‘Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood’ Review: An Amiable, Rambling Memoir Film from Richard Linklater [SXSW]

Jack Black's new animated Netflix film, , is about the Apollo 11 moon landing, but hits surprisingly close to home for the actor and musician, who has a personal connection to the historical moment.Black's late mother, Judith Love Cohen, was an aerospace engineer who worked on the Apollo space program in the 1960s and is credited with helping to develop the Abort-Guidance System in the Apollo Lunar Module. «She worked on an Apollo mission at that time, but the stuff that she did wasn't used until Apollo 13, a few years later, when the astronauts were in an emergency situation and her Abort-Guidance System that she worked on as a programmer helped save some astronauts' lives,» Black explained when chatting about his upcoming film with ET's Matt Cohen.In fact, Cohen was such a devoted worker, that her son recounted, «There is the legend of how when she went to the hospital to give birth to me [on Aug. 28, 1969, just one month after the Apollo 11 moon landing], that she had some paperwork, she was still working on a problem. And after she delivered the baby, she called into work and they said, 'Hey, congratulations, you just had a baby! How are you?' And she goes, 'Fine, fine, I'm faxing you over the papers, the mathematical equations.'»Black and his mother at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards.«She was much smarter than me, I did not inherit those mathematic genes,» Black added with a laugh, «but there's a sense of pride and connection to telling this story, 'cause I know my mom was in there working on it too.»In which was shot in live action by writer and director Richard Linklater, and later animated in a process similar to his early 2000s films and, Black narrates the story of an elementary-aged boy growing up in Houston

Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up? Do you remember what adventures you fantasized about having? While some of us may not recall the answers to these questions, Richard Linklater (“Boyhood“) has used his childhood fantasy to create his new film “Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood.” While the space race reached its peak with the launch of NASA’s Apollo Program (1968-1972), the wonder of those years carries on.

NEW YORK -- Bike rides, kickball, Jiffy Pop, Jell-O and other well-remembered details crowd Richard Linklater’s “Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood,” an affectionate ode to his own childhood growing up outside Houston in the late 1960s.NASA and the moon mission are just next door, as are other scientific marvels (Astroturf!). But the sense of wonder that permeates “Apollo 10 ½” is felt just as strongly in the neighborhood streets where kids roam with skinned knees.

Despite the presumed thought that the Richard Linklater ‘Before’ trilogy is over, maybe due in part because of comments Julie Delpy has made semi-recently, suggesting she nixed the idea, actor Ethan Hawke seems to be still open about the potential to continue the romantic journey of star-crossed lovers Jesse and Céline that started with the 1995 film “Before Sunrise.” While Delpy sounded pretty cynical about the entire thing last time she was asked, Hawke suggests there’s still life in the tank for the franchise.

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week.MOVIES— Richard Linklater returns to animation with “Apollo 10½,” which comes to Netflix on Friday. But this is no “Waking Life” or “A Scanner Darkly,” though parts do use the rotoscoping technology he used in those films.

Yard Act made their US TV debut last night (March 24) with an electrifying performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – watch it below.The Leeds band played the title track from their acclaimed debut record ‘The Overload’, which hit Number Two in the UK albums chart upon its release in January.Appearing live in Fallon’s studio in New York City, Yard Act delivered an energetic take on the song as their circular black-and-white logo spun behind them. Later, a series of strobe lights flashed while guitarist Sam Shjipstone shredded towards a thrilling finale.You can watch the band’s appearance on Fallon here:Taking to Twitter after recording their first Fallon performance, Yard Act wrote: “What a rush to be a part of that. Didn’t dare look up to my left to see what [Fallon’s house band] @theroots were making of all our nonsense.

EXCLUSIVE: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon is making some executive changes.

Editor’s note: The Deadline Watchlist is a feature spotlighting small-screen specials, events and can’t-miss episodes of ongoing series each week. 1. Oscars: After three years without a host, the Academy Awards are tripling down with Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes, and Regina Hall set to take the stage and guide the 94th Oscar show which is promising to be one of the most entertaining ever, including musical performances from Beyonce, Reba McEntire, Billie Eilish, Sebastian Yatra, and more. Also expect a lavish production number of the smash hit “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”  from Encanto. Top nominees include Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Jessica Chastain, Nicole Kidman, Kristen Stewart, Steven Spielberg and many more. With a Best Picture winner still in doubt from a strong field of contenders, almost anything can happen and history may be made. After Covid affected last year’s stripped down telecast you can expect the Oscars to turn up the fashion heat on the red carpet as well as Hollywood’s biggest night hopefully returns to the kind of glamour and excitement it is known for. The theme for this year is “Movie Lovers Unite” , and producer Will Packer is promising a show that delivers that message on many levels even with the sidelined categories controversy. — Pete HammondMarch 27, ABC, 5:00PM PT/8:00PM ET. Red Carpet Pre Show hosted by Vanessa Hudgens, Terrence J, & Brandon Maxwell airs 3:30PM PT/6:30 ET.

Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast was named Best Picture at the 20th anniversary AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, which were handed out in a virtual ceremony hosted by Alan Cumming tonight. Will Smith and Aunjanue Ellis took Best Actor and Supporting Actress for their respective roles in King Richard, making it the only movie or TV show to win multiple awards.

Director Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”) is known for his versatility; romantic and coming-of-age films, animation, studio films, personal projects, etc., but it looks like he’ll be getting into the business of social documentary filmmaking next. While he’s promoting his upcoming animated Netflix film, “Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood” (read our review), which obviously further evinces his adaptability, Linklater revealed to The Hollywood Reporter podcast, Awards Chatter, a new project titled “Letter From Huntsville” for HBO.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaAmazon is making some changes atop its movies team.Julie Rapaport, who previously served as co-head of movies, will become the sole chief of the division. Matt Newman, Rapaport’s fellow co-head, will transition to a new role at Prime Video’s global sports group, where he is being tasked with developing original sports docuseries, films, and scripted projects.

Richard Linklater’s periodic forays into animation (Waking Life, A Scanner Darkly) have been distinctively imaginative, and that goes double for Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood. A nostalgic but not in the least sentimental look at Texas life when the American space program was at full thrust, this highly personal but entirely accessible account of growing up in a culture both historically momentous and banal has something to offer all audiences in terms of its vivid portrait of a very specific place and time. But most receptive of all will be viewers in their 60s and beyond who have personal memories of the July 20, 1969 moon landing and a of milieu both memorable and banal.

Presidential Fitness Challenge certificate) to go to the moon before Neil Armstrong to test out a capsule that has accidentally been made too small for adult astronauts. But no sooner does Stan upchuck during his first G-force simulation than adult Stan (Jack Black) hijacks the narration and takes a long detour into the sights and sounds and memories of growing up as a youngest child in late-’60s suburbia.This charming walk down memory lane — which includes everything from “Dark Shadows” to grandparents who remember the Depression to riding to the beach on the back of pick-up trucks and using gasoline-soaked rags to wipe the tar off your feet — is the heart of “Apollo 10 1/2,” and it’s an exhilarating, Proustian wave of reminiscences.

Peter Debruge Chief Film CriticEverybody knows the name of the first man to step foot on the moon, but how many have heard the story of the kid who walked there before him? Richard Linklater’s “Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood” reflects one of the director’s childhood fantasies, informed by growing up in South Texas, a stone’s throw from Johnson Space Center, at the time NASA was trying to do the impossible. “Houston, we have a problem,” he playfully imagines the organization’s top scientists saying, “We accidentally built a lunar module a little too small.” Ergo, they need a 10 1/2-year-old to go up in Neil Armstrong’s place.As someone slightly younger than Linklater who also spent his formative years in Texas, it’s impossible to overstate how much I adore that premise and the collection of associations it brings up for the “Boyhood” director.

Brent Lang Executive Editor of Film and MediaLizzo slammed new Texas laws and policies that restrict access to abortion and target trans children and their families during a keynote conversation at SXSW on Sunday. The pop star, who grew up in Houston, said the controversial moves unfairly target women and the LGBTQ community. “I’m proud to rep Houston, but I’m not proud to rep Texas politics right now,” Lizzo said to loud applause.

was on Dick Cavett at that time. Those four films at the drive-in were showing that night in Houston, Texas, at drive-ins.

Tim Gray Senior Vice PresidentEverybody has to start somewhere. Cate Blanchett — long before her two Oscars and starring roles in film, TV and on stage — had an oddball beginning in showbiz.On March 28, 1994, Variety mentioned “Police Rescue,” a big-screen version of the hit Aussie TV series, in which she appeared.

Naomi Watts is a woman of many talents.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentVeteran French actor Gerard Depardieu will remain under formal investigation for alleged rape after losing an appeal.The decision, which was announced on Thursday (March 10) by the Paris Court of Appeal, said it won’t drop Depardieu’s indictment, which stems from accusations of rape and sexual assault filed to authorities by actor Charlotte Arnould in August 2018.Depardieu, who previously said through his lawyer that he “firmly rejected” Arnould’s accusations, has been under formal investigation since Dec. 16, 2020, and filed an appeal in May 2021.“The Paris Court of Appeal considers that there remains, at this point, some grave and consistent clues that justify that Gerard Depardieu remains indicted,” said the French court in a statement sent to Variety.