11.19.2008
UPDATES
I've changed some of my posts, not in content but in format. I've also added some video links to the post "There was a Riot on the Streets, Tell me, Where were You?" so check them out!
11.17.2008
Fixin' to be Alot Better, Man...
Dazed & Confused
Click Here to see where the film got its title.
Okay, so the movie is set in 1976, but it was filmed in 1993 (this blog has taught me that I am apparently obsessed with this year). Dazed and Confused combines my two favorite eras, and features one of my favorite soundtracks of all time. Even though it didn't garner much attention in 93, Dazed and Confused has become increasingly popular over the last 15 years, gaining cult status.
Soundtrack
The film opens with Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion," capturing the bliss that goes along with the last day of school, and closes with "Slow Ride" by Foghat as Pink, Wooderson, Dawson and Simone drive to get Aerosmith tickets. Other great songs in the film include Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" when Mitch is getting his beating, and the 'Nuge's "Stranglehold."
Breakout Roles
Ben Affleck (O'Bannion): Before Good Will Hunting and "Bennifer," (parts I and II), Ben Affleck was the fifth-year bully O'Bannion. Take a closer look at his paddle...FUH-Q.
Matthew McConaughey (Wooderson): Playing the slightly-older dropout, McConoughey landed himself the most memorable line from the film: "That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older and they stay the same age."
Rory Chochrane (Slater): If you don't recognize his name, you probably didn't watch the first two seasons of CSI. He played the character Speedle, who is murdered pretty early in the series. In Dazed Slater is by far the most toasted character, my favorite line being "Behind every good man there is a woman, and that woman was Martha Washington, man, and everyday George would come home, she would have a big fat bowl waiting for him, man, when he come in the door, man, she was a hip, hip, hip lady, man."
Adam Goldberg (Mike): Goldberg has had small parts in several movies, (Saving Private Ryan, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days), and in some pretty popular TV shows, (Friends, Entourage), but self-described "geek" Mike Newhouse was his breakout role. "I'm just trying to be honest about being a misanthrope."
Milla Jovovich (Michelle): Jovovich has had a pretty extensive modeling career and a so-so acting career. Michelle was Kevin Pickford's girlfriend in Dazed, and seemed just about as out of it as Slater and Pickford were. She didn't have any memorable lines and mostly just stared blankly throughout the film.
Jason London (Randall "Pink" Floyd): What's not to love about Pink? The inexplicably lovable character conflicts throughout the film about signing a declaration not to drink or use drugs, eventually telling his football coach "I may play ball next fall, but I will never sign that." London and his twin brother Jeremy have both lead semi-successful careers, with small movie roles and a few television appearances.
There are thousands of other memorable characters and quotes that would make this post painfully long, so I'll spare you. Watch the movie! :) It now comes as a dual-disk set with the 80's cult classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High, another great movie.
Pop-Culture References
Family Guy has referenced Dazed and Confused on two occasions:
1) Brian, dressed as Wooderson, repeats the high school girls line outside an animated Emporium
2) Chris is afraid to start high school, and is eventually paddled to "No More Mr. Nice Guy."
Click Here to see where the film got its title.
Okay, so the movie is set in 1976, but it was filmed in 1993 (this blog has taught me that I am apparently obsessed with this year). Dazed and Confused combines my two favorite eras, and features one of my favorite soundtracks of all time. Even though it didn't garner much attention in 93, Dazed and Confused has become increasingly popular over the last 15 years, gaining cult status.
Soundtrack
The film opens with Aerosmith's "Sweet Emotion," capturing the bliss that goes along with the last day of school, and closes with "Slow Ride" by Foghat as Pink, Wooderson, Dawson and Simone drive to get Aerosmith tickets. Other great songs in the film include Alice Cooper's "No More Mr. Nice Guy" when Mitch is getting his beating, and the 'Nuge's "Stranglehold."
