Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater (2013)

Double Play: James Benning and Richard Linklater: Directed by Gabe Klinger. With Sandra Adair, James Benning, Richard Linklater. In 1985, filmmaker Richard Linklater began a film screening society in Austin, Texas, that aimed to show classic art-house and experimental films to a budding community of cinephiles and filmmakers. The Austin Film Society raised enough money to fly in their first out-of-town invitee, visionary experimental filmmaker James Benning. Accepting the invitation, Benning met Linklater and immediately the two began to develop a personal and intellectual bond, which has lasted through the present. After the cult success of “Slacker” (1991), Linklater has gone on to make award-winning big budget narrative films including “School of Rock” (2003), “Before Midnight” (2013) and “Boyhood” (2014). Benning, meanwhile, has stayed close to his modest roots and is mainly an unknown figure in mainstream film culture. Combining filmed conversations and archival material, “Double Play” explores the connections between the work and lives of these two American visionaries.

“Double Play is a film that delves into the themes and methods of two great contemporary filmmakers; Richard Linklater and James Benning. It charts their professional relationship, and the various thematic similarities that link their work. This is done through clips of their films, archive footage, and primarily an in-depth conversation between the two as they play tennis and baseball on Linklateru0026#39;s country-side property. This film would lack context if you were not already familiar with at least one, if not both, of these filmmakers – having said that, fans will be thoroughly engaged by the insightful exploration into the philosophical and stylistic approach of these two wonderful artists. Not a long film, but one that will satisfy and inspire filmmakers and fans alike.”