In honor of its 40th anniversary, the Criterion Collection is coming to Austin in the form of an 18-foot delivery van — a mobile replica of the famous film closet. The collection includes more than 1,500 films — with some set, filmed or rooted in Texas. The Daily Texan compiled a list of Texas films in the collection in honor of the Criterion Closet coming to SXSW.
“Paris Texas”
A 1984 film by German filmmaker Wim Wenders and Pulitzer Prize–winning playwright Sam Shepard, “Paris, Texas” follows Travis Henderson (Harry Dean Stanton) as he tries to reconnect with his young son through his brother (Dean Stockwell). After Henderson’s brother finds him in Texas, the two set off on a search for his missing wife (Nastassja Kinski). The filming locations include Marathon, Nordheim, Terlingua and two highways in Houston.
“Dazed and Confused”
The film follows a group of high schoolers on the last day of school in Austin in 1976. The cast is full of names who later became stars — Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck, Adam Goldberg and Renée Zellweger, to name a few. Director Richard Linklater happened to film “Dazed and Confused” in and around Austin, with locations including the Top Notch Restaurant on Burnet Road, West Enfield Park and the Toney Burger Activity Center.
“Boyhood”
Linklater also filmed and shot “Boyhood” over a 12-year period in Texas. The 2014 film tells a coming-of-age story of a boy named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), his parents (Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette) and his older sister (Lorelei Linklater) — Linklater’s own daughter. Linklater followed the same cast over 12 years, so the audience watches as the characters grow and change over time in a film unmatched by any other.
“Bottle Rocket”
Filmed in Hillsboro and Dallas, “Bottle Rocket” marked Wes Anderson’s first feature film. Owen Wilson, Anderson’s roommate at UT, co-wrote the film — which features a cast of their friends. A dispute between Wilson, Anderson and their negligent landlord inspired “Bottle Rocket.” The film’s initial screenings flopped, but out of it came Anderson’s sophomore film “Rushmore,” which set him on the road to success.
“True Stories”
Talking Heads frontman David Byrne’s only feature film, “True Stories” follows Byrne telling the strange story of the fictional North Texas town of Virgil. Byrne introduces the viewer to the town’s citizens during preparations for its Celebration of Specialness, the 150th-anniversary celebration of the state of Texas. Filming happened in seven North Texas counties, including areas in Allen, Dallas, Mesquite, Red Oak, Hewitt, McKinney and Irving.
