The Film
"That's what I love about these high school girls, man; I get older, they stay the same age."
Despite the many memorable images of his chest we've gotten over the years, Dazed and Confused is still the pinnacle of Matthew McConaughey's career. It didn't do as well as say Time to Kill or even How To Lose a Guy In 10 Days. However, it will be standing with its cult classic status long after those films are forgotten (in case you haven't done that already).
It's the last day of school, on the brink of summer 1976. Seniors are graduating and celebrating their independence. At least we think they are; this film focuses on two of the groups that haven't quite been relieved of the shackles of Lee High School. First, there's the incoming senior class, who start the summer with bongs ablazing, hormones raging, and the need to rock and roll all night and party every day. Then, there's the incoming freshmen, who are being hunted and hazed by the same soon-to-be seniors. There's not much beyond that, because frankly, that's all there is when you are in high school. Of course, that's also everything when you are in high school.
That's what makes Dazed and Confused so good. Director Richard Linklater (Slacker, School of Rock) nailed absolutely everything to a tee, all the way down to the giant bell-bottoms. It doesn't hurt that the class of 1977 is filled with famous faces, including Jason London, Rory Cochrane, Adam Goldberg, Anthony Rapp, Marissa Ribisi, Cole Hauser, Milla Jovovich, Joey Lauren Adams, and Ben Affleck.
It's certainly a must-own, but are you Dazed and Confused enough for a double-dip? In case you didn't know, Criterion is planning its own Blu-ray this October. Universal got to jump claim on the "first time on Blu-ray" marketing blurb. However, if you're willing to wait, we're guessing the Criterion version will be your film equivalent of Aerosmith tickets.
The Picture
If you're at all familiar with Dazed and Confused, you should be able to tell almost instantly that this is a major improvement over Universal's standard-def DVD release. The colors are very impressive here, offering up a nice pop, especially on the era-stamped clothing and the walls in and around the school. There's a thin layer of grain that never interferes with detail, which is strong for the most part. However, it could be better, especially in some of the wider shots. Criterion will most likely deliver that added oomph in its upcoming Dazed and Confused Blu-ray. However, this one is more than worth the low price that Amazon is asking for the pre-order.
The Sound
While the image may get a boost from Criterion, we can't imagine that there's too much to improve on in the audio here. The DTS-HD Master Audio track handles even the drunk and stoner dialogue extremely well. There's also an impressive amount of ambient noise. Yes, it's mainly car chases and party crowds. However, it is there, making this a nice overall audio experience. Of course, the film's soundtrack is the star of this show, portraying the time period perfectly with a mix of Lynyrd Skynyrd, KISS, Rick Derringer, Alice Cooper, The Runaways, and much more. Each one of those songs blasts through the surrounds with the force of multiple 8-tracks, making the music one of the most memorable parts of the movie.
The Extras
Don't expect to see any of the extras released on the 2006 Criterion Collection. Those will most likely get ported over to Criterion's upcoming Blu-ray release. What you get here are almost 15 minutes of deleted scenes, a goofy promo about the evils of marijuana, and two PSAs. Universal has also included a U Control feature here about the music, but it's basically just a pop-up window with song and artist info, as well as a few special thanks, every time a song appears in the movie.
Final Thoughts
Dazed and Confused offers up one of the most realistic portrayals of teen life you'll be able to find on film. It's also one of the most entertaining. If you can wait a few months, Dazed and Confused: The Criterion Collection will probably be the ultimate edition, complete with a slew of interesting special features. Despite being a good release, this is not worth the double-dip. However, if those extras aren't a priority and saving a few bucks is, you might want to consider picking up this no-frills version, which offers an excellent audio and video presentation.
Product Details
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