Dazed and Confused: High School Movie for the Ages

There's a fantastic article about the making of Dazed and Confused in Texas Monthly (which is our favorite Texas periodical ever...we think it's maybe the only one ever, too). Writer John Spong interviews writer-director Richard Linklater and many of the stars of the film (notably absent are the two biggest stars, Ben Affleck and Renee Zellweger) for thoughts about how the film was conceived, the filming itself, and the past ten years since it opened slowly and has since become a favorite rental. Here are some excerpts of the article [TM asks you to register, but as it's free, it's worth it]:

Richard Linklater: I thought he was too good-looking. Matthew [McConaughey] looked like he'd do fine with college girls; but I needed Wooderson to be a little creepier. But Matthew just sunk into character. His eyes shut to little quarter slots, and he said, "Hey, man, you got a joint?" He just became that guy. I thought, "Okay, don't cut your hair. Can you grow a beard and a mustache?"

Jason London, "Randall 'Pink' Floyd": I've never seen anything like it. This movie came out and then seventies fashion came back and all this great retro stuff. And That '70s Show? Don't tell me that's not a Dazed and Confused sitcom. I mean, Ashton Kutcher in the first season with the long hair and the puka shell necklace? I was like, "That's me!"

Wiley Wiggins, "Mitch": Whenever people recognize me, people I don't even know, they always say, "Grab your nose, man."

Buy Dazed and Confused on DVD. Trust us - it's worth it.
Dazed and Confused script.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in Arts & Entertainment on October 6, 2003 1:54 PM

Comments [rss]

larry bruce

ok dazed and confused is the best movie EVER . its just so friking halarious . you should definatly buy it watch it what ever its just so good .

A. Non

The picture on Wooderson's shirt is the album cover for Ted Nugent's Amboy Dukes -- Tooth Fang & Claw.

sigh

I was an extra in the movie & have heard rumors that I'm listed somewhere. Anyone know where a comprensive D & C extra list is located?

Flash to lost opportunities...

I was cast as one of the senior hazers, but couldn't make the shoots. I could've been the next Renee Z... sigh

sigh

I was an extra in the movie & have heard rumors that I'm listed somewhere. Anyone know where a comprensive D & C extra list is located?

Flash to lost opportunities...

I was cast as one of the senior hazers, but couldn't make the shoots. I could've been the next Renee Z... sigh

Lolo

Does anyone know who is on Matthew McConaughey's tee at the end of the movie? My boyfriend and I are having a debate

toter

It's the best movie of the year to me. It doesn't get any better than this.

John

GAY SIGHT

bettie

This is sure a first, I had no idea Renee was in this movie (after having seen it like 15x). She probably looks a lot different, but next time I watch it, I'll definitely look out for her. As for Ben, Jen is right, he is the movie quite a bit. His last scene is the one when the freshman spill paint on him outside the billiard place. He throws a little tantrum and drives away.

Jen

Anonymous Coward, Affleck plays O'Bannion, the asshole who is trying to nail Mitch, he's in a lot of it. And he's credited in IMDB. He's rather beefy in it. Renee just walks by. She's mentioned in a freaking article about the making of - she's in it. She just looks nothing like the skeleton she is now.

Anonymous Coward

See IMDB credits URL above; neither Zellwegger nor Affleck is credited, even as an extra. I've seen that move (alas, only on VHS) about 15 times, and I've never seen either one of them! Please post when Affleck is visible as well as Renee.

karatechimp

Look for Renee in the Freshman Girls hazing scene. (The one where Joey Adams makes the Freshman Fry Like Bacon.)

She's also in the Moon Tower scene as mentioned above. She's basicly an extra.

Spyder

I've seen that movie all kinds of time and never saw Zellwegger

delta smelta delta

I dunno, people, watching MM and Kevin Costner wax poetic about frats on History Channel's "Frat Boys" was pretty much a low point for me.

X.O.

Has anyone seen School of Rock yet? Go see it. It most definitely rocks. Now Linklater-- there's some real filmmaking talent. So rare! So good!

omit

Reunion photos.

karatechimp

I went to the 10th anniversary screening of it here in Austin, TX. It was pretty fun, they had an outdoor inflatable screen where they shot the "Party at the Moon tower" scene. Most of the original cast were there except Bennifer.

It's one of those movies that, if you haven't seen it for awhile, you can forget how good it is.

jkottke

Wiley Wiggins has a weblog.

martin

michelle is correct folks. apparently ya'll need to watch it about 40 more times, like the rest of us.

Michelle

Renee Zellweger is one of the older cheerleaders. The best scene to locate her in occurs at the Moon Tower party where she's drinking beer through a funnel. Joey Lauren Adams is in the film as well and plays a completely different character.