Dazed and Confused (1993)
Richard Linklater's comedy drama about the last day of school in a Texas town.
Dazed and Confused is one of those rare films that seems to improve with each viewing. Perhaps it's the brilliant cast of likable characters or perhaps it's the 70's rock n' roll soundtrack which features everyone from Alice Cooper to ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd to Bob Dylan and Foghat to Black Sabbath.
Set in 1976 it's a beautifully written film, both funny and poignant with a brilliantly assembled cast of characters including Ben Affleck as a bullying high school jock who failed to graduate the first time, to Matthew McConaughey's twenty something who likes to hang out with high school students. The film focuses on, well everyone really. From the geeks to the freaks, all have a starring role in the film and it's testament to Linklater that everyone feels rounded and no one is left out.
Laugh out loud funny, sad, outrageous and occasionally dreamlike, Linklater puts everything into the film giving it a quality that makes you want to be there. You want to play high school pranks, you want to party, drink and smoke weed and you definitely want to join Joey Lauren Adams and co in going to that Aerosmith concert as the end credits roll.
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