Commentary Review - Dazed and Confused

Dazed and Confused (1992)
Commentary by Richard Linklater
rating: 4 out of 5 jalapeños
on DVD from the vaults

Rick takes a flight from Austin to New York City, catches a cab from the airport to the office, and sits down in a chair opposite Peter Becker's desk. He starts talking about how excited he is that Criterion's taking on "Dazed and Confused." Maybe he mentions what he saw out of the airplane window, or how someone beat him to his cab. Peter eventually interrupts Rick and says he's sorry but they're really on a deadline with this DVD, and would Rick mind heading right into the studio? "No, no," says the director, "of course not." He waits for ten seconds. "So I'll just head on in there."

Something happens, anyway, and Rick starts the commentary out of breath. The nicest thing he says is how much he wanted "Dazed and Confused" to play in the sort of small rural towns where it's set. It didn't, and he clearly still bears the responsible producers a grudge. Funny depressing. Funny serious. Funny ha-ha.

Best line: "I was not taken seriously as a director on this movie."

Best "Dazed and Confused" cameo: "Hey, fuck her! I did!"

Worst CB handle for a Huntsville freshman without a CB: "The Low Rider"