Richard Linklater is known for being a jump start for careers-just look at Matthew McConaughey! With a knack for also building working relationships with actors, he’s a great director to work with when you’re just starting out. With his newest film Everybody Wants Some!! he’s once again demonstrated his keen ability to spot up and comers who possess deftly handled charisma and an effortless naturalism. Check out below who myself and fellow TYF writer Tyler think have been the best performances out of Linklaters films thus far and let us know in the comments who your picks would be.
Matthew McConuaghey – Dazed and Confused
The road to the Hollywood A-list was not an easy one for Matthew McConaughey, but man did it initially start strong with his first billed acting role in 1993’s Dazed and Confused, a movie that still stands as my favorite made by Linklater. McConaughey’s portrayal David Wooderson, a laidback stoner in his early 20s that still hangs out with high school crowds, is one of if not the most noteworthy acting highlights of the whole film. His distinctive Texas twang enhances the smooth line delivery of the character, which perfectly explains why nearly every line of dialogue he says is still quoted to this day. Believe me that if it weren’t for this role, McConaughey wouldn’t be saying “alright, alright, alright,” and “just keep livin’. L-I-V-I-N,” as much as he has throughout his career. Similar to many other actors Linklater has worked with, he has remained loyal to McConaughey by since casting him in The Newton Boys and Bernie.-Tyler
Ethan Hawke-Before Sunset
While it’s difficult to single out just one of Ethan Hawke’s introspective performances as Jesse to celebrate, Before Sunset see’s him at his quietest, with just two little words capturing his struggle, relief and resolve to stay with the woman he’s never forgotten.
“I know.”
Hawke always had the difficult job of playing Jesse with a charm that isn’t negated by his often times sanctimonious ramblings. He’s a besotted, romantic lead only slightly awake of his own charm, but never smug. Idealistic, a little more melancholy than when we first met him and still as passionate. Jesse is nuanced acting at it’s finest, so much emotion shining through his eyes alone and Hawke wears the character like a second skin.-Ally
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Teresa Taylor – Slacker
Slacker was the first of several Linklater movies that followed an ambitious narrative structure where not much happens aside from deep conversations between characters. In the movie There are just over twenty speaking roles, all of whom have no more than ten minutes of total screen time. With that little time available for an actor, it takes an ardent commitment for them to make their presence give a lasting impression on the viewer. One person manages to capture that goal in Slacker, which is Teresa Taylor as a hipster that attempts to push a pair of people into buying a vial of Madonna pap smear. Best known as one of the drummers for the punk band, The Butthole Surfers, Taylor completely disappears into character to the point that you forget about her music career. Her portrayal of the pusher is very natural and charismatic, which is a praise that not many musicians-turned-actors receive in their careers. It’s a shame that Taylor hasn’t done another acting role since Slacker, but we can all thank Linklater for giving her those impressive three minutes of independent cinema fame.-Tyler
Patricia Arquette-Boyhood
Oscar winning for a reason, Patricia Arquette delivers a powerful performance over the span of 12 years, growing with her character over time. Everyone talks about her last, heartbreaking scene but what a way to minimize an astonishing performance down to a few minutes. Throughout the film she commits to a steely but vulnerable performances as a woman and mother doing her very best to give herself and her children as good a life as she can.-Ally
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Robert Downey Jr. – A Scanner Darkly
I love performances that go against the grain of what actors typically lean towards and while there are still traces of Robert Downey Jr.’s trademark quick wit in A Scanner Darkly it forgoes the wink and the nudge for a performance that’s strictly erring to the unhinged. Like the rest of the film there’s always something off kilter and on edge about his performance, his delivery all very mannered and specific. Prone to spilling into long tangents, it’s incredible to see just how much of his characters mania he can portray while being masked by the rotoscope animation. It’s too bad Downey is so caught up in the Marvel mania because he’s an actor who could benefit greatly from a reappearance in the Linklater universe. –Ally
Jack Black – Bernie
Jack Black is an intriguing actor, something that isn’t highlighted enough (or noticed for that matter) in many of the roles he’s chosen throughout his career. Certainly a funny actor he’s tended to stray towards the broader comedies, something that is easier to ignore than celebrate. Black is at his best when his live-wire, persistent energy is directed in stranger characters, something exemplified beautifully in the lesser seen film, Bernie. All of Black’s oddities and idiosyncrasies are present but subdued. Instead of playing the role with his usual, confident gusto there’s instead threads of frayed insecurity and awkwardness. It provides one of the most interesting performances both in any of Linklaters films and in Black’s career thus far. –Ally
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Jack Black- School of Rock
Although Linklater doesn’t often dabble in directing movies geared towards mainstream audiences, School of Rock is without question the biggest success he’s had in the field. A lot of it is attributed to the maniacally passionate performance given by Jack Black, where he plays a role that is catered to both his energetic comedy style and love for rock music. Linklater has a trademark of holding a high belief in his actors playing well in their respected roles, and him letting Black have at it is beyond entertaining to watch. There was no point in the movie where I didn’t have a gleeful smile on face watching Black tear into the role, and I’m glad I didn’t play one of the kids in the movie because I wouldn’t have been able to stop laughing at his antics. Black’s hard work paid off immensely with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical, and was the first of two he’d receive in his collaborations with Linklater. -Tyler
Rory Cochrane – Dazed and Confused
Since it’s a crime in my opinion to single out only one memorable performance in Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, I felt that it’d be best to add one more for my favorite character in the film, Ron Slater, who’s played marvelously by Rory Cochrane. Slater is perpetually stoned throughout the film, but his usage leads to him hilariously tying it into his faux take on American history, most notably his belief that George Washington grew fields of pot all across the country, which is also why thinks it’s spooky that the dollar bill is green. If that’s not enough to sell you on his eccentric personality, I don’t know what else would do. Cochrane pristinely sells the role with the relaxed voice, but goes even further with a sputtering dialogue delivery that naturally embodies Slater’s crazy beliefs. His approach also greatly benefitted the character’s comical awkwardness towards people that don’t share his affinity for smoking pot. Because of his unforgettable performance as Slater, Linklater went on to cast Cochrane in a key role in 2006’s A Scanner Darkly. -Tyler
Julie Delpy – Before Midnight
The third entry in the Before… trilogy saw Céline and Jesse struggling to fully recapture the youthful essence of their relationship. Céline in particular expressed recurring feelings of self-doubt for how she . In the previous two films, Julie Delpy captivatingly portrayed the character’s growing insecurities of her future. The 18-year duration between Before Sunrise and Before Midnight shows how much Delpy and Ethan Hawke’s characters have aged, and various sparks in their relationship worn out over that time. This opened the door for more emotional weight in the characters in the third film and Delpy absolutely nails the opportunities to do so. Her performance in the scene of the couple’s hotel room argument is phenomenal, and also completely justified her Golden Globe nomination for the role. If only however we could go back in time and change that nomination from being in the Comedy/Musical category to Drama. –Tyler
Glen Powell- Everybody Wants Some
It’s hard work sticking out in an ensemble cast such as the one Linklater assembled for his newest film Everybody Wants Some!! While every character has their own distinguished personality traits it’s Glenn Powell whose performance stands out from the crowed, aided by his laid back charisma and Matthew McConaughey physicality. Each time he shows up onscreen the humor is quicker as he possesses a naturalism delivered in all of his line readings. He gives off the required air of being a leader. He’s the true breakout of the film. – Ally
Who do you think has given the best performance in a Linklater film?
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