Dazed and Confused Blu-ray review

            Richard Linklater made his transition into Hollywood films with Dazed and Confused, though it did little to change the methods he used in independent films like Slacker. There are fewer characters and we spend more time with them, but there is still less of a plot than is expected of most films. Dazed and Confused is more interested in the characters and what they do on the last day of school.

            The whole film takes place in one evening, about a 24-hour period. In this way it is reminiscent of American Graffiti, though this film is set in the 1970s instead. Bell-bottoms, tie-dye, and Matthew McConaughey in a moustache make this a period film which is exactly the same as American Graffiti in some regards, while completely different in others. It was a perfect project to showcase Linklater’s style.

            This Blu-ray release of Dazed and Confused comes before another release, which will come from Criterion in just a few months. But this version is not director approved, and does not appear to be restored for the transfer. It is still a sharp and clear presentation, with the Blu-ray exclusive music feature, which shows what songs are playing as they are played in the film. There are also deleted scenes, a retro public service announcement and short filmstrip on the dangers of partying. These have all been previously released on DVD.