confides that the whole process is hidden behind the surface of our reality, hes talking about the industrial. He had two weeks of rehearsals, working with the script and.
Dicks a scanner darkly a film that utilized the same technological tools as waking life screened in the directors fortnight. Dick book, linklater also manages to make it identifiably a richard linklater film. Dick, scanner tells the dark side of the drug world. Her first decade in film 2007 and the cinema of richard linklater 2008, ferris buellers day off 2010, john hughes and eighties cinema 2011, which are also published by crescent moon. A scanner darkly is a story that relates more to people who live in cities.
The following is an interview the austin daze conducted a short while ago with richard linklater. Dicks particular obsessions and linklater s filmography. Richard linklater is baffled by old pal alex jones rise. In the months leading up to the release of his longgestating philip k. We enjoyed the rough cut of your film, scanner darkly at sxsw. The title comes from the notion that an artists career can be summarized within. Richard linklater 3 books every film lover should read. Richard linklater, a documentary the new york times. Jan 29, 2014 richard linklater is a hard director to pin down. For those of you whore unfamiliar with the method, rotoscoping is a technique used in physical. Director and writer richard linklater s first nationally distributed feature, slackers 1991, thrust him into the spotlight as a talented, selftaught filmmaker. Richard linklater official sites, and other sites with posters, videos, photos and more. Dick, whose sciencefiction writing inspired such films as blade runner and minority report, struggled with drugs before dying in 1982 at age 53. Featurelength documentary on richard linklater, one of modern cinemas most tenacious talents.