Breakout Roles
Ben Affleck (O'Bannion): Before Good Will Hunting and "Bennifer," (parts I and II), Ben Affleck was the fifth-year bully O'Bannion. Take a closer look at his paddle...FUH-Q.
Matthew McConaughey (Wooderson): Playing the slightly-older dropout, McConoughey landed himself the most memorable line from the film: "That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older and they stay the same age."
Rory Chochrane (Slater): If you don't recognize his name, you probably didn't watch the first two seasons of CSI. He played the character Speedle, who is murdered pretty early in the series. In Dazed Slater is by far the most toasted character, my favorite line being "Behind every good man there is a woman, and that woman was Martha Washington, man, and everyday George would come home, she would have a big fat bowl waiting for him, man, when he come in the door, man, she was a hip, hip, hip lady, man."
Adam Goldberg (Mike): Goldberg has had small parts in several movies, (Saving Private Ryan, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days), and in some pretty popular TV shows, (Friends, Entourage), but self-described "geek" Mike Newhouse was his breakout role. "I'm just trying to be honest about being a misanthrope."
Milla Jovovich (Michelle): Jovovich has had a pretty extensive modeling career and a so-so acting career. Michelle was Kevin Pickford's girlfriend in Dazed, and seemed just about as out of it as Slater and Pickford were. She didn't have any memorable lines and mostly just stared blankly throughout the film.
Jason London (Randall "Pink" Floyd): What's not to love about Pink? The inexplicably lovable character conflicts throughout the film about signing a declaration not to drink or use drugs, eventually telling his football coach "I may play ball next fall, but I will never sign that." London and his twin brother Jeremy have both lead semi-successful careers, with small movie roles and a few television appearances.
There are thousands of other memorable characters and quotes that would make this post painfully long, so I'll spare you. Watch the movie! :) It now comes as a dual-disk set with the 80's cult classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High, another great movie.
Pop-Culture References
Family Guy has referenced Dazed and Confused on two occasions:
1) Brian, dressed as Wooderson, repeats the high school girls line outside an animated Emporium
2) Chris is afraid to start high school, and is eventually paddled to "No More Mr. Nice Guy."
11.05.2008
There was a riot on the streets - tell me, where were you?
Rodney King.
On March 3, 1991, a black man was pulled over for driving recklessly. Twenty-six year-old Rodney King was then beaten by 4 Los Angeles police officers. The encounter was partially video taped by a civilian and was ultimately aired on several national networks. Though charges were brought against the officers, they were dropped on April 29, 1992. In an act of retaliation, thousands of Los Angeles citizens rioted.
April 29, 1992.
In 1992 the band Sublime wrote the song "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" in reference to the LA riots.
"April 26th, 1992,there was a riot on the streets,tell me where were you?You were sittin' home watchin' your TV, while I was paticipatin' in some anarchy."
Then & WOW.
So, what's happened to Rodney King since he was beaten? He was awarded$3.8 million in a civil suit against the city of Los Angeles and others. Since then, he has been arrested for several minor offenses. Currently, you can see Rodney King struggle with addiction on "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" on VH1. We're so proud of you, Rodney. You too, LA.
On March 3, 1991, a black man was pulled over for driving recklessly. Twenty-six year-old Rodney King was then beaten by 4 Los Angeles police officers. The encounter was partially video taped by a civilian and was ultimately aired on several national networks. Though charges were brought against the officers, they were dropped on April 29, 1992. In an act of retaliation, thousands of Los Angeles citizens rioted.
April 29, 1992.
In 1992 the band Sublime wrote the song "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" in reference to the LA riots.
"April 26th, 1992,there was a riot on the streets,tell me where were you?You were sittin' home watchin' your TV, while I was paticipatin' in some anarchy."
Then & WOW.
So, what's happened to Rodney King since he was beaten? He was awarded$3.8 million in a civil suit against the city of Los Angeles and others. Since then, he has been arrested for several minor offenses. Currently, you can see Rodney King struggle with addiction on "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew" on VH1. We're so proud of you, Rodney. You too, LA.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
