DAZED AND CONFUSED

"All I'm saying is that if I ever start referring to these as the best years of my life, remind me to kill myself"

Richard Linklater directed this cerebral stoner comedy with some amazing talent in the cast, most of whom were known little, or not at all when this movie was released in 1993, including Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Parker Posey, and Renee Zellweger.

It's the last day of school in a small town in Texas, 1976. The upcoming senior class is preparing to haze the incoming freshman class, and Randall "Pink" Floyd is contemplating whether or not to sign a school mandated "No Tolerance" contract in order to be the starting quarterback his senior year. There are no lead characters in this movie, instead this a brilliant ensemble cast. Wiley Wiggins plays Mitch Kramer, an upcoming freshman and star pitcher, who is dreading the ass-paddling that is handed out by the upcoming seniors every summer, and thanks to his senior sister, he's gonna be a major target this year.

After watching this movie for maybe the tenth time, it really stood out just what a special picture this is. What a great time to be a senior in high school. Everyone is partying, and having a good time, and the world was a far less authoritarian place. The characters are really well written, and there is some real genious in the dialogue, and the soundtrack, making you feel like you are right there in 1976, man. Affleck stands out as the second time senior who takes hazing the freshman a bit too seriously, and you wonder if he isn't still bitter about the beating he must have taken his freshman year. McConaughey is stoner cool as Wooderson, a mid-twenties graduate that just can't get enough of these high school girls. Rory Cochran is definitely the highest of the bunch as Slater, who is always high and contemplates some of life's great mysteries. "You ever look at the back of a dollar bill man? There's some spooky stuff goin on back there man. And it's green too!". It still amazes me when I meet people who have yet to see this movie. It's a must watch for anyone in between the ages of 16-25.

10/10