Sucking In The Seventies with "Dazed and Confused"

Sasha Jensen, Matthew McConaughey, Jason London, Wiley Wiggins

Just re-watched an old favorite movie of mine, the 1993 Richard Linklater classic Dazed and Confused. Like the George Lucas 1960's homage AMERICAN GRAFFITI (another big favorite of mine) which followed the footsteps of four 1962 High School students on the last day of school before heading out for summer, THIS movie was set in the garish and considerably louder year of 1976, where blaring Heavy Metal music and beer and pot were the specials du jour!

Adam Goldberg, Anthony Rapp, Marissa Ribisi, Jason London

Growing up in the 70's, I dug the reminiscent look and feel of the movie, and I loved its slow, thoughtful pace, where scenes really let you stop and take in the atmosphere. So much of the backdrops reminded me of my childhood-like the game parlor they all hang out at, that really took me back to those days! 

When I first checked out this movie, I knew it was going to be a period  piece of the 70's , but I didn't expect it to have such a laid-back story, and most of all, the show benefits from having very likeable characters, especially the Jason London character of Pink, who really represents all of those cool big-brother type older kids that watched out for you when you were growing up!

Wiley Wiggins, Jason London, Sasha Jenson

And Girls! Holy cow, I'd forgotten how many pretty girls were in this movie, and not only were they lookin' mighty fine, they were featured in those groovy 1970's hairstyles and those sexy and alluring seventies OUTFITS! Aw, this was FANTASTIC!

Deena Martin

Michelle Burke 

Christine Harnos

Christin Hinojosa

Milla Jovovich

Joey Lauren Adams

Parker Posey

One thing that I think is strange is that while some of the stars like Matthew McConaughey, Joey Lauren Adams, Parker Posey and Ben Affleck have gone onto bigger and better things, I haven't seen most of the others in a whole lot of stuff! Looking online, seems like most of them have migrated to televison, so maybe that's why sightings of them have been so scarce for me!

Michelle Burke, Christine Harnos, Deena Martin

I'm amazed that Dazed and Confused wasn't a more popular movie during its initial release, but perhaps it was because it was marketed as a zany pothead movie a la CHEECH AND CHONG, while it was really just this thoughtful and gentle movie. So people coming in expecting off-the-wall silliness probably ended up disappointed, while those that would have enjoyed it passed it up. But thanks to video and word of mouth, it's finally come into its own as the cult classic it is!

 BTW, as a HUGE fan of the show RENT, I was quite surprised to realize that the role of Tony was played by none other than a very young Anthony "Mark Cohen" Rapp! 

Anthony Rapp and Christin Hinojosa