butterfinger Review of Dazed and Confused

Dazed and Confused (1993)

A flabbergastingly remarkable movie that is ingrained in my memory

[10/10 · 24 October 2004]

Dazed and Confused has the kind of glee and convictions that only a film that strikes an extremely strong cord with a specific group of people (a cult classic) can have. It has incredible scope that brings out certain themes that are all loosely connected to one and other by simple truths of teenage life (and of life in the 70's). The characters-most of them-have little depth but are undeniably touching and funny. A lot of the film is just out to have fun, filled with silly pranks and car chase scenes. There are also times when the film seems to be treading water. Yet this is undeniably one of the best comedies of the nineties because of its wit, fabulous performances, innocence, and good nature (the last two attributes are nearly impossible to find in modern comedies). There aren't any characters that cream of the crop director Richard Linklater seems to have any hatefulness toward-even the nasty ones. The characters are memorable in their own two-dimensional way thanks to performances by Adam Goldberg, Michelle Burke, Matthew McConaughey, Sasha Jenson, and Joey Lauren Adams-just to name a few; when all of these characters work together they create a real high school environment (though an exaggerated one). The finest performance comes, surprisingly, from young Wiley Wiggins as a nervous junior high school student going into high school; he packs a stronger emotional punch than any other character in the movie and the fact that he overacts at one point and still keeps his screen charisma is a testament to his endearing presence; without his contribution, this film would probably be just a little bit better than your average wild party movie. Here Linklater proves that he can make a relatively mainstream movie without losing his convictions as an artist as he criticizes our schools' way of making students prepare so much for their future that they forget about the present. Also worth noting: the film has an incredible, gritty visual style by Lee Daniel.