Dazed and Confused (1993)

The adventures of high school and junior high students on the last day of school in May 1976.

Director:

Richard Linklater

Writer:

Richard Linklater

Stars:

Jason London, Wiley Wiggins, Matthew McConaughey

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason London	...	Pink
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Simone
Milla Jovovich	...	Michelle
Shawn Andrews	...	Pickford
Rory Cochrane	...	Slater
Adam Goldberg	...	Mike
Anthony Rapp	...	Tony
Sasha Jenson	...	Don
Marissa Ribisi	...	Cynthia
Deena Martin	...	Shavonne
Michelle Burke	...	Jodi
Cole Hauser	...	Benny
Christine Harnos	...	Kaye
Wiley Wiggins	...	Mitch
Mark Vandermeulen	...	Tommy

Storyline

It's the last day of school at a high school in a small town in Texas in 1976. The upperclassmen are hazing the incoming freshmen, and everyone is trying to get stoned, drunk, or laid, even the football players that signed a pledge not to.

---

Plot Keywords:

hazing | high school | last day of school | football | pledge | 

---

Taglines:

Weed rules.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for pervasive, continuous teen drug and alcohol use and very strong language

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of Quentin Tarantino's favorite movies.

---

Goofs

When Hirschfelder and Tommy are jumping from the roof after dumping paint on O'Bannion, the shadow of one of the stunt doubles can be seen even after the actors have jumped up to make their way down to street level.

---

Quotes

Freshman Girl: Will you marry me?
Dawson: I don't know. What's in it for me?
Freshman Girl: Anything you want?
Dawson: Anything?
Freshman Girl: Anything.
Dawson: [opening his mouth wide] Go like this. Do you spit or swallow?
Freshman Girl: Whatever you like.
Dawson: Whatever I like? I would definitely marry you.

---

Alternate Versions

An earlier cut of the film opens with Randal and others stealing the statues that would later be painted.

---

Connections

References Gilligan's Island: Ship Ahoax (1966)

---

Soundtracks

Highway Star
Written by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, Ian Gillan and Roger Glover
Performed by Deep Purple
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

It's deep, man!

Not what you might expect from a movie like this, but Dazed and Confused does deliver on many levels. Taking the setup from the classic American Graffiti and switching the setting to post-Vietnam in 1976, this is a coming-of-age story about a group of teenagers that for the most part represents what the entire young generation of that time was feeling and going through. The film covers one last day of school filled with many happenings including, hazing freshmen, playing mailbox baseball and getting shot at, as well as drinking lots of beer and smoking lots of marijuana. Writer and director Richard Linklater seems to have a good grip on the material and handles it with real sincerity and even sympathy towards some of the characters. The ensemble cast is well-cast and deliver the good dialog with a great sense of realism. Headlining it are a young Ben Affleck as a crazed senior determined to make the freshmen's summer miserable, Milla Jovovich who I don't think utters more than five lines in the whole movie, and Matthew McConaughey as an older guy who still hangs out with the high schoolers but is so cool and organizes the get-togethers.

This movie is very funny in some parts, but it is also very deep. It doesn't achieve classical status like American Graffiti or The Breakfast Club, but it is a strong and realistic portrayal that speaks to all people at that age where life is either far ahead or right around the corner. Indeed, there are many scenes with some "brainiacs" talking about President Ford and his political beliefs, then switching to deciding whether or not to go to a party. Also, I credit Linklater for not pulling an American Pie and becoming exceptionally crude and vulgar with this material. Yes, many teens do talk like this but not all teens rip off their clothes and have wild sex with each other.

All in all, a very good movie that gives a real sense of what it was like to live in the 1970s, and what it's like to be young in this country.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 1994 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Dazed and Confused

Filming Locations:

Toney Burger Center, Sunset Valley TX

Box Office

Budget:

$6,900,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$918,127, 26 September 1993

Gross USA:

$7,993,039

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,993,039

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gramercy Pictures (I), Alphaville Films, Detour Filmproduction

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